Biography

Mastoureh Fathi is lecturer in Sociology at University College Cork, Department of Sociology. Before joining UCC, she worked in University College Dublin and Royal Holloway University of London. In 2020, she completed a Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellowship at Institute for Social Science Research in 21st Century, University College Cork, Ireland. She has published on topics of home in migration, migration, class and gender; and intersectionality and identity, innovative methods and community based research.. Aside being awarded an individual fellowship (Youth Home funded by Horizon 2020), she was also PI on several projects funded by the British Academy Home, Pedagogy and Belonging and the Irish Research Council funded project Elderly (non)migrants' narratives of home: A comparative study of place-making in Ireland and Germany. Her publications have appeared in Gender, Place and Culture; Political Psychology; Gender and Education; Ethnicities; Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies; Ethnic and Racial Studies, Irish Journal of Sociology among others.

Research Interests

Current PhD students: 

1. Pooja Priya (UCC)
2. Dorota Lewandowska (UCC)
3. Janice Patricia Kelleher (UCC)
4. Shirin Assa (Bayeruth, Germany)
5. Ciaran Evans (UCC)

Research Grants

  Project Funding
Body 		Start Date End Date Award
Moving Objects: Analysing the role of materiality in migrants’ intentions for onward migration journey. Enterprise Irl 03-MAY-23 02-MAY-25 €15,976.00
Home: Homing through Objects of Memory 01-JAN-18 01-SEP-18
Home, Pedagogy and Belonging: Exploring Afghan women’s 'extension of home' in London British Academy/Leverhulme 01-SEP-18 01-APR-19
Understanding Migrants’ Use of Smart Phones in Transit University College Cork 01-SEP-22 01-SEP-23
Parenting and Social Class: The question of educational aspiration 01-NOV-15 01-NOV-16
Material Lives in Migration: Developing a genealogical method UCC Strategic Research Fund 01-OCT-23 01-MAR-25
Dynamics of Placemaking and Digitisation in Europe’s Cities COST Actions 01-NOV-19 01-MAY-24
Exploring Gendered Extremism in Europe 01-SEP-16 01-JUL-17
Youth Home: Migrant Male youth Home-making in Ireland European Commission 01-MAY-19 01-SEP-20
Students’ pedagogical progress through using laptops in classrooms 01-NOV-17 01-JUL-18
Elderly (non)migrants' narratives of home: A comparative study of place-making in Ireland and Slovakia Irish Research Council 01-MAY-20 31-MAR-23 €12,829.00

