Matthew J Phillips
Biographic Data
| ID | 1101691 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Matthew J Phillips |
| GIVEN NAMES | Matthew J |
| FAMILY NAME | Phillips |
| SIGNATURE | PHILLIPS M J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Curtin University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7908-5868 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 6 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 21 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Beyond the Avatar
Current research directed toward exploring the complexities of experiences within video gaming culture often comprises male-majority yet mixed-gender samples. Although valuable, these findings do not provide a male-representative overview of male gamers and risk diluting male gamer experiences as universal to all gamers, losing valuable gendered perspectives. In our study, we aimed to bridge this research gap by addressing: “What are the experien…
All the Feels, None of the Labels
Relationship dynamics in young adulthood in Australia are evolving with greater exploration of alternative relationships such as ‘situationships’—informal romantic connections where commitment and long-term relationship progression toward marriage are not prioritised—yet little is known about how young adults experience these increasingly common relationships. This qualitative study explored ‘situationship’ experiences through semi-structured int…
“Taking the piss, and taking a stand”
Lad culture is a pervasive social phenomenon characterised by group mentality and hegemonic masculine ideals. This study explores Australian lad culture to understand the obstacles men face navigating masculine social spaces and tensions between personal values and social conformity. Building on limited UK-focused research, this study examines the distinctly Australian cultural context shaped by larrikin traditions rather than class-based express…
“Loading…representation”
While gaming aspires to be a universal medium, its spaces remain deeply stratified by identity-based power structures and systemic discrimination. Using intersectional theory and a social constructionist framework, this study examines how age, gender, race, and sexuality intersect to shape experiences of representation and discrimination in gaming spaces. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 Australian gamers (aged 19–36 …
Restricted to the “Traditional Female Role”
Australia is faced with gendered issues like intimate partner violence and sexual assault which are perpetuated by widespread negative public attitudes that position women as an inferior gender. High-school Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) offers one intervention into these gendered issues. Research shows students dissatisfaction with RSE and gendered inequalities within it. Based on reflections of recent Australian high-school graduates, thi…
Flying solo
While traditional relationships were defined by conventional gender roles, contemporary Australian society has witnessed significant shifts in relationship patterns, particularly in how young women approach and experience singlehood. Despite increasing acceptance of diverse relationship choices, defining singlehood remains complex and multifaceted, especially within the Australian context where changing social norms and digital technology create …
Beyond the game
Australian Value or Political Rhetoric? The Media's Use of the Fair Go in Australia
Deceivingly simple and often colloquial, the Fair Go is pervasive to the Australian lexicon and a feature of the projected national identity. The Fair Go has historically been used as a plea for fairness in contexts where there is perceived injustice. The Australian media hold significant power to shape public perceptions and debate, including those around fairness; however, there is a limited understanding as to how the Australian media use the …
Beyond Good Intentions
Researchers who identify as men that conduct gender equity research in academic contexts face unique methodological and ethical challenges stemming from their positionality within institutional power structures. This paper presents a theoretically grounded framework for conducting power-conscious qualitative research across gender differences, drawing from both personal experience, and broader literature on feminist methodology, critical theory, …
STEMM unveiled
Despite significant progress in gender equality, pervasive gender stereotypes and discrimination persist worldwide. These ingrained perceptions, based on gender, contribute to the disadvantage experienced by women in multiple areas of their lives. This is especially evident in female professionals studying and working within male-dominated fields like Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM), where the representation of…
Young women’s conceptualisation and self-representation in online dating
Online dating has become an increasingly popular way to meet potential romantic partners. Young women experience a complex interplay between traditional gender roles and elevated risks in online dating. Our project aimed to explore young women’s self-representation in online dating, with the research question, “How do young women conceptualise and represent the ‘self’ in online dating?” . An exploratory qualitative research design was adopted, en…
Hiding in the shadows
Video gaming has evolved into a complex, digital landscape where gender dynamics are increasingly scrutinised. While women now constitute a significant portion of the gaming population, they face unique challenges in a traditionally male-dominated space. Despite the growing presence of women in gaming, persistent gender inequalities continue to shape their experiences and identities within gaming cultures. This qualitative study explored how wome…
The rules of the academic game
The Australian higher education system has its origins in the “Oxbridge” model, and while traces of its Eurocentric heritage persist, the system has evolved through a blend of continuity and change. To grasp the trajectory of Australian higher education, it is essential to delve into its historical development and the pivotal events that have shaped its current form. This article explores significant milestones in the establishment of Australian …
Protected, But Unprotected
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the ways in which academics engage in their work, with many unique demands, anxieties, and pressures placed on them. Adjustments to the work and home lives have been made as a result. I explored how Western Australian academics experienced working in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. 11 participants were interviewed, and data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings illustrated (1…
From Nuclear to Diverse
In contemporary times, the conceptualisation of marriage has shifted; however, societal attitudes and cultural ideologies regarding its construction remain complex. As such, unique generational perspectives are needed to reflect on how marriage has evolved and to comment on ongoing tensions related to it. This study explores how individuals born in the 1960s conceptualise marriage, examining the complex interplay between traditional values and ev…
Empowering Undergraduate Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine
The representation and success of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) have sparked discussions, given their underrepresentation in these traditionally male-dominated fields. While women comprise 40% of STEMM undergraduates, senior-level positions see this figure drop below 20%. Research suggests that gender disparities in STEMM participation result from motivational differences, rather than competence. As …
Towards a social constructionist, criticalist, Foucauldian-informed qualitative research approach
In this paper, I delve into the application of a social constructionist, critical, and Foucauldian approach, and shed light on the complexities and nuances that arise when studying human behaviour and societal dynamics. While social constructionism offers valuable insights into how social action is constructed within everyday interactions in political and socio-cultural contexts, it also prompts further inquiries that extend beyond its epistemolo…
“Comply, strategise, or resist?”
