Dr. Mercy Mashingaidze

I am a historian and former Archivist with vast experience in conducting interdisciplinary research on various sociocultural issues. My current research focuses on the methodological challenges associated with researching modern slavery. I am also interested in migration research and I have previously researched on the lived experiences of asylum seekers in protracted limbo situations, in the United Kingdom and in Slovenia.

Since October 2020, I teach social science research methods and theories in the BCDSS MA "Dependency and Slavery Studies" program. I have also previously taught courses on modern slavery as well as on the enduring legacies of slavery and slavery-like systems.

2015–2020
Ph.D. in Development Studies Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn

Thesis: "'Pooling resources, scattering the family': transnational realities of Zimbabwean post-2000 migrants in the United Kingdom."

2011–2013
European Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations, University of Oldenburg

Thesis: "Unaccompanied Minors Seeking Asylum in Slovenia: Enhancing Resilience Through Psychosocial Support and Social Capital."

2000–2003
B.A. (Honours) in History and Development Studies, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe

Thesis: "Gender and Divorce: An insight into women’s matrimonial property rights in Zimbabwe."

Since October 2020, I have taught in the following modules within the MA Dependency and Slavery Studies program:

• Slavery and Other Forms of Strong Asymmetrical Dependency: Methodological Approaches (Social Sciences)
• Slavery and Other Forms of Strong Asymmetrical Dependency: Theoretical Approaches (Social Sciences)
• Doing Research 1 (Social Sciences)

I also taught the following module in the Uni Bonn Überfachliche Praxisbereich program (SoSe 2022):

• The enduring legacy of slavery and slavery-like systems in contemporary societies

11/2018
Presentation at the PhD Conference on International Development, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany

Presentation title: "'Doing family' in a transnational social space: experiences of Zimbabwean migrants in the United Kingdom."

11/2017
Keynote Speaker at the Seminar of the Zimbabwe Netzwerk e.V., Bonn

Presentation title: "Migration and family life: experiences of Zimbabweans in the UK."

12/2017

Guest presenter, class seminar under the MA course on Globalization, Socio-economic, and Cultural Change: Aspirations and Strategies of the Youth in the Global South, University of Bonn, Germany

Presentation title: "The post-2000 'crisis-driven' migration of Zimbabweans to the United Kingdom: Networks, strategies, and experiences of the youth."

10/2017
Panel presentation at the Migration With(out) Boundaries Conference, Michigan State University, United States of America

Individual paper title: "Networks and Opportunity: the post-2000 migration of Zimbabweans to the United Kingdom"