School of Social and Political Science

Background

Research Summary

PhD Politics, The University of Edinburgh

Thesis title: ‘Sex, gender and constitutional attitudes: voting behaviour in the Scottish independence referendum’. 

Defence: 25 October 2023 

Brief Summary of thesis: The complex relationship between sex, gender, and voting behaviour is a global research preoccupation. My thesis investigates an under-researched dimension of this relationship, focusing on the dynamics of gender, voting behaviour and constitutional change using the case of the gender vote gaps in support of Scottish independence. The thesis asks which women and men have differences in constitutional attitudes, why and to what extent. I utilised a feminist mixed-method problem-driven approach and employed various quantitative and qualitative methods using a top-down and bottom-up research design by analysing new and existing voter (bottom-up) and elite (top-down) data. This includes quantitative data analysis of existing voting behaviour data, developing and distributing a large-scale quantitative data survey (n=1214), 22 elite background interviews, ten focus groups and 80 voter interviews.  

The primary focus of my research is developing a refreshed scholarly understanding regarding the relationship between men's and women's voting behaviour and constitutional preferences. On a micro level, this research investigates the political gender gap between Scottish women and men and constitutional change like independence referenda. On a macro level, this research hopes to challenge how we understand the relationship between sex, gender, gender identity, and voting behaviour by highlighting the significance of using a gendered lens in methodological approaches.

Supervisors

Professor James Mitchell FAcSS, FRSE
Dr Meryl Kenny

Education qualifications

2017—MA Politics: International Relations, University of Manchester

Dissertation Title: ‘Escape to Exploitation: The Sex Trafficking of North Korean Female Migrants and China's Interstate Relations’

I submitted my MA Thesis for The University of Manchester's Politics Programme in September 2017 with an emphasis on International Relations. While sharpening my understanding of critically orientated international relations, I conducted a qualitative discourse and context analysis for her MA Thesis, "Escape to Exploitation: The Sex Trafficking of North Korean Female Migrants and China's Interstate Relations." While reading for my MA, I developed a keen interest in gender and foreign policy and understanding how gender power relations interact with politics in various global contexts. 

2013—BA English: Creative Non-Fiction Writing with Minors in Medieval History and French Language and Composition (Deans List 2013), University of Missouri: Columbia
 

Publications

Belknap, E., Kenny, M. ‘The first, but not the last’: women’s descriptive and substantive representation in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Br Polit (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41293-023-00246-x

Belknap, E., and Hawkins, S. (2020) ‘In Their Names: Black Women's Political Power in the United States’ Political Insight. SAGE Publications, 11(3) pp. 12-15.

Belknap, E., Shaw L., and Kenny, M. (2020) 'Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? Gender, Power and Leadership in Troubled Times’ Political Insight. SAGE Publications, 11(2) pp.4-7.

Blogs

Belknap, E. and Kenny, M. (2021) 'A record-breaking election, but what next?' Centre on Constitutional Change. 14th May 2021.  

Belknap, E. (2020) 'Primary Primers: While Trump plays on stereotypes about women to attack her, Kamala Harris signals that she will fight for the ‘new’ American family.' London School of Economics US Centre Blog. 24th September 2020.

Belknap, E., Shaw L., and Kenny, M. (2020) 'Gender, Power, and Leadership in Troubled Times' The Political Studies Association (PSA) Blog. 18th June 2020.

Belknap, E. (2020) 'The Virtual Methods Shift to 'Safety': Moving Qualitative Methods Online During COVID-19' The Postgraduate Gender Research Network (PGRNS) of Scotland Blog. 15th June 2020.

Relevant work experience

Teaching Fellow (December 2023 – January 2024) – The University of Edinburgh School of Social and Political Sciences: Working as a Teaching Fellow on an ad-hoc basis with SSPS Masters Course: Policy In Action, acting as interim Course Organiser, Dr Claire Houghton, while she is away on leave.

Doctoral College EDI and WP Intern (December 2021 - June 2022) - The University of Edinburgh's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

As an EDI + WP Doctoral College Intern for the university, my job is to conduct research and to collate, analyse and present data to support the Doctoral Colleges of the University of Edinburgh's strategic plans, both ongoing and in response to the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) & Widening Participation (WP) in Post-Graduate Research (PGR) Recruitment and Admissions Processes. I conducted qualitative and quantitative research, creating media outputs showcasing PGR experiences at the university. 

