Dr Susie Jacobs

Dr Susie Jacobs

Hon. Research Fellow/ emerita Reader in Comparative Sociology

My profile

Biography

My background is in international development studies, sociology and anthropology.  My work focuses on gendered inequalities within a frame of political economy and instersectionality, especially in relation to land rights and agrarian/land reforms.  I carried out the first medium/ largescale study of gendered and rights in southern Africa for my D.Phil in the early 1980s, and  have published widely on gender and ‘land’,  I also write on feminist movements and organisations.

Another strand of my work stemmed from teaching on racism(s), ‘race’ and ethnicity at MMU and elsewhere. I led the first national (English/ Welsh/Scottish) survey of curriculum, pedagogical approaches and, lecturers’ experiences in the teaching of ‘race’ in Sociology (Jacobs, 2006). 

In the last years (and also earlier: Jacobs, Jacobson and Marchbank 2000 on gendered violence in wars and conflicts) I have focused more on gender-based violence in organisational as well as more intimate settings. 

Qualifications:

BA Anthropology-Sociology Antioch College, Ohio

Certificat en ethnologie/ Certificate in Ethnology, Univ. of Neuchatel/ Univ. Geneva, Switzerland

Postgraduate Academic Diploma in Social Anthropology, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

M.Sc (Econ.) Sociology (London School of Economics)

D.Phil. Gender Relations and Land Resettlement in Zimbabwe, Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the Univ. of Sussex

Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Interests and expertise

comparative gender relations;  land tenure and land reform; land rights; antisemitism; forms of racism; feminist movements; gender-based violence; intersectionality; globalisation and political economy; southern and eastern Africa; peasant and smallholder economies

Get in touch

Teaching

Teaching:

I joined MMU in 1994, and taught very widely within Sociology, Global and Development Studies, Gender studies and on ‘race’, ethnicity and racism at MMU.  I previously at Staffordshire University and St. Mary’s University (formerly, St. Mary’s College of H.Ed, Univ. of London).  

From 2011 until my retirement in autumn, 2018 I taught the following undergraduate and postgraduate courses:

-Women’s Lives: National and International Perspectives

-Globalisation and Social Transformations (MA unit; also on Globalisation units for undergraduate students)

-‘Third’ World Studies;

-Comparative Sociology of ‘Race’, Ethnicity and Racism

- Sociological Theory

- Gender, ‘Development’ and international Women’s Movements; 

- Social Divisions, Social Inequalties and Intersectionality (MA unit)

Admin. responsibilites since 2008:

I served as MA Sociology and Global Change Programme Leader from 2008-2014

MA Dissertation Tutor: 2008-2918

Sociology and Criminology  Departmental BA Dissertation Tutor:  1998-2009

Convenor: Gender and Sexualities departmental research grouping

Supervision

I supervised the following completed PhD students as Director of Studies: (from 2006)

- R. Caldeira; S.M. El-Abani; H.N. Ngo; L. Thorley (Univ. of Bradford registration); JD Jordan

I co-supervised  the following completed PhDs at MMU:

-R. Grimm; A. Mirza; G. Echegoyen-Nava; F. Tajammal

I supervised 35 MA dissertations in Sociology, Global Studies and related subjects at MMU.

Research outputs

  • Books (authored/edited/special issues)

    Jacobs, S., Klesse, C. (2014) Gender, Sexuality and Political Economy: special journal issue International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society 27(2). Springer.

    Jacobs, S. (2010) Gender and agrarian reforms. NYC and London: Routledge.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2006) Pedagogies of Teaching 'Race' in Higher Education: British and European Experiences. Birmingham, Univ of Birmingham: C-SAP of the Higher Education Academy.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2006) Pedagogies of Teaching Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: British and European Experiences. Birmingham: Univ. of Birmingham: C-SAP of the Higher Education Academy.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2004) Special Issue: Feminist Organisations and Networks in a Globalising Era. Australia: University of Newcastle.

