Who are you?
Research on identity, belonging & the social forces that shape who we are
by Maria Fermin
Qualitative Social Researcher
Peer-Reviewed · In-depth Interviews · Ethnographic Methods
the line between
who you are expected to be
who you are
How much of yourself is defined by the worlds around you?
By your culture, family, language, appearance, beliefs, education, social expectations & institutions that shape belonging
I’m Maria, a qualitative social researcher studying how people navigate identity, belonging & the social expectations around them.
Explore research portfolio · Collaborate · Connect
Bali: Voices from ‘Paradise’
Tourism, moral economies & belonging in a rapidly changing Bali
Moral Economies · Tourism · Belonging · Precarity · Informal Governance
Completed Research
Berlin: Sex, Drugs & Techno
Drug Normalisation · Subculture · Belonging · Nightlife
Biracial: The Identity Conundrum
Identity · Liminality · Belonging · Race · Religion
Behind every research question is a lived experience
Over the years, this work has brought me into conversations about identity, belonging & experiences that are not always easy to put into words. Along the way, I have learned how to..
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Developing qualitative research questions, interview frameworks and approaches capable of reaching beyond surface-level answers.
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Using in-depth interviewing and ethnographic thinking to understand contradiction, ambiguity, social expectations and the meanings people attach to their experiences.
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Identifying patterns across individual experiences and connecting them to wider questions of identity, culture, belonging and social behaviour.
..& these are the skills I bring from research into collaboration
See how we might work together ↓
Work with me
Research, Collaboration & Enquiries
For researchers & students
Qualitative Research Support
Develop & discuss research questions, interview design, qualitative methodology, project framing & interpretation.
For organisations, writers & creatives
Identity & Cultural Analysis
Research-informed analysis on identity, belonging, cultural boundaries & intercultural dynamics within projects, stories or social questions.
For individuals
Identity & Belonging Conversations
How do social worlds shape identity?
A one-to-one, research-informed conversation exploring identity, culture, belonging & the social expectations that shape everyday experience.
Not sure where to start?
Not every question has a clear starting point
Whether you’re reaching out about my research, a potential collaboration, a project, or simply a question, you’re welcome to get in touch.
Contact me