Who are you?
Research on identity, belonging & the social forces that shape who we are
by Maria Fermin
Qualitative Social Researcher · External PhD Researcher at Leiden University
Peer-Reviewed · Policy-Relevant Research · Cultural Analysis
the line between
who you are expected to be
who you are
How much of yourself is defined by the worlds around you?
By culture, family, language, appearance, belief, education, social expectations & the institutions we move through
My research examines identity, belonging & the social worlds through which we become who we are.. & how institutions, norms & systems shape those experiences
-
![Illustrated Berlin nightlife scene with club architecture, city landmarks and people, representing doctoral research on affective governance and permissiveness.]()
Berlin Nightlife: Affective Governance & Permissiveness
Ongoing PhD Research · Leiden University
Examining permissiveness, belonging and informal regulation within Berlin nightlife.
-
![Illustrated Bali tourism scene with traditional umbrellas, tropical plants and steps, representing research on moral economies, belonging and tourism-leisure spaces.]()
Bali: Voices from ‘Paradise’
Ongoing Preliminary Research · Indonesia
Exploring moral economies, belonging and precarity in Bali’s tourism-leisure spaces.
-
![Illustrated overlapping human profiles with connecting lines, representing research on biracial Filipino-Malay identity, recognition and belonging.]()
Biracial: The Identity Conundrum
Peer-Reviewed Research · Brunei
Research on biracial Filipino-Malay identity, recognition and belonging.
-
![Line drawing of a large crowd at a concert or rally, with audience members raising their hands, facing a stage with a back wall, and a vertical panel of geometric circles and lines above the crowd.]()
Berlin: Sex, Drugs & Techno
Completed M.A. Research · Berlin, Germany
Examining drug normalisation, subculture, belonging and social pressure within Berlin nightlife.
Behind every research question is a lived experience
Over the years, this work has brought me into conversations about identity, belonging & experiences that are not always easy to put into words. Along the way, I have learned how to..
-
Developing qualitative research questions, interview frameworks and approaches capable of reaching beyond surface-level answers.
-
Using in-depth interviewing and ethnographic thinking to understand contradiction, ambiguity, social expectations and the meanings people attach to their experiences.
-
Identifying patterns across individual experiences and connecting them to wider questions of identity, culture, belonging and social behaviour.
These are the skills I bring from research into applied work & collaboration
See how we might work together ↓
Work with me
-
![Qualitative Research and Cultural Analysis Support for organisations and projects at Maria Fermin Research Studio Work With Me]()
Qualitative research and cultural analysis using desk research, evidence synthesis and interpretive analysis to explore people, culture, social behaviour and complex social questions.
-
![Research Development Support for researchers and students at Maria Fermin Research Studio]()
Developmental support with research direction, proposal structure, research questions, qualitative methodology, project framing and interpretation.
-
![Researching Sensitive Social Topics for researchers, students and research teams at Maria Fermin Research Studio]()
Methodological support for qualitative research involving identity, belonging, stigma, culture, vulnerability and other sensitive or socially complex topics.
Not sure where to start?
Not every question has a clear starting point
Whether you’re reaching out about my research, a potential collaboration, a project, or simply a question, you’re welcome to get in touch.
Contact me