    Jacobs, Jacobson and Marchbank eds, S.R.A.J. (2000) States of Conflict: Gender, Violence and Resistance. London: Zed Books.

  • Chapters in books

    Jacobs, S. (2023) 'Violence, Land and Gender: Exploring Connections.' P. Ali and M. Rogers (eds) Gender-Based Violence: A Comprehensive Guide. Springer Nature,

    Jacobs, S. (2023) 'Violence, Land and Gender: Exploring Connections.' Gender-Based Violence: A Comprehensive Guide. pp. 299-310.

    Jacobs, S. (2017) 'Beneficial for Women? Global Trends in Gender, Land and Titling.' In Bock, B., Shortall, S. (ed.) Gender and Rural Globalization International Perspectives on Gender and Rural Development. Wallingford, Oxon; Boston: CABI, pp. 322-336.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2015) 'Gender, agrarian reforms and land rights (Ch. 11).' The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Development. Routledge,

    Jacobs, S.M. (2015) 'Gender, Food Sovereignty and agrarian reforms.' `Food Sovereignty in International Context ' (ed) Amy Trauger pp 175-97/. Routledge/ Earthscan,

    Jacobs, S.M. (2014) 'globalisation, anti-globalisation and the Jewish 'question'.' Jewish Culture in an Age of Globalisation: Cathy Gelbin and Sander Gilman (eds) (reprinted chapter). Routledge,

    Jacobs, S.M. (2014) 'Gender, Agriculture and Land Rights (chapter 4.8).' The Companion to Development Studies. Abingdon, Oxon. and NYC: Routledge/ Hodder Arnold,

    Jacobs, S. (2009) 'Land reforms, land titling and gender dilemmas in Africa: an exploration of issues.' Power, Gender and Social Change in Africa. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Cambridge Scholars,

    Jacobs, S. (2008) 'Livelihoods and their impact on environments.' The Companion to Development Studies. Hodder Arnold, pp. 334-339.

    Jacobs, S. (2008) 'Globalisation, States and Women's Agency (reprinted).' In Momsen, J.H. (ed.) Gender and Development: Critical Concepts in Development Studies, vol. IV. NYC and London: Routledge, pp. 339-358.

    Jacobs, S. (2007) '(Lack of) Security in a Gendered World: Conflicts, their Causes and Gendered Effects.' Mulheres em conflito: presencas e ausencias. Rianxo, Spain: Galician Institute for International Security and Peace Studies, pp. 17-31.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2006) 'Introduction: Pedagogies of Teaching Race and Ethnicity in HIgher Education: British and European Experiences.' Pedagogies of Teaching Race and Ethnicity in HIgher Education: British and European Experiences. Birmingham, Univ of Birmingham: C-SAP of the Higher Education Academy, pp. xii-i.

    Jacobs, Gabriel, Housee, Ramadani, S.J.S.S. (2006) 'The Teaching of Race in UK Higher Education: findings of the Pedagogies Project.' Pedgogies of Teaching 'Race' in Higher Education: British and European Experiences. Birmingham, Univ of Birmingham: C-SAP of the Higher Education Academy, pp. 1-52.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2006) 'Conflicting Differences: Conflict in the Teaching of 'Race'.' Pedagogies of Teaching 'Race' in Higher Education: British and European Experiences. Birmingham, Univ of Birmingham: C-SAP of the Higher Education Academy, pp. 52-72.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2006) 'In Conversation.' Pedagogies of Teaching 'Race' and Ethnicity in Higher Education: British and European Experiences. Birmingham, Univ of Birmingham: C-SAP of the Higher Education Academy, pp. 95-116.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2003) 'Democracy, Class and Gender in Land Reforms: a Zimbabwean Example.' In Bell, Hendricks, with Bacal, M.M.F.A. (ed.) Walking towards Justice: Democratization in Rural Life. Amsterdam and Oxford: JAI/ Elsevier, pp. 203-228.

