Katherine Pozgay

My research looks at constructions of middle-class white womanhood in the British imperial 'metropole' c. 1876-1914 through the lens of domestic material culture souced from around the empire. I look at objects like fashion accessories, tools, and textiles and examine where the raw materials used in making these items came from, their appropriated or outright racist aesthetics, and how they highlighted or contributed to race/gender ideals. Specifically, my thesis shows how the power dynamics within empire worked to shape personal identity, but more broadly, it serves as an outlook into the economic and social relationship between the British Empire and private middle- and lower-middle-class households in its 'centre'.

My interest in this topic was sparked while working on my MA projects on women's suffrage movements across the British Empire and collecting and display practices at the British Museum. In my past life, I was a jack-of-all-trades museum professional; with the aim of returning to the feild, I have used opportunities during my PhD to receive training in paper conservation techniques and digital humanities tools. I am always interested in connecting with researchers and practitioners about museums, public history activities, and British imperial history, particularly where those interests intersect with social justice praxis.