Books

  Year Publication
(2024) Migration and Home: IMISCOE Short Reader.
Mastoureh Fathi and Caitríona Ní Laoire (2024) Migration and Home: IMISCOE Short Reader. NA: Springer. [DOI] [Details]
(2017) Intersectionality, Class and Migration: Narratives of Iranian Women Migrants in the UK.
Mastoureh Fathi (2017) Intersectionality, Class and Migration: Narratives of Iranian Women Migrants in the UK. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2025) 'Homemaking or Placemaking? Understanding Home and Place among Vulnerable Populations'
Fathi, M., Nasya, B., Mehan, A., Mariotti, J., & Astrouskaya, T. (2025) 'Homemaking or Placemaking? Understanding Home and Place among Vulnerable Populations' In: Placemaking in Practice Volume 3: Engagement in Placemaking, Methods, Strategies, Approaches. NA: Brill. [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Migrant Respectability: An Intersectional Bourdieuan Approach to Iranian Migrants’ Experiences of Class and Religion'
Mastoureh Fathi and Atlas Torbati (2024) 'Migrant Respectability: An Intersectional Bourdieuan Approach to Iranian Migrants’ Experiences of Class and Religion' In: Başak Akkan, Julia Hahmann, Christine Hunner-Kreisel, Melanie Kuhn (eds). Overlapping Inequalities in the Welfare State: Strengths and Challenges of Intersectionality Framework. Cham: Springer. [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Chapter 1 Culture Places and Local Knowledge Production: an Introduction'
Rotondo, F., Djukic, A., & Fathi, M. (2024) 'Chapter 1 Culture Places and Local Knowledge Production: an Introduction' In: Placemaking in Practice Volume 2. Leiden: Brill. [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Young people and placemaking: The provision of public spaces for and by youth'
Carlos Smaniotto Costa, Marluci Menezes, Tatiana Ruchinskaya, Monica Bocci, Matej Nikšič, Nina Goršič, Mastoureh Fathi (2024) 'Young people and placemaking: The provision of public spaces for and by youth' In: Placemaking in Practice Volume 1: Experiences and Approaches from a Pan-European Perspective. NA: Brill. [Details]
(2024) 'Introduction'
Mastoureh Fathi , Juan A. García-Esparza , and Carlos Smaniotto Costa (2024) 'Introduction' In: Placemaking in Practice Volume I. Leiden: Brill. [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Parenting and care in adulthood: an intersectional framework for support'
Joo Lim and Mastoureh Fathi (2020) 'Parenting and care in adulthood: an intersectional framework for support' In: J. Parker and S. Ashencaen Crabtree (eds). Human Growth and Development in Adults: Theoretical and practice perspectives. Bristol: Policy Press. [Details]
(2014) 'Translocational belonging: Iranian women’s narratives of class in Britain'
Mastoureh Fathi (2014) 'Translocational belonging: Iranian women’s narratives of class in Britain' In: Pajnik, M. and F. Anthias (eds). Work and the Challenges of Belonging: Migrants in globalizing economies. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars. [Details]
(2013) 'Narrative Analysis: the constructionist approach'
Cigdem Esin, Mastoureh Fathi, Corinne Squire (2013) 'Narrative Analysis: the constructionist approach' In: U Flick (eds). SAGE Handbook of Analysing Qualitative Data. London: Sage. [Details]
(2024) 'Gendered control over space in migrant housing'
Mastoureh Fathi (2024) 'Gendered control over space in migrant housing' In: Marie McAuliffe and Céline Bauloz (eds). Research Handbook on Migration, Gender, and COVID-19. NA: Edward Elgar. [Details]
(2023) 'Emotion and Spatial Belonging: Exploring Young Migrant Men’s Emotional Geographies in Cork, Ireland'
Mastoureh Fathi (2023) 'Emotion and Spatial Belonging: Exploring Young Migrant Men’s Emotional Geographies in Cork, Ireland' In: Mattias De Backer, Peter Hopkins, Ilse van Liempt, Robin Finlay, Elisabeth Kirndörfer, Mieke Kox, Matthew C. Benwell and Kathrin Hörschelmann (eds). Refugee Youth. Bristol: Bristol University Press. [Details]
(2023) 'Memories of material home: Refugee women’s depiction of absent objects'
Mastoureh Fathi (2023) 'Memories of material home: Refugee women’s depiction of absent objects' In: Chiara Giuliani and Kate Hodgson (eds). Memory, Mobility, and Material Culture. New York: Routledge. [Details]
(2020) 'Objects on the move: An intersectional analysis of migrants’ stuff'
Mastoureh Fathi (2020) 'Objects on the move: An intersectional analysis of migrants’ stuff' In: Adey, P., Bowstead, J., Brickell, K., Desai, V., Dolton, M., Pinkerton, A. & Siddiqi, A (eds). The Handbook of Displacement. NA: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(2025) Placemaking in Practice Volume II: Engagement in Placemaking: Methods, Strategies and Approaches
 Rotondo, F., Djukic, A. Hansen, P. Manahasa, E., Fathi, M. and J. García-Esparza (Ed.). (2025) Placemaking in Practice Volume II: Engagement in Placemaking: Methods, Strategies and Approaches NA: Brill. [Details]
(2023) Walking Methods in Social Research
O’Neill, M., Edwards, C., Laoire, C. N., Mullally, G., & Fathi, M (Ed.). (2023) Walking Methods in Social Research London: Sage. [DOI] [Details]
(2024) Placemaking in Practice Volume I: Experiences and Approaches from a Pan-European Perspective
Smaniotto Costa, C., Fathi, M., & García-Esparza, J. A (Ed.). (2024) Placemaking in Practice Volume I: Experiences and Approaches from a Pan-European Perspective NA: Brill. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2023) '‘City as Home’: Conducting walking interviews as biographical method with migrant men in Cork'
Mastoureh Fathi (2023) '‘City as Home’: Conducting walking interviews as biographical method with migrant men in Cork'. Irish Journal of Sociology, 31 (1):82-100 [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Constructing Home through Unhome: Narratives of Resistance by an Iranian Asylum Seeker in Germany'
Mastoureh Fathi (2023) 'Constructing Home through Unhome: Narratives of Resistance by an Iranian Asylum Seeker in Germany'. Sn Social Sciences, 12 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Art practice with migrant women: Three challenges to rediscovering home'
Mastoureh Fathi, Rabia Nasimi (2022) 'Art practice with migrant women: Three challenges to rediscovering home'. Action Research, [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Urban home: young male migrants constructing home in the city'
Mastoureh Fathi, Caitríona Ní Laoire (2021) 'Urban home: young male migrants constructing home in the city'. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Home-in-migration: Some critical reflections on temporal, spatial and sensorial perspectives'
Fathi, M. (2021) 'Home-in-migration: Some critical reflections on temporal, spatial and sensorial perspectives'. Ethnicities, 21 (5):979-993 [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2021) '‘My life is on hold’: examining home, belonging and temporality among migrant men in Ireland'
Fathi, M. (2021) '‘My life is on hold’: examining home, belonging and temporality among migrant men in Ireland'. Gender, Place and Culture, [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2018) 'Becoming a woman doctor in Iran: the formation of classed and gendered selves'
Mastoureh Fathi (2018) 'Becoming a woman doctor in Iran: the formation of classed and gendered selves'. Gender and Education, 30 (1):59-73 [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Press discourses on Roma in the UK, Finland and Hungary'
Nira Yuval-Davis, Viktor Varjú, Miika Tervonen, Jamie Hakim, Mastoureh Fathi (2017) 'Press discourses on Roma in the UK, Finland and Hungary'. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 40 (7):1151-1169 [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'I make here my soil. I make here my country'
Mastoureh Fathi (2015) 'I make here my soil. I make here my country'. Political Psychology, 36 (2):151-164 [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]