    Jacobs with Hai, S.N. (2002) 'Issues and Dilemmas: the Teaching of 'Race' in Higher Education.' In Anthias, Lloyd, F.C. (ed.) Rethinking Anti-Racism: From Theory to Practice. London: Routledge, pp. 166-188.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2001) 'A Share of the Earth? Feminisms and Land Reforms in Zimbabwe and South Africa.' Plural Globalities in Multiple Localities: New World Borders. Lanham, Maryland/Md.: University Press of America, pp. 75-104.

    Jacobson, Jacobs, Marchbank, R.S.J. (2000) 'Introduction: States, Gendered Conflicts and Violence.' States of Conflict: Gender, Violence and Resistance. London: Zed Books, pp. 1-23.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2000) 'The Effects of Land Reform on Gender Relations in Zimbabwe.' Land Reform in Zimbabwe: Constraints and Prospects. Aldershot: Ashgate, pp. 175-186.

    Jacobs, S. (2000) 'Globalisation, states and women’s agency: possibilities and pitfalls.' States of Conflict: Gender, Violence and Resistance. London: Zed Books,

    Jacobs, S. (1998) 'The Gendered Politics of Land Reform: Three Case Studies.' Gender, Politics and the State. London: Routledge, pp. 121-142.

    Jacobs, S.M. (1995) 'Changing Gender Relations in Zimbabwe: Experiences of Individual Family Resettlement Schemes.' Male Bias in the Development Process. Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 51-82.

    Jacobs, S.M. (1995) 'Gender Divisions and the Formation of Ethnicities in Zimbabwe.' Unsettling Settler Societies. London: Sage, pp. 241-262.

    Jacobs, S. (1989) 'Zimbabwe: Class, State and Gendered Models of Land Reform.' Women and the State in Africa. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Press, pp. 161-184.

    Pankhurst, Jacobs, D.T.S. (1988) 'Land Tenure, Gender Relations and Agricultural Production: the Case of Zimbabwe's Peasantry.' Agriculture, Women and Land: the African Experience. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, pp. 202-227.

    Jacobs, Howard (Pankhurst), S.T. (1987) 'Women in Zimbabwe: Stated Policy and State Action.' Women, State and Ideology: Studies from Africa and Asia. London: Macmillan, pp. 28-47.

  • Reports

    Equality Challenge Unit, UK, (2008) Report on ‘Intensive’ case study research as part of the Equality Challenge Unit research on Ethnicity, Gender and Degree Attainment. York, UK: Higher Education Academy.

    Jacobs, S., Owen, J., Sergeant, P., Schostak, J.F. (2008) Ethnicity and gender in degree attainment: an extensive survey of views and activities in English HEIs. Higher Education Academy.

    Jacobs, S. (2008) Ethnicity, gender and degree attainment project: final report. York, UK:

  • Journal articles

    El-Abani, S.M., Jacobs, S., Chadwick, K., Arun, S. (2018) 'Migration and attitudes towards domestic violence against women: a case study of Libyan migrants in the UK.' Migration and Development, 9(1) pp. 111-130.

    Jacobs, S.M., Brahic, B., Medusa Olaiya, M. (2015) 'Sexual harassment in an east African agribusiness supply chain.' The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 26(3) pp. 393-410.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2014) 'Women’s land rights: tenure, organisational issues, the local and the global.' Politics and Culture,

    Jacobs, S., Klesse, C. (2014) 'lntroduction: Special Issue on "Gender, Sexuality and Political Economy".' International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society, pp. 1-24.

    Jacobs, S. (2013) 'Gender, Land and Sexuality: Exploring Connections.' International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society, 27

    Jacobs, S. (2013) 'Agrarian reforms.' Current Sociology, 61(5-6) pp. 862-885.

    Brahic, B., Jacobs, S. (2013) 'Empowering Women: A Labor Rights-Based Approach: Case Studies from East African Horticultural Farms.' Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 26(3) pp. 601-619.

