Histories of Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Identity

The Histories of RGSI research group explores the historical and philosophical context of what we now call “race”, “gender”, “sexuality” and “disability”, ideas which have helped shape modern society.

Our interdisciplinary research sheds new light on the conceptual underpinnings of “identity”, rethinking the diverse ways in which individuals and groups have made sense of themselves, their minds, and their bodies, from the Ancient world to the present. 

Histories of RGSI has the following thematic priorities, with researchers primarily working on:

• Disability studies
• Gender and sexuality
• Race, racism and racialisation
• Religion and faith
• Subcultures and community histories
• The history of philosophy and of political ideas