The becoming of, and being, an early-career academic is a dynamic journey, marked by movement through learning, adapting, and adopting new skills and capacities, being ‘thrown in the deep end’ of academic responsibilities, and beginning to develop an academic identity. We explored how early-career women academics within Australian universities conceptualise their academic identities, and the subject positions (i.e., identities/ways of being) made…
All we have to do, is do it all”
I'm an Academic, Now What
The becoming of, and being, a later-career woman academic is marked by being positioned to play a key role in the operation of the academic institution. Tensions emerge when later-career women academics are expected to balance these expectations, while simultaneously contemplating how they choose to remain, work, and identify within academia. We qualitatively explored how Australian later-career women academics conceptualise their academic identi…
Exploring and Critiquing Women’s Academic Identity in Higher Education
Academia has been characterized as traditional, hierarchical, and selective, founded on patriarchal, imperial, and colonial values that construct and maintain gendered roles and regulations. This has been proposed to disadvantage how women experience, and identify within, academia. A narrative review was conducted to review the literature on women’s academic identities and experiences, and critique the dominant ways of knowing, being, and doing i…
All we have to do, is do it all”
I'm an Academic, Now What
The becoming of, and being, a later-career woman academic is marked by being positioned to play a key role in the operation of the academic institution. Tensions emerge when later-career women academics are expected to balance these expectations, while simultaneously contemplating how they choose to remain, work, and identify within academia. We qualitatively explored how Australian later-career women academics conceptualise their academic identi…
Australian Value or Political Rhetoric? The Media's Use of the Fair Go in Australia
Deceivingly simple and often colloquial, the Fair Go is pervasive to the Australian lexicon and a feature of the projected national identity. The Fair Go has historically been used as a plea for fairness in contexts where there is perceived injustice. The Australian media hold significant power to shape public perceptions and debate, including those around fairness; however, there is a limited understanding as to how the Australian media use the …
Exploring and Critiquing Women’s Academic Identity in Higher Education
Academia has been characterized as traditional, hierarchical, and selective, founded on patriarchal, imperial, and colonial values that construct and maintain gendered roles and regulations. This has been proposed to disadvantage how women experience, and identify within, academia. A narrative review was conducted to review the literature on women’s academic identities and experiences, and critique the dominant ways of knowing, being, and doing i…
Towards a social constructionist, criticalist, Foucauldian-informed qualitative research approach
In this paper, I delve into the application of a social constructionist, critical, and Foucauldian approach, and shed light on the complexities and nuances that arise when studying human behaviour and societal dynamics. While social constructionism offers valuable insights into how social action is constructed within everyday interactions in political and socio-cultural contexts, it also prompts further inquiries that extend beyond its epistemolo…
“Comply, strategise, or resist?”
