Exploring belonging and impostorism in British South Asians university students using photovoice (HHS-2026-08)

About the Project

Research has shown that imposterism leads to a challenging experience in specific groups, such as racially-minoritized students and contributes to feelings of unbelonging. Specific environments, such as universities, contain diverse platforms enabling students to explore their identities. However, belonging to multiple social categories, specifically race-class-gender intersections, shapes experiences and outcomes. Given the challenges that racially minoritized students face it is worth exploring if universities are facilitating or even hindering opportunities to ‘safely’ explore the experience of impostorism and belongingness in this group. For students, being part of a working environment that is ‘safe’ can be conducive to positive learning by promoting greater participation in interpersonal risky behaviour such as speaking up or seeking support from staff or peers without experiencing the consequences. Furthermore, psychological safety is related to the development of a positive identity and possessing an authentic self. Importantly, the feeling that one belongs and feels ‘psychologically safe’ in a campus environment links to inclusiveness. Here, a student will feel a ‘sense of inclusion’ when they identify and connect themselves with the university community, producing a feeling of belongingness. This study will explore the voices of British South Asian students enrolled in a Northern, West Yorkshire university. Using a participatory action research design, photovoice will be implemented to explore how these subsets of students perceive and experience impostorism and belongingness, allowing them to construct knowledge about their realities in collaboration with researchers. Photovoice will be used as a research method because it involves participants taking pictures in their environment. Participants will then be asked to discuss their photographs, perceptions, and experiences with an interviewer. This study will examine impostorism and belongingness in the sample of students through the lens of photovoice.

For subject specific enquiries please contact: g.s.bagri@hud.ac.uk