Ella Hodge is a masters’ fellow at AVReQ, pursuing an MA in Sociology at Stellenbosch University (SU). She holds a BA Humanities (cum laude), majoring in sociology, history, and psychology, and a BAHons in Sociology (cum laude) from SU. Passionate about criminal justice reform, she has participated in the Ubuntu Learning Community programme at Brandvlei Correctional Centre and supported initiatives at Allandale Correctional Centre. Her research interests relate to the intersection of gender and race with crime and punishment, particularly in how it plays out in public and official discourse.

Current Research Project

Ella Hodge’s research explores how crime and criminality are constructed among racialized white South Africans and the extent to which apartheid-era racial and gendered crime narratives persist. Post-1994, rising fear of crime among white South Africans has contributed to the continuation of social and spatial divides by reinforcing segregation through private security, gated communities and “white flight”. Recognizing that historical and contemporary crime narratives shape these perceptions, the study first examines apartheid-era constructions of crime. It then explores how white residents in a privately secured area construct criminality today. By tracing these narratives, the study aims to contribute to understanding how South Africa’s history continues to shape perceptions of crime and how this influences broader social and spatial divisions.

Supervisors: Dr Wilhelm Verwoerd & Dr Claire-Anne Lester

Email: 25092448@sun.ac.za