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Leah Hibbs

Dr Leah Hibbs

(she/her)

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Leah Hibbs

Overview

My research interests centre around women in politics, feminist institutionalism, and gendered political leadership as well as broader research on gender, representation, equality, diversity, civil society, and political participation. I use mainly qualitative methods to understand lived experience, and the ways in which our experiences, institutions, and arenas of political/civic life are influenced by gender.

I am currently part of a Senedd Cymru fellowship project undertaking a Family Friendly and Inclusive Parliament Review of the Senedd alongside Dr Alison Parken (Cardiff Business School) and Dr Rachel Minto (Cardiff School of Law and Politics). 

My doctoral thesis and forthcoming manuscript Gendered Experiences, Institutions, Leadership and Representation: A Feminist Institutionalist Analysis of Welsh Local Government was an in-depth qualitative study of women's experiences as local councillors, as well as an analysis of how local councils in Wales are gendered institutions. I discussed topics including: barriers to participation, sexism and gendered abuse of local politicians, women's routes and experiences of leadership, and whether women's presence changes policy and how politics is done.

I teach across SOCSI's undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including on 'Key Ideas in Social Science', and 'Power, Politics and Policy'. 

Publication

Research

My research interests include: 

  • Women in politics
  • Feminist Institutionalism 
  • Gendered Political Leadership theory
  • Violence against women in politics 
  • Gender
  • Political institutions
  • Welsh politics 

I'm currently working on the following project: 

Senedd Cymru fellowship project on: 'Family Friendly and Inclusive Parliament Review' (2025-2026) alongside Dr Alison Parken (CARBS) and Dr Rachel Minto (LAWPOL). 

Teaching

I am a member of the Social Policy teaching team and contribute to the following modules at undergraduate and PGT level: 

  • Gender Relations and Society
  • Introduction to Social and Public Policy
  • Social and Public Policy: in Principle and Practice
  • Poverty and Social Security in the UK 
  • Power, Politics, and Policy 
  • Key Ideas in Social Science
  • Citizenship and Social Policy
  • PGT Dissertation 

I also currently supervise undergraduate and postgraduate taught dissertations on topics including gender and politics, the 'manosphere', and foodbank use. 

I previously taught on Cardiff University's Pathways to a Degree in Politics & International Relations, and Pathways to a Degree in Social Sciences. I convened the modules 'Political Systems in Wales' and 'Social Policy'. 

Biography

I have been at Cardiff University since 2013 when I first started as an undergraduate student studying BScEcon Sociology, before progressing onto a 1+3 ESRC doctoral studentship and completing my PhD in 2023. I have been a Lecturer in the school since 2022, and have taught in various capacities at Cardiff University since 2017. 

Outside of academia, I have held roles in the Wales Assembly of Women as Vice-Chair (2023-25) and Audrey Jones Award Co-Ordinator (2024-25). I'm also a keen footballer, and currently serve as a referee for women's Walking Football in Wales. 

 

Honours and awards

Educational Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philopsophy (PhD), Cardiff University. Awarded January 2023. Thesis title: Gendered experiences, institutions, leadership and representation: A feminist institutionalist analysis of Welsh local government.
  • MSc Social Science Research Methods (Social Policy), Cardiff University [Distinction; 2016-2017]. Thesis title: “It Really Does Make a Difference to People’s Lives”: A Critical Exploration of an NGO’s Role in Empowering Women to Become Engaged with Public Life and their Local Community.
  • BScEcon Sociology, Cardiff University [First Class Hons; 2013-2016] 

Other Honours: 

  • Winner of Audrey Jones Memorial Award 2020 for my PhD thesis. Awarded by the Wales Assembly of Women for research on women in Wales. 
  • Nominated for Chwarae Teg Womenspire 'Rising Star' Award 2022
  • Nominated for Cardiff University Celebrating Excellence 'Rising Star, Early Career Academic' Award 2022

Professional memberships

  • British Academy - Early Career Network Member
  • Political Studies Association - Early Career Member

Academic positions

  • Tutor in Politics and Social Policy,  LEARN (Pathways to a Degree), Cardiff University [2019-2022]. 
  • Research Officer, Qualifications Wales [2021-2022].
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, SOCSI, Cardiff University [2017-2022].

Supervisions

  • Politics and Gender
  • Feminist Institutionalism 
  • Gender inequalities
  • Civil society 
  • Empowerment 

Current supervision

Pip Davies

Pip Davies

Matt Burns

Matt Burns

Contact Details

Email [email protected]
Telephone +44 29225 10430

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Gender and politics
  • Gender studies
  • Gender, policy and administration
  • Local government and politics
  • Social policy

External profiles