Videos can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yc82NR_6po&list=PLBcSHVMkBQZi-XiIfhNEoKF_WER63rFxH&pp=iAQB

Course Administrator (January 2022) for Policy in Action – master’s Course at The University of Edinburgh

Assistant Instructor (June 2018 & June 2019) - Sutton Trust Summer Programme at The University of Edinburgh

Politics and Marketing Intern (2016) - Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC), Manchester, UK

Research projects

Research Assistant at the University of Warwick in Sociology (22 November – Present)-  ‘CO-CREATING INCLUSIVE INTERSECTIONAL DEMOCRATIC SPACES ACROSS EUROPE’ – €3,325,433: Horizon Europe: Co-creating Inclusive Intersectional Democratic Spaces across Europe (CCINDLE) is a six-nation comparative research project exploring how ordinary citizens, activists and policymakers might co-create solutions to Europe’s crisis of democracy in Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Spain. Questions about the state of democracy are increasing. The EU-funded CCINDLE project seeks to restore trust in democracy and strengthen institutional engagement and values in Europe through strategy development and introduction and support for citizens and activists. CCINDLE will collaborate with various groups and individuals, including media, think tanks and gender professionals, to co-create knowledge on anti-gender campaigns and their impact on democracy; feminist theories and their ties to democracy; and feminist movement and institutional responses to anti-gender and other anti-democratic forces. The findings will increase understanding of the components of democracy and their importance.

Research Assistant at the University of Edinburgh in the School of Social and Political Sciences (20 February 2024 - Present )

‘State of the Union Survey’ – Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) - The 2021 ‘State of the Union Survey’ is led by Professor Henderson (The University of Edinburgh) and Professor Richard Wyn Jones (Cardiff University). The State of the Union project undertakes surveys in England, Scotland, Wales and NI annually to conduct a 360-degree review of attitudes to governance, national identity, possible challenges to the union and opportunities for improvement. The survey asked identical questions of representative samples of around 1,600 voters in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, enabling cross-cutting comparisons of attitudes between all four nations of the UK. The survey devises a ‘muscular unionism’ index to assess where people stand on a spectrum between full support for and complete rejection of the approach. 

Research Assistant at the University of Edinburgh in the School of Social and Political Sciences (2 October -December 2023)-Grade 6 
‘Gender, Ministers and Institutions in Scotland’ – The British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants – Principal Investigators: Professor Meryl Kenny and Dr Alan Convery

Women have historically been under-represented among government ministers. Despite increasing pressure to consider representational criteria in cabinet composition, gendered patterns in appointment and ministerial career trajectories persist worldwide. This project examines the executive as a gendered institution, asking who gets (and stays) at ‘the top’ and why, how rules and resources shape access to executive power, and how ministers experience the executive once they get there. 

We explore these questions through a case study of post-devolution Scotland, drawing on quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends over time and investigate how men and women ministers navigate the complex rules and networks of central government. In doing so, we advance theory-building and provide important new empirical data on the gendered nature of the executive, contributing to gender politics and non-gendered executive literature. We use these insights to generate practical policy recommendations around advancing equitable representation and diversifying ministerial teams. 

Research Fellow (Paid Grade 7 December 2021-January 2022)
The Domestic Abuse Court Experiences Project in conjunction with The Scottish Government – Principal Investigator: Dr Claire Houghton

‘The Domestic Abuse Court Experiences (DACE) Research Project’ - The DACE Project, funded by the Scottish Government, investigates what it is like for children, young people and adults involved with the court system when they have been affected by domestic abuse and violence. The Scottish Government is interested in understanding how the recent changes to domestic abuse laws in Scotland have affected their experiences. (Paid at a Grade 7 midpoint 5). 

Research Assistant at the University of Edinburgh in the School of Social and Political Sciences (May-August 2021) –Grade 6: Alongside Dr Meryl Kenny with Gender Politics at the University of Edinburgh, our project works to investigate the representation of political party candidate selections and the election results of the May 2021 Scottish Parliament Elections using an intersectional lens. This work produced a journal article which is forthcoming in British Politics.  

Project Researcher - Vote100 Exhibition (May 2018-July 2018) The University of Edinburgh SSPS
This exhibition, organised by Head of the School of Political Science Professor Linda McKie, celebrates women who have had connections to the University of Edinburgh's School of Social Sciences. This year will mark 100 years (some) women have had the right to vote and this exhibition hopes to capture the determination of these trail-blazing women.
 

Tutoring

Undergraduate

- Introduction to Politics & International Relations (Autumn, 2018)
- Introduction to British Politics (Spring 2019, 2020), Senior Tutor (Autumn 2022, 2023)
- Understanding Gender in the Contemporary World: Key Concepts, Controversies and Challenges (Autumn 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), Senior Tutor (Autumn 2023) 
- Research Design for Politics and International Relations Honours Senior Tutor (Autumn 2022, 2023) 

Postgraduate

-Research Skills in the Social Sciences: Data Collection (Autumn, 2023)

