Research Interest: Sexuality, intimacy, gender, religion, migration, social inequality 

Hello! My name is Ubayd, and I am a Master of Social Science candidate with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where I am also a recipient of the NUS Research Scholarship. My research interests fall within the sociology of sexuality, intimacy, gender, religion, migration, and social inequality. 

Public sociology lies at the heart of my intellectual orientation. Whether through simple academic writing, public talks, the various art forms, or engagement with social media and non-academic stakeholders, I strive to make my research accessible and relevant to the broader public, using it as a tool for social change.  

In my ongoing research, I study the romantic and sexual lives of people from various social groups. To do so sociologically is to consider how romance and sex are not merely personal, private, or psychological phenomena, but are shaped and given meaning by broader social contexts. My first project of this nature examines Singapore’s queer hookup scene, with particular attention to how queer Singaporean men’s experiences of a queered life course influence their hookup motivations. My second project—my Master’s research—examines the romantic relationships between Filipina domestic workers and Bangladeshi CMP (Construction, Marine shipyard and Process) workers in Singapore, taking into account questions of state and employer surveillance, race, and religion. 

Beyond my ongoing projects, I take a deep interest in Islamic revivalist movements, gender and feminist theory, and women’s rights activism, and I am happy to chat about these issues over coffee (with lots of sugar) anytime.