Dr Emma Marshall

My research examines the extent to which the concept of class can provide a theoretical framework to interpret how the individual backgrounds of asylum seekers, such as their education or occupation in their country of origin, may account for discrepancies in procedural outcomes. It is well documented that in the UK some asylum seekers get much quicker and more accurate initial decisions than others, for reasons that go beyond whether they are making a genuine claim. I am interested in exploring how class identity is constructed through perceptions of social value, and how these values may influence the decision-making process.