Personal profile
Research interests
My research seeks to understand variation in women's reproductive life histories and health, incorporating theories and methods from human behavioural ecology, social statistics and anthropology. Based on long-term fieldwork in South-Central Ethiopia I study the drivers of recent changes in reproduction, health and parenting among Arsi Oromo farmers. 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.
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
Research Groups and Themes
- International Development
- Cabot Institute Water Research
- Cabot Institute Food Security Research
- Cabot Institute Environmental Change Research
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Research output
-
Applying Anthropology to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
Van Bavel, H. & Gibson, M. A., 1 Mar 2026, In: American Anthropologist. 128, 1, p. 195-205 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access -
Gender biased clustering of attitudes towards physical intimate partner violence: a social network analysis in South-Central Ethiopia
Gibson, M. A., Gurmu, E., Alvergne, A., Redhead, D. & Myers, S., 17 Sept 2025, In: PNAS Nexus. 4, 9, 12 p., pgaf282.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access41 Downloads (Pure) -
Social clustering of preference for female genital mutilation/cutting in south-central Ethiopia
Myers, S., Gurmu, E., Alvergne, A., Redhead, D., Howard, J. A. D. & Gibson, M. A., 1 Sept 2025, In: Nature Human Behaviour. 9, 9, p. 1802-1814 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access4 Citations (Scopus)
Projects
- 5 Finished
-
Scoping study for a survey of FGC/M-prevalence in the UK
Karlsen, S. I. (Principal Investigator), Carver, N. (Co-Investigator), Pantazis, C. (Co-Investigator), Gibson, M. A. (Co-Investigator), Van Bavel, H. (Co-Investigator) & Gangoli, G. (Co-Investigator)
2/05/22 → 31/07/22
Project: Research
-
BA Heritage Dignity and Violence GCRF
Gibson, M. A. (Principal Investigator), Gurmu, E. (Co-Investigator) & Alvergne, A. (Co-Investigator)
18/11/19 → 30/11/23
Project: Research
-
Measuring harmful cultural practices using randomized response techniques
Gurmu, E. (Collaborator), Scott, I. (Collaborator) & Gibson, M. A. (Principal Investigator)
1/12/15 → 30/11/17
Project: Research
-
Evolutionary Psychology (Journal)
Gibson, M. A. (Editor)
2019Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
-
University of Cambridge Biological Anthropology
Gibson, M. A. (Examiner)
2018 → 2021Activity: Examination types › External Examination and Supervision