Jody Metcalfe

Dr. Jody Metcalfe is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities, Department of History and Art History, specializing in Cultural History. She is currently working on the NWO Consortium Re-Presenting Europe project, focusing on WP 6 'Braided Solidarities: Solidarity-in-difference: braiding identity, belonging and difference transnationally,' which examines popular culture, representation, diversity, and belonging in Europe and the Netherlands.

Dr. Metcalfe's educational background includes:

• Double PhD in English Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Bayreuth, Germany
• The first PhD in Intersectionality Studies from the Doctoral College of Intersectionality Studies at the University of Bayreuth
• MPhil in Justice and Transformation in Political Science (Cannon Collins Scholar) from the University of Cape Town
• BSocSci (Hons.) in Gender and Transformation from the African Gender Institute
• BSocSci in Political Science and Gender Studies from the University of Cape Town

Her research critically examines representation, belonging, identity construction, decolonization, and processes of racialization in South Africa and Europe. She investigates the impacts of structural whiteness, white supremacy, legacies of colonial violence, and intergenerational trauma on racialized people. Her work also explores how digital platform governance, artificial intelligence, and digital harm affect identity formation of ethnocultural minorities in Europe, particularly focusing on how minority women create and challenge self-representation through digital resistance.

Dr. Metcalfe's recent publications reveal a consistent scholarly trajectory centered on intersectionality, racial identity in post-apartheid contexts, and digital representation. Her work bridges cultural studies, critical race theory, and digital humanities, demonstrating how historical legacies of colonialism and apartheid continue to shape contemporary identity formations across both European and South African contexts.

Her notable recognitions include:

• Cannon Collins Scholar for her MPhil studies
• Critical Race Theory Summer Fellow at the African American Policy Forum

Dr. Metcalfe brings extensive international research experience from institutions including the European Centre for Minority Issues in Germany, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in South Africa, and the University of Cape Town. Her interdisciplinary approach connects humanities, social sciences, and digital studies to address critical issues of representation, identity, and social justice in our increasingly interconnected world.