Introducing the new GENDER.ED Undergraduate Summer Intern

Jayni Makwana introduces herself as the new GENDER.ED summer intern and discusses the exciting projects she will be working on.

Hello! My name is Jayni and I am very excited to join GENDER.ED as the Communications and Events Intern this summer. As part of my Sociology and Politics degree, I have particularly enjoyed studying intersectional and decolonial feminist theory. In first year, I was inspired to co-produce a podcast applying an intersectional feminist perspective to various topics, ranging from the resurgence of the "trad wife" to the social construction of cities. Recently, I have also developed a keen interest in applying these theoretical frameworks to health and medicine. I am particularly interested in how colonial and neo-colonial interventions have shaped global gendered health disparities, as well as how processes of medicalisation and the increasing reliance on pharmaceutical interventions can reinforce local health inequalities that occur along gendered, racialised and classist dimensions. This has inspired my upcoming Sociology dissertation focused on the social consequences of medicalising obesity through GLP-1 medications, such as Wegovy and Ozempic, on the NHS. 

I am looking forward to joining the team at GENDER.ED and learning more about the work, background, and unique lived experiences of various academic and creative writers in the field of gender and sexuality studies. As someone who has thoroughly enjoyed taking courses focused on gender studies, decolonial thinking and critical race theory, I'm excited to get the chance to run a social media campaign to increase student participation in courses that centre marginalised voices. I will also be creating content for the GENDER.ED blog, which involves editing the work of authors and compiling my own articles based on events that have happened on campus this year. I am grateful for the opportunity to expand and improve my digital communication skills, and hope to bring the written communication and editorial skills I have developed through my involvement in journalism and my time as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Student to assist the team with their projects. 

I will also be working with IASH to assist in the design and construction of a pamphlet marking 10 years of the Dangerous Women Project and help organise events for the Edinburgh International Book Festival, such as the conversation between Val McDermid and Jo Sharp about their fictionalisation of the Darien Scheme. Through this, I am excited to develop my creative skills as well as gain an understanding of the competencies and relationships needed to promote the important work that IASH and GENDER.ED do both within and outside of the University. 

I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to applying the new knowledge I gain during this internship throughout my fourth and final year at university.