Aerin Lai

Dr. Aerin Lai is a Tutor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Edinburgh. Her academic work centers on feminism, decolonisation, and the sociology of gender, with a focus on embodiment, masculinities, and race within Singaporean and East Asian contexts.

Lai's research examines the production of masculinity in Singapore through a decolonial intersectional perspective, exploring how men construct their identities in relation to citizenship and significant life events. She also investigates Japanese subcultures, state censorship of sexuality, and the sociological dimensions of the pandemic on embodiment and identity. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges sociology, gender studies, and postcolonial theory.

Her recent publications (2020-2023) consistently address themes of decolonial feminism, embodiment, and identity politics, with a geographic focus on Singapore and East Asia. She has made significant contributions to understanding Boys' Love fandom, racial equality in higher education, and the impact of the pandemic on social identities.

Dr. Lai has received several prestigious awards and fellowships for her research:

• Feminist Studies Association Small Grant Scheme (2024)
• Gilchrist Educational Trust Study Grant (2023)
• Sue Grant Service Award (2021)
• Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship (2021)
• Tweedie Research Fellowship (2021)

In addition to her research, Lai has tutored a range of sociology courses including 'Understanding Race and Colonialism', 'Sociology Social Theory', and 'Introduction to Queer Studies'. She has also delivered guest lectures on contemporary feminist debates and queer studies through a decolonial lens. Her research grants have supported fieldwork and publication activities, advancing her work on decolonial feminism and racial equality.