Why has bisexual identity doubled in one European city – and what does it tell us about global trends?: Shutterstock/Anna55555 Bisexuality has long been the subject of distinct forms of stigma compared to other sexual identities. People who identify as bisexual can be dismissed as “confused”, “indecisive” or as passing through a “transitional stage”. These …
Manchester United: three ways Ruben Amorim can rebuild the club’s identity and get back to winning ways: United we stand? Simon Vayro/Shutterstock The last 11 years have been a pretty bleak period for Manchester United. Supporters seeking a return to the glory days of manager Sir Alex Ferguson have been left sorely disappointed by a …
How A.S. Byatt’s northern identity and anger over climate change informed her fiction: A.S. Byatt’s highbrow fiction has a vast, international appeal. The writer, who died in November, was known for her voracious appetite for knowledge and her insatiable curiosity. Inspiration for her work draws from as diverse sources as Elizabeth I, Norse mythology, Amazonian …
My parents are from two different African countries: study shows how this shapes identity: More than a third of migration in sub-Saharan Africa happens within the continent. This mixing of people means that some children have parents of different national origins. Yet not enough is known about the lives of these children: how they form …
Sho Madjozi: the pop star using traditional culture to shape a fresh identity for young South Africans: South African rapper Sho Madjozi is a bold and colourful presence in pop culture, as famous for her catchy lyrics as for using traditional clothing and dance in a fresh way. The musician, actress and poet is also …
Book review: African thinkers analyse some of the big issues of our time – race, belonging and identity: The subjects of race, identity and belonging are often fraught with contention and uneasiness. Who are you? Who belongs? Who is native, or indigenous to a place? These perennial questions arise around the world. They are the …
Past Lives: a luxurious and lingering portrayal of lost love and identity in the Korean diaspora: Past Lives is Celine Song’s debut film about Nora and Hae Sung who were deeply connected in childhood. The film focuses on them reuniting as adults after a long separation. The film introduces global audiences to the Korean Buddhist …
Existential crisis: how long COVID patients helped us understand what it’s like to lose all sense of identity and purpose in life: Celiafoto/Shutterstock Lucy* used to be known fondly as the “iron lady” by colleagues at work. In her mid-50s and still the main breadwinner for her family, she had always thought of herself as …
The UK’s island identity has long shaped its political outlook – is that why it currently feels so adrift?: Shutterstock/Tony Skerl UK foreign policy has long been shaped by a particular geopolitical way of conceiving the nation’s place in the world. This island identity may have been forged in imperial times, but it remains hugely …
Milisuthando: a powerful documentary that will get South Africans talking about identity: A still from the documentary about growing up in South Africa. Milisuthando/Rob Pollock/Francis Burger Milisuthando is a debut feature length documentary film by Milisuthando Bongela. Taking the form of a personal essay, it’s an intimate story about family and ancestors, about “inside apartheid’s …
The power of anonymity: as Twitter celebrity Dril reveals his identity, an Elena Ferrante expert explains what he’s lost: Elena Ferrante chooses to write under a pseudonym to conceal her identity. Jelena990/Shutterstock Scrolling through US comedian and social media phenomenon Dril’s Twitter account can be a confusing experience for those, like me, who don’t share …
Rock art as African history: what religious images say about identity, survival and change: After colonial contact, indigenous Africans acquired horses and guns, and raided settlers as a means of resistance. Courtesy Sam Challis To “read” the history of times before writing, scholars have traditionally used excavated evidence. Remains like dwellings, burials and pots can …
Grayson Perry’s Full English shows why England’s regions are crucial to its identity: In his Channel 4 series, Full English, artist Grayson Perry travels around England in a white van searching for an answer to the question: “Is there a viable version of England and Englishness that will feed my soul?” What Perry discovers in …
Albanian migration has spurred a generation of artists to reflect on issues of identity and belonging: Adrian Paci's Centro di Permanenza Temporanea. Adrian Paci There’s been a great deal of xenophobia directed at Albanian immigrants to the UK recently. It’s easy to argue that Albanians are being scapegoated for the current crisis in Britain’s migration …
CBBC’s move online could damage its identity, value and brand recognition: Horrible Histories is one of CBBC's successful original programmes that entertains and educates children. BBC Pictures You may remember when TV channel BBC Three was made an online-only brand in 2016. The reason given at that time was that teenagers and young adults, the …
What cattle conflicts say about identity in South Sudan: An armed man guards cattle in a village in South Sudan. Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images In March 2022, violent clashes between farming communities and cattle herders broke out in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. It was the latest incident in months of cattle-related violence in …
The history and evolution of Ukrainian national identity – podcast: What does it mean to be a Ukrainian? In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we talk to three experts about the origins of Ukrainian nationalism, and how Ukrainian national identity is changing. And we hear about a rare archive of Ukrainian dissident literature …
Why social scientists still need data on sex – not only gender identity: shutterstock The collection of data on a person’s sex – that is, whether they are male or female – has become controversial in recent years, and a number of public bodies have moved away from collecting data on sex as a result. …