Dr Joanne Cassar joined the department of Youth and Community Studies at the University of Malta in 2009 after teaching in other higher education institutions for 17 years. Her doctoral studies focused on adolescent girls' conceptualisations of different aspects of sexualities expressed covertly at school. In recent years she continued to develop her research interests in gender, sexual identities, the formation of masculinities and femininities, body image and sexuality education in formal and hidden curricula. Her academic publications revolve around the notion of young people's sexualities as social, discursive and materialist constructs, which reflect the myriad ways sexual behaviours are perceived and acted out. A number of her publications also examine the notion of belonging and voice in relation to refugees. Dr. Cassar has carried out various research projects about young people on a local level as well as in collaboration with other European and international research partners. She is also one of the authors of the Maltese National Youth Policy.