Articles

  Year Publication
(2023) ‘Virtual home as a space of unity.
Mastoureh Fathi (2023) ‘Virtual home as a space of unity. Articles [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2021) Stay at unhome: Asylum seekers’ struggles in domestic spaces of heim (s) in Germany.
Mastoureh Fathi and Touraj Soleimani (2021) Stay at unhome: Asylum seekers’ struggles in domestic spaces of heim (s) in Germany. Articles [Details]
(2020) Young Migrants’ Home in Ireland.
Mastoureh Fathi (2020) Young Migrants’ Home in Ireland. Articles [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2015) Living ordinary lives? European Muslims and sense of belonging after Charlie Hebdo tragedy.
Mastoureh Fathi (2015) Living ordinary lives? European Muslims and sense of belonging after Charlie Hebdo tragedy. Articles [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2014) Reflections on qualitative longitudinal research in two studies with Iranian migrants in the UK.
Fathi, M. and Shirani, F. (2014) Reflections on qualitative longitudinal research in two studies with Iranian migrants in the UK. Articles [Details]
(2013) Dialogical and Transversal Translation: Trespassing Cultural Boundaries and Making the Self through Language.
Mastoureh Fathi (2013) Dialogical and Transversal Translation: Trespassing Cultural Boundaries and Making the Self through Language. Articles [Details]

Book Reviews

  Year Publication
(2015) Women Against Fundamentalism: Stories of Dissent and Solidarity (book review).
Mastoureh Fathi (2015) Women Against Fundamentalism: Stories of Dissent and Solidarity (book review). Book Reviews [DOI] [Details]
(2014) Can Islam Be French? (book review).
Mastoureh Fathi (2014) Can Islam Be French? (book review). Book Reviews [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2010) Becoming Visible in Iran: Women in Contemporary Iranian Society.
Mastoureh Fathi (2010) Becoming Visible in Iran: Women in Contemporary Iranian Society. Book Reviews [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2024 Erasmus+ Staff Training and exchange funding European Commission
2023 Irish Research Council Laureate Award Irish Research Council
2016 Fellow of Higher Education Academy HEA
2013 Cathie Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research Scholarship University of Manchester
2008 Feminist Scholar Prize UK Funds for Women Graduates
2008 British Academy Fieldwork Prize British Academy (Institute for Persian Studies)
2000 Full Scholarship Award National Universities Scholarship Programme

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
International Sociological Association Scientific organisation /
Intersectionality School - Bayeruth University Higher Education institution - research and training /
European Sociological Association Scientific organisation /
International Society of Political Psychology Scientific organisation /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
MA Women Studies Board Board member /
SREC Board member /
Departmental Undergraduate Committee Comittee member and coordinator of the 2nd year sociology /
Departmental Postgradaute Committee Chair /
CACSSS Postgraduate Committee Committee board member /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Birkbeck College University of London Postdoctoral researcher 01-SEP-12 / 01-MAY-13
University College Dublin Lecturer 01-SEP-20 / 30-JUN-22
University College Cork Marie S Curie fellow 12-MAY-19 / 31-AUG-20
Royal Holloway University of London Lecturer 16-JUL-17 / 11-MAY-19
University of Portsmouth Postdoctoral fellow 01-SEP-13 / 01-SEP-14
Bournemouth University Postdoctoral fellow and lecturer 02-JAN-15 / 31-JUL-17

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2009 University of East London PGCert Research Methods
2011 University of East London PhD Sociology
2015 University of Manchester MSc Social Research Methods and Statistics
2016 Bournemouth University PGCert Education Practice
2004 Allameh Tabatabaei University (Iran) BA English Language and Literature
2007 University of East London MA Gender, Sexualities and Ethnic Studies

Languages

  Language Reading Writing Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
Persian Fluent Fluent Fluent
Italian Basic Basic Basic

Journal Activities

  Journal Role To / From
Families, Relationships And Societies (Frs) Member of Editorial Board -
Irish Journal Of Sociology Editor 01-NOV-23 - 01-NOV-26

Teaching Interests

Interests:

Migration and belonging
Social class 
Family and gender

Modules co-ordinating and teaching: 

- Introduction to Sociology (UG)
- Sociology of Class (UG)
- Family: Sociological and Anthropological Approaches (UG)
- Im/Mobilities and Forced Migration and Belonging (PG)
-Research methods in migration research (PG)

Co-Director of MA in Migration, Mobilities and Culture (with School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures): https://www.ucc.ie/en/mammc/






Recent Postgraduates

  Graduation Year Student Name Institution Degree Type Thesis Title
2021 Zahir Ali Royal Holloway, University of London PHD
2019 Utsa Mukherjee Royal Holloway, University of London PHD