Dr. Memory Mphaphuli

Memory Mphaphuli is the coordinator of Rhea, which means she is the contact person for everything Rhea and manages the daily running of the Expertise centre. She also takes up teaching duties and connects researchers with each other in the field of gender, diversity and intersectionality studies. 

Memory is a dedicated black feminist sociologist from South Africa, with a profound commitment to advancing critical perspectives on the study of heterosexuality as both a social institution and a lived practice. Her academic journey has been shaped by a passionate pursuit of knowledge in the field of critical gender and sexuality studies, with her primary research focus revolving around the critical examination of heterosexuality—an institution deeply ingrained in societal structures and personal lives. She explores the multifaceted dimensions of heterosexuality, recognizing it as a complex and evolving social construct that intersects with gender, race, age, and class, and power. Her research is therefore firmly rooted in feminist methodologies and theories, which offer a nuanced lens for dissecting the intricacies of gender, sexuality, and power dynamics. Additionally, she incorporates decolonial perspectives, recognizing the enduring influence of apartheid and colonial legacies on contemporary societal structures. She believes that this interdisciplinary approach allows her to challenge normative assumptions and interrogate the intersections of privilege and oppression.