The Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender (CTSG) is pleased to award our 2025 dissertation prize to Luke Watson (BA[Hons] Sociology), for his dissertation entitled How Do Neoliberal Workplaces Influence the Experience of Working Transmasculine Individuals?. This prize is awarded each year to a University of Brighton undergraduate student whose final year dissertation or project addresses one or more of CTSG’s key research areas: LGBTQ+ lives and communities; health, care and wellbeing; and gendered inequalities. Panel members take into account originality and innovation, commitment to improving people’s lives, and the potential to positively influence policy or practice.

 

In awarding the prize, the panel said:

‘In the current social, cultural and political climate this is a timely and relevant piece of work, aligned with all three of the CTSG’s awarding criteria for the prize. Luke offers an innovative development of research on gendered workplaces in neoliberal contexts. His dissertation explores how transmasculine individuals are encouraged to align themselves with competitive masculine identities and practices – though not necessarily in the same ways as cisgender men or others.

We were particularly impressed to see Luke critically discussing key interdisciplinary scholars, and to read his suggestions for how workplaces and wider structures might be reorientated away from hegemonic masculinities- showing his commitment to improving the lives of those impacted by increasingly precarious workplaces. Well done Luke!’

 

Luke responded to the prize as follows:

“I’m so honoured and grateful to have been awarded this prize for my dissertation and to have it recognized in this way is truly encouraging. I’m especially thankful to my supervisor, Luke Edmeads for his guidance and support and to all my peers and mentors who offered feedback along the way. Thank you!”

In addition to a certificate for his achievement, Luke wins a £150 voucher as part of his award.

 

CTSG thanks all of the other nominations for the prize this year, and is pleased to see that University of Brighton students continue to push the boundaries of original and change-oriented research.