Conferences, presentations, invitations

• Paper Presenter at the European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR) General Conference (Prague, September 2023)
• Paper Presenter at the Political Studies Association International General Conference (Liverpool, April 2023)
• Paper Presenter at Political Studies Association Elections, Public Opinion (EPOP) Conference (Newcastle, September 2022) - Recipientof the David Broughton Award 
  Hope over Fear or Fact over Fancy?: Understanding Gender Gaps in Support for Constitutional Change
• Paper Presenter in Lightning Round Session at Count Me In (Edinburgh, June 2020) - Postponed due to COVID-19
  This one-day symposium explores themes related to the collection and use of equality, diversity and inclusion data. I shared empirical data from my Scottish Voting Behaviour Survey (n=850) that unexpectedly illuminated various understandings of "gender identity" of the Scottish electorate.
• Paper Presenter and Panel Chair at PSA Annual International Conference 2020 (Edinburgh, April 2020) -Postponed due to COVID19
  Feminizing the Gender Gap: A Feminist Approach to Understanding Gender Gaps in Support of Independence
  Chair for Electoral Polls and Public Opinion Panel & Chair for Undergraduate Conference (3 April)
• Invitation to Present at 'Ideology and Identity in post-war Scotland' (University of St. Andrews, August 2019)
  Independent Women: Investigating the Gender Gap in Support for Independence Referenda
• Paper Presenter at the European Conference on Politics and Gender (Amsterdam, July 2019)
  Independent Women: Investigating the Causal Mechanisms and Support for Constitutional Change
• Invitation to Present at the Centre of Constitutional Change (May 2019)
  Independent Women?: A Method Shift in the Investigation of Gender Gap in Scottish Independence Referendum
• Paper Presenter and Panel Chair at PSA Annual International Conference 2019 (Nottingham, April 2019)
  Independent Women: Investigating the Gender Gap in Support for Independence Referenda
• Paper Presenter at PRISM Conference (June 2018)
  The Postgraduate Gender Research Network of Scotland<
  Panel 1
  Putting the 'Gender' Back in the 'Gender Gap': The Scottish Case
• Paper Presenter at Research Through A Gendered Lens Conference (May 2018)
  University of Stirling Arts & Humanities Postgraduate Network
  Gender, Law, and Politics Panel
  Putting the 'Gender' Back in the 'Gender Gap': The Scottish Case

External Research Training

Data Carpentry for Social Scientists February 2020 - Edinburgh, UK
'Introduction to R', 'Data analysis and visualisation with R' (2 weeks)

ECPR Methods Summer School 2018 - Budapest, Hungary
Introduction to Experimental Methods Course (5 Days)
Final Grade Project and Coursework: A-

Funding attainment

Graduate School of Social and Political Science (SPS), University of Edinburgh

-£90 from PhD Research Support Fund for registration to the PSA Annual International Conference 2020, Edinburgh, UK (April 2020)
- £300 from Research Student-led Special Project Grant to support the Postgraduate Gender Research Network of Scotland's Conference (June 2020, Forthcoming)

I was a committee member for the Postgraduate Gender Research Network of Scotland and co-organised the annual conference to unite gender scholars across disciplines and Scottish universities. I secured this amount on behalf of the organising committee which allowed the conference to be held, the presenters travel bursaries to be paid and more. However, due to COVID-19 this event was postponed and moved to an online event.

£290 from PhD Research Support Fund for travel to European Conference on Politics and Gender, Amsterdam, NL (July 2019)

£210 from PhD Research Support Fund for travel to PSA Annual International Conference 2019, Nottingham, UK ( April 2019)
- £200 from PhD Research Support Fund for travel to ECPR Summer School for Experimental Methods, Budapest, Hungary (July 2018)

School of Social and Political Sciences: Politics and International Relations Department
- £2000 to support the Politics and International Relations Postgraduate Student Writing Retreat 2019 (attained with Cat Wayland, University of Edinburgh) (March 2019)

Institute of Academic Development at the University of Edinburgh
- £478 from the IAD Small Grant Action Fund to support the Politics and International Relations Postgraduate Student Writing Retreat 2019 (attained with Cat Wayland, University of Edinburgh) (March 2019)

European Consortium for Political Research
- €200 to support enrolment in ECPR Summer School for Experimental Methods, Budapest, Hungary (July 2018)

-€900 to support attendance to the annual general conference including accommodation and flights for the week (September 2023)

Political Studies Association
- £90 from the Political Studies Association Early Career Network to fund registration fees for Political Studies Association Conference 2019, Nottingham, UK (April 2019)

-£200 Political Studies Association Electoral, Public Opinion and Polling David Broughton Award (September 2022)

- £200 from the Political Studies Association to fund registration fees for the Political Studies Association Conference 2023, Liverpool, UK (April 2023)

Postgraduate Gender Research Network of Scotland
- £30 from The Fran Trust awarded for travel to the Postgraduate Research Network of Scotland Conference (PGRNS) Prisms, Glasgow, UK (June 2018)
 

Leadership positions

• Committee Member of The Postgraduate Gender Research Network of Scotland (Autumn 2019 - Autumn 2020)
• Politics and International Relations Postgraduate Student Representative (2018-2019)
• Chrystal MacMillan West Wing Representative (2018- March 2019)