Dr Blessing Phakathi

Lecturer

Qualifications:

BA Hons (MSU), MA in English (Cum Laude) (University of Venda), PhD in English (University of Zululand)

About

Dr Blessing Phakathi’s research focuses on narratives of masculinity in South African and Zimbabwean fiction authored by women. Her PhD examines how migration understood as movement from one space or place to another shapes and transforms masculinities within selected women-authored texts. She argues that these narratives position migration as a catalyst for the reconfiguration of masculine identities. Currently, Dr Phakathi teaches Practical English to first-year students, Language Studies to English 2 students, and works on Charles Dickens with English 3 students. She remains research-active through supervising and co-supervising postgraduate students within the English Department.

Research Interests

• Masculinity
• Migration
• Decolonisation
• Narratives of Gender

Professional Membership

• English Academy of Southern Africa

Research Database/ Publications

• ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9604-4979