    Brahic, B., Olaiya, M.M., Jacobs, S., English, R. (2011) 'Organizing women workers in the agribusiness sector: Case studies from East Africa.' Labour, Capital and Society, 44(1)

    Jacobs, S.M. (2011) 'Gender and Land Reforms in Zimbabwe and Internationally: an Overview.' Zimbabwe Review, 11(4) pp. 17-23.

    Jacobs, S. (2011) 'Globalisation, anti-globalisation and the Jewish 'question'.' European Review of History, 18(1) pp. 45-56.

    Jacobs, S. (2009) 'Gender and land reforms: Comparative perspectives.' Geography Compass, 3(5) pp. 1675-1687.

    Jacobs, S., Dawson, M.M., Falconer, E. (2008) 'Student views of diversity in two faculties at MMU.' Learning and teaching in action, 7(2) pp. 4-49.

    Jacobs, S. (2008) 'Doi moi and its discontents: gender, liberalisation, and decollectivisation in rural Viet Nam..' Journal of workplace rights, 13(1) pp. 17-39.

    Jacobs, S. (2006) 'Interactional issues in the teaching of 'race' and ethnicity in UK higher education.' Race Ethnicity and Education, 9(4) pp. 341-360.

    Jacobs, S. (2004) 'Livelihoods, security and needs: Gender relations and land reform in South Africa.' Journal of International Women's Studies, 6(1) pp. 1-19.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2004) 'New Forms, Longstanding Issues and Some Successes: Feminist Networks and Organising in a Globalising Era.' Journal of Interdisciplinary Gender Studies, 8(1-2) pp. 171-195.

    Jacobs, S. (2004) 'Introduction: Women's Organisations and Networks: Some Debates and New Directions.' Journal of Interdisciplinary Gender Studies, 8(1-2) pp. 3-17.

    Jacobs, S. (2002) 'Global feminist politics: Identities in a changing world.' SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ONLINE, 7(2)

    Jacobs, S. (2002) 'Land reform: Still a goal worth pursuing for rural women?.' Journal of International Development, 14(6) pp. 887-898.

    Jacobs, S.M. (2000) 'Zimbabwe: Why Land Reform is a Gender Issue.' Sociological Research Online, 5(2)

    Jacobs, S. (2000) 'Zimbabwe: Why land reform is a gender issue.' SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ONLINE, 5(2) pp. U15-U27.

    Jacobs, S. (1998) 'Past wrongs and gender rights: Issues and conflicts in sOuth Africa’s land reform.' European Journal of Development Research, 10(2) pp. 70-87.

    Jacobs, S. (1997) 'Women wielding the hoe: Lessons from rural Africa for feminist theory and development practice - Bryceson,DF.' JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN STUDIES, 23(3) pp. 521-523.

    Jacobs, S.M. (1997) 'Land to the Tiller?.' Society in Transition (Journal of the South African Sociological Association), 1(1) pp. 82-100.

    Jacobs, S.M. (1996) 'Structures and Processes: Land, Family and Gender Relations.' Gender and Development, 4(2) pp. 35-43.

    Jacobs, S.M. (1992) 'Gender and Land Reform: Zimbabwe and Some Comparisons.' International Sociology, 7(1) pp. 5-32.

    Jacobs, S.M. (1991) 'Land Resesttlement and Gender in Zimbabwe: Some Findings.' Journal of Modern African Studies, 29(3) pp. 521-528.

    Jacobs, S. (1984) 'Women and the Government's Land Resettlement Policies.' Social Change and Development, 9pp. 9-12.

    Jacobs, S.M. (1984) 'Women and Land Resettlement in Zimbabwe.' Review of African Political Economy (ROAPE), 27-28pp. 33-50.

    Jacobs, S.M. (1984) 'Why Did the Government Launch it 'Clean-up' Campaign against Women?.' Moto,

  • Theses and dissertations

    Jacobs, S. (1989) Gender Relations and Land Resettlement in Zimbabwe.

  • Other

    Jacobs, article.

    Jary and Jary, D.J. (1991) Collins/ Harper Collins Dictionary of Sociology (entries on 'Class'; Gender; Mode of Production and other).