Research
"I completed my Doctorate in research in late 2022 and passed my oral defense (viva) in early 2023. With my thesis This is the sound of my soul I became the first Muslim to obtain a Doctorate in Practical Theology/Critical Studies in the UK. As a result of my research in belonging, culture, and identity I have delivered seminars and workshops at well known corporate companies, world class academic institutions, and internationally recognised business schools. An evidence based facilitated presentation typically consists of a keynote lecture followed by an interactive experiential workshop.
In my research I use conversation as a methodology and I write autoethnographically using a relational and co-constructed approach. Despite initially being a somewhat reluctant academic, I am proud to call myself an independent research practitioner.
I am currently a Research Associate at the University of Oxford's Regent's Park College Center for Culture and Religion. I was an active Committee Member and non-executive Trustee of the British and Irish Association for Practical Theology (a UK charity) between 2021 and 2024. I have been an advisor to the AHRC funded Communities of Inquiry project based in London, UK since 2020.
Currently I am undertaking research, or involved in research projects, looking at leadership for the future, conversation as a method, and belonging and business ethics."
â Saiyyidah Zaidi
Published articles below are listed in reverse chronological order...
âEvery One of You Is a Leaderâ: Investigating the Experience of Being a Brown British Muslim Woman in Professional Contexts
The Hadith paraphrased as âevery one of you is a leaderâ does not discriminate in gender in any wayâboth men and women are leaders. What does this mean in practice, and how are Muslim women perceived and received in line with this Hadith? Only in very recent years are Muslim women in Britain starting to occupy prominent positions: 13 Muslim women Members of British Parliament were elected in 2024; celebrities such as baker Nadia Hussain are regularly seen on British TV; and others such as Fatima Manji in the media. In this article, I explore how different âcontextual intersectionalitiesâ influence and impact a Muslim woman and her leadership role. How does the intersectionality of her outward expression of faith identify her? How does a Muslim woman navigate a space where she is the leader and her skills are sought, yet her faith representation may instigate unconscious/conscious biases? Using an autoethnographic method, I investigate the impact of my identities as a Brown British Muslim woman in three distinct settings.Â
read moreIn my own sandals: what shoe selection tells us about identity, culture, and belonging
This article explores the way that the shoes we wear are a symbol of our identity, the context we are in, and what we are communicating consciously and unconsciously. By using an autoethnography method I explore how I express my identity through the footwear I wear. The primary objective of this paper is to explore external articulations of identity, and internal awareness of congruence, thorough incidental and deliberate choice of footwear. Â
read moreThe messy art of conversation in practical theology: explorations and reflections.
Using autoethnography, the authors (a Muslim woman and a Christian man) reflect on their co-creation of a podcast series, âConversations in Practical Theologyâ which they commenced in 2017. Locating the precipitating factors in their experiences of the British and Irish Association for Practical Theology conference that year, and their respective faith contexts of Islam and Christianity, they test Stephen Pattisonâs 2020 proposal that practical theology is fundamentally a practice of conversation.
read moreThe Future of Practical Theology: From âa tale of two citiesâ to a global approach.
In her article âA Tale of Two Citiesâ (2017) respected American Practical Theologian Bonnie Miller-McLemore describes the âtwo citiesâ as: (1) intellectual advancement and stature; and (2) diversity, inclusivity, and representation (2-9). A situation where âthe conflicts are real; they revolve around power, knowledge, and the forging of a legacy; and there have been casualtiesâ (2) is portrayed. This paper is a personal reflection on ten years in British Practical Theology. The aim is to consider the future of practical theology beyond inclusion and internationalisation. This article makes a call for increased conversation, compassion, and collaboration locally and globally.
read moreExploring the expansion of British Practical Theology: An enquiry using Critical Intersubjectivity, conversation & autoethnography as a methodological approach.
Can I, as a Brown British Muslim Woman, belong in British Practical Theology? Deploying conversational and autoethnographic methods, and using Courtney Gotoâs c/Critical i/Intersubjectivity approach, I
reflect on an eight-year doctoral journey. Unexpected insights and deeper awareness into the challenges encountering those engaging in intercultural bridge building are generated.
Pilgrimage as connective tissue: what you see is not always what you get
This paper is based on a keynote presentation given at the British and Irish Association of Practical Theology (BIAPT) 2022 online conference with the theme âFlesh & Blood: Embodiment & Practical Theology.â First, to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication I will explore brief definitions. I will then turn to author reflexivity and methodology. Second, I share four autoethnographic vignettes written to explore the theme of embodiment and Practical Theology from the perspective of a Brown-British-Muslim-Woman. Third, I discuss themes of intersectionality and embodiment, and offer some thoughts on what we may do to get to know one another.
read moreConversation as a Methodology for Human Flourishing, Belonging & Understanding
Despite the subtle differences, the terms conversation and dialogue are frequently used interchangeably. Conversation is an informal exchange of ideas, thoughts, and opinions between two or more people; it occurs in a range of settings from formal to informal, without a specific goal or objective.Â
read moreIntegrating Psychological Safety: Using The All-in Method to Cultivate Belonging & Understanding in Diversity & Inclusion
Many current training initiatives in diversity and inclusion fail. This article addresses how we can curate real psychological safety to be able to convene and participate in the vital, complex and nuanced discussions in the diversity and inclusion arena using facilitative practices.
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