The becoming of, and being, an early-career academic is a dynamic journey, marked by movement through learning, adapting, and adopting new skills and capacities, being ‘thrown in the deep end’ of academic responsibilities, and beginning to develop an academic identity. We explored how early-career women academics within Australian universities conceptualise their academic identities, and the subject positions (i.e., identities/ways of being) made…
All we have to do, is do it all”
I'm an Academic, Now What
The becoming of, and being, a later-career woman academic is marked by being positioned to play a key role in the operation of the academic institution. Tensions emerge when later-career women academics are expected to balance these expectations, while simultaneously contemplating how they choose to remain, work, and identify within academia. We qualitatively explored how Australian later-career women academics conceptualise their academic identi…
STEMM unveiled
Despite significant progress in gender equality, pervasive gender stereotypes and discrimination persist worldwide. These ingrained perceptions, based on gender, contribute to the disadvantage experienced by women in multiple areas of their lives. This is especially evident in female professionals studying and working within male-dominated fields like Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM), where the representation of…
Young women’s conceptualisation and self-representation in online dating
Online dating has become an increasingly popular way to meet potential romantic partners. Young women experience a complex interplay between traditional gender roles and elevated risks in online dating. Our project aimed to explore young women’s self-representation in online dating, with the research question, “How do young women conceptualise and represent the ‘self’ in online dating?” . An exploratory qualitative research design was adopted, en…
Hiding in the shadows
Video gaming has evolved into a complex, digital landscape where gender dynamics are increasingly scrutinised. While women now constitute a significant portion of the gaming population, they face unique challenges in a traditionally male-dominated space. Despite the growing presence of women in gaming, persistent gender inequalities continue to shape their experiences and identities within gaming cultures. This qualitative study explored how wome…
The rules of the academic game
The Australian higher education system has its origins in the “Oxbridge” model, and while traces of its Eurocentric heritage persist, the system has evolved through a blend of continuity and change. To grasp the trajectory of Australian higher education, it is essential to delve into its historical development and the pivotal events that have shaped its current form. This article explores significant milestones in the establishment of Australian …
Protected, But Unprotected
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the ways in which academics engage in their work, with many unique demands, anxieties, and pressures placed on them. Adjustments to the work and home lives have been made as a result. I explored how Western Australian academics experienced working in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. 11 participants were interviewed, and data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings illustrated (1…
From Nuclear to Diverse
In contemporary times, the conceptualisation of marriage has shifted; however, societal attitudes and cultural ideologies regarding its construction remain complex. As such, unique generational perspectives are needed to reflect on how marriage has evolved and to comment on ongoing tensions related to it. This study explores how individuals born in the 1960s conceptualise marriage, examining the complex interplay between traditional values and ev…
Empowering Undergraduate Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine
The representation and success of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) have sparked discussions, given their underrepresentation in these traditionally male-dominated fields. While women comprise 40% of STEMM undergraduates, senior-level positions see this figure drop below 20%. Research suggests that gender disparities in STEMM participation result from motivational differences, rather than competence. As …
“Taking the piss, and taking a stand”
Lad culture is a pervasive social phenomenon characterised by group mentality and hegemonic masculine ideals. This study explores Australian lad culture to understand the obstacles men face navigating masculine social spaces and tensions between personal values and social conformity. Building on limited UK-focused research, this study examines the distinctly Australian cultural context shaped by larrikin traditions rather than class-based express…
“Loading…representation”
While gaming aspires to be a universal medium, its spaces remain deeply stratified by identity-based power structures and systemic discrimination. Using intersectional theory and a social constructionist framework, this study examines how age, gender, race, and sexuality intersect to shape experiences of representation and discrimination in gaming spaces. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 Australian gamers (aged 19–36 …
Restricted to the “Traditional Female Role”
Australia is faced with gendered issues like intimate partner violence and sexual assault which are perpetuated by widespread negative public attitudes that position women as an inferior gender. High-school Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) offers one intervention into these gendered issues. Research shows students dissatisfaction with RSE and gendered inequalities within it. Based on reflections of recent Australian high-school graduates, thi…
Flying solo
While traditional relationships were defined by conventional gender roles, contemporary Australian society has witnessed significant shifts in relationship patterns, particularly in how young women approach and experience singlehood. Despite increasing acceptance of diverse relationship choices, defining singlehood remains complex and multifaceted, especially within the Australian context where changing social norms and digital technology create …
Beyond the game
Australian Value or Political Rhetoric? The Media's Use of the Fair Go in Australia
Deceivingly simple and often colloquial, the Fair Go is pervasive to the Australian lexicon and a feature of the projected national identity. The Fair Go has historically been used as a plea for fairness in contexts where there is perceived injustice. The Australian media hold significant power to shape public perceptions and debate, including those around fairness; however, there is a limited understanding as to how the Australian media use the …
Beyond Good Intentions
Researchers who identify as men that conduct gender equity research in academic contexts face unique methodological and ethical challenges stemming from their positionality within institutional power structures. This paper presents a theoretically grounded framework for conducting power-conscious qualitative research across gender differences, drawing from both personal experience, and broader literature on feminist methodology, critical theory, …
Beyond the Avatar
Current research directed toward exploring the complexities of experiences within video gaming culture often comprises male-majority yet mixed-gender samples. Although valuable, these findings do not provide a male-representative overview of male gamers and risk diluting male gamer experiences as universal to all gamers, losing valuable gendered perspectives. In our study, we aimed to bridge this research gap by addressing: “What are the experien…
All the Feels, None of the Labels
Relationship dynamics in young adulthood in Australia are evolving with greater exploration of alternative relationships such as ‘situationships’—informal romantic connections where commitment and long-term relationship progression toward marriage are not prioritised—yet little is known about how young adults experience these increasingly common relationships. This qualitative study explored ‘situationship’ experiences through semi-structured int…
Sociology (14 works) · Political science (10 works) · Psychology (10 works) · Gender Studies (8 works) · Qualitative research (8 works) · Social science (7 works) · Gender Diversity and Inequality (5 works) · Gender Roles and Identity Studies (5 works) · Reflexivity (5 works) · Thematic analysis (5 works)