![Professor Mhairi Gibson](https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/files/289237433/Mhairi_Speyside_2018.jpg)
Professor Mhairi Gibson
B.A.(Dunelm.), M.Phil.(Cantab.), Ph.D.(U.C.Lond.)
Current positions
Professor of Anthropology
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Contact
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Research interests
My research focuses on population and health issues, incorporating theories and methods from human behavioural ecology and anthropology. Based on long-term fieldwork in South-Central Ethiopia I study recent changes in reproductive and parenting decision-making among Arsi Oromo agropastoralists. I also work on the social dynamics of normative practices which are harmful to women and girls. In particular, I am interested in identifying the individual and community factors which explain the persistence of female genital cutting/mutilation and intimate partner violence in high-risk communities.
I welcome research proposals, in particular within Human Behavioural Ecology, Evolutionary Anthropology, and Applied Anthropology.
Recently supervised student topics include:
- Testing evolutionary explanations for “harmful cultural traditions”
- Developing specialized survey techniques for measuring sensitive behaviour
- Socio-ecology of infectious disease in Uganda
- Human behavioural ecology of labour migration in Ethiopia
- Infant feeding practices in Somali-born women in Bristol
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Scoping study for a survey of FGC/M-prevalence in the UK
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
This project involves the first stage in the development of a survey to enable more reliable estimates of FGC/M prevalence among young people in the UK. It directly responds to…Managing organisational unit
School of Sociology, Politics and International StudiesDates
02/05/2022 to 31/07/2022
BA Heritage Dignity and Violence GCRF
Principal Investigator
Description
One key but unmet target for global policymakers is to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). Over 25 million (or two thirds) of Ethiopian women are thought to be cut, the…Managing organisational unit
Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyDates
18/11/2019 to 30/11/2023
Measuring harmful cultural practices using randomized response techniques
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyDates
01/12/2015 to 30/11/2017
Biological and Human Dimensions of Primate Retroviral Transmission
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of Anthropology and ArchaeologyDates
01/10/2011 to 30/09/2017
Cross-cultural variation in face preferences
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School of ArtsDates
01/11/2010 to 01/11/2011
Thesis supervisions
Publications
Recent publications
14/06/2024Evolutionary Approaches to Population Health
Human Evolutionary Demography
Applying anthropology to female genital mutilation/cutting
Applying anthropology to female genital mutilation/cutting
Social clustering of preference for female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC) in South-Central Ethiopia
Social clustering of preference for female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC) in South-Central Ethiopia
Abandoning female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC) is an emerging but costly parental investment strategy in rural Ethiopia
Social Science and Medicine
Reproductive inequality in humans and other mammals
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America