Invisible and Visible Borders

This essay explores my journey of negotiating belonging as a Polish woman academic in post-Brexit Britain. Drawing on Yuval-Davis’ conceptualisations of belonging, I examine three interconnected dimensions: the shift in my legal status following Brexit; the differences between Polish and UK academic traditions; and my construction of a transnational academic identity. Through examples from teaching, research and everyday interactions, I demonstrate how what began as disorienting cultural differences gradually transformed into opportunities for growth and innovation. The essay reveals how the hybrid perspective I have developed bridges different knowledge traditions, allowing me to contribute to UK academia. This reflexive account contributes to understanding how Central and Eastern European women academics navigate post-migration realities, respond to everyday challenges and deploy agency in creating spaces of belonging in their workplaces and communities.