Ms Hazel Choi

(she/her)

Research

Thesis title - Resilience and Resistance: Women's Struggles for Rights in Authoritarian Regimes with cult leaders - A Comparative Study of Iran and North Korea

Research Focus: Gender, Power, and Authoritarianism

My current research examines the lived experiences of women under authoritarian regimes with cult-of-personality leadership, focusing particularly on Iran and North Korea. I investigate how gendered power relations are constructed and maintained through ideological, religious, and nationalist narratives, and how women exercise forms of resilience and resistance within these systems. This comparative analysis seeks to advance theoretical and empirical understandings of gender governance, micro-power, and transformative agency in repressive contexts.

Professional Background and Policy Perspective

Prior to commencing doctoral research, I worked as an overseas sales manager in the international defense industry, overseeing cross-national cooperation projects in Asia and the Middle East. This experience provided insight into the intersections between global security politics, state power, and policy-making, which continues to inform my academic approach to the study of political control and gendered governance.

Methodological Approach

My research employs feminist qualitative methodologies, with particular emphasis on participatory and narrative analysis. I am interested in how feminist epistemologies can challenge hierarchical power relations in research settings and better capture the complexity of women’s experiences under conditions of surveillance, repression, and ideological indoctrination.

International and Multilingual Perspective

Having worked and studied in South Korea, the United States, Iran, and the United Kingdom, I bring a comparative and intercultural perspective to the study of women’s rights and political power. My multilingual abilities in Korean, English, and Farsi facilitate cross-contextual analysis and engagement with diverse sources and participants, enriching the empirical depth of my work.