High Impact Research: Our national profile

Dr Joel Busher (University of East London) :
Extremists? Racists? Thugs?...Patiots?
The everyday lives of English Defense League Activists'

 Dr Joel Busher was the latest external speaker to present research as part of the on-going Centre for Research in the Social Sciences seminar series. During his well-attended seminar, he provided a rich overview of his research which involves ethnographic research with the English Defence League (EDL) in Southeast England. His research focuses on the everyday experiences of EDL activists, the processes and practices of identification, and the production of social boundaries of membership. He noted in his presentation that he sought to understand the motivations for EDL activism rather than focus on questions of its perceived political and social threat. During his research, he attended demonstrations, social gatherings and suchlike, and undertook a range of interviews with different people within the EDL. 

Dr Busher was working for the Civil Service when he became aware of a lack of knowledge about the EDL, which he set out to address. He noted that the EDL had made concerted efforts to make itself appear politically legitimate, and to publically distance from far-right parties such as the British National Party. His seminar presentation revealed the complexities and tensions within the movement, and the existance of breakaway elements that have been involved in creating public order disturbances. He concluded by noting that although the EDL leadership had sought to reject the designation of the term 'extremists', arguing that they represented a moderate multicultural Englishness, they had often failed to successfully project this epithet due to the broad range of views of its membership.

The School of Human and Health Sciences is pleased to announce that Dr Busher has accepted an offer to join the University of Huddersfield as a Research Fellow. He will contribute to develop of new research agendas across the School.

Future Directions for Gender Studies in Times of Austerity

Dr Surya Monro provided an invited contribution to a roundtable discussion which launched the Gender Study Group of the British Sociological Association (BSA) at the BSA Annual conference in Leeds (12 April 2012), alongside eminent scholars Professor Ruth Holliday, Professor Stevi Jackson, Professor Sasha Roseneil and Professor Yvette Taylor (Yvette’s talk was presented in her absence). We considered ways in which gender studies and feminist research can respond to the current climate of austerity in UK Higher Education, in order to ensure that ‘gender’ remains pivotal within the academy, at both conceptual and substantive levels. Surya Monro analysed issues of gender and diversity, drawing on her recent work regarding intersectionality theory and her current research about bisexuality. Ruth Holliday discussed Gender Studies in relation to Higher Education, whilst Sasha Roseneil addressed issues regarding the research agenda, Stevi Jackson analysed the Research Excellence Framework in relation to Gender Studies and Yvette Taylor’s talk concerned activism. We discussed future directions for the discipline of Gender Studies, and approaches that can ensure that the discipline does not just survive, but goes on to thrive.

Surya Monro has made several media appearances recently, including contributing to a discussion about bisexuality on Radio 4 Woman’s Hour (April 30^th 2012) and to a debate about gay marriage on The Pulse (March 2012).

Sex Offenders and institutionalisation

Dr Carla Reeves presented a paper at the Regional Research Seminar of the British Society of Criminology titled: Qualitative Research with Offenders.  Thursday 22 March 2012 titled ‘Sex offender grouping and the normalisation of offending attitudes’. This presentation focused on the experiences of sex offenders living within a Probation Approved Premises (hostel). Of primary concern is the way in which resident sex offenders group together within the hostel environment and the function that this serves for them. The presentation drew upon the sociology of friendship formation as well as the work of Sykes and Matza (1957) in respect to techniques of neutralisation and considers the role of the group in normalising neutralisations and, thus, resisting offence-based work.  The presentation used the findings of 2 years of ethnographic participant observation and interviewing within a single hostel. This study explored the interactions between sex offender residents, other residents and staff. The focus was on the way in which sex offenders experience institutional life within the unique, but often overlooked, sphere of Probation Approved Premises.

Race Relations and Integration

Dr Sharon Wray attended the Runnymede Academic Forum meeting on Wednesday 18th April. The session was organised around two main themes; 'Race relations in austerity Britain - what should we expect?' and 'Measuring migrant integration through MIPEX III'. There were presentations on these topics by Dr Alessio D'Angelo (Middlesex University) and Dr Ben Gidley (ESRC Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) University of Oxford). A number of issues were raised and discussed in relation to the first theme including; the commissioning of BME services, the current move to 'social enterprise' and away from the 'right to provision'. There was also a lively discussion of the different ways MIPEX III could be used in research. Runnymede's current projects cover a range of topics for example; unemployment in black communities, retirement decision making, stop and search practices, and intergenerational experience's of racism. They have recently produced a report entitled 'Secularism, Racism and the Politics of Belonging', which explores the relationships between religion, the citizen and the state. See their web site for further details: http://www.runnymedetrust.org/

From the public to the private – multiple identities in a changing landscape

Dr Jo Woodiwiss presented a paper at the British Sociological Association conference (LSE, April 2011) which looked at (multiple) self, (multiple) identity and autobiography, and the links between childhood experiences and adult identities. In particular, it focussed on the production / representation of multiple selves or personalities, intimate relationships, and the negotiation between their public and private lives. The paper drew on two related research projects which share an interest in the ways we construct, represent, communicate and negotiate our sense of self (or selves) - which increasingly can involve the virtual world(s) of the Internet. Beginning with the emergence of multiple selves or personalities and the worlds they inhabit, the paper goes on to look at the populating of the Internet by online or virtual selves and the relationship between such selves and the ‘external world’. The Internet has enabled the creation of virtual worlds inhabited by virtual and multiple selves through online communities ranging from social networking sites to support groups - including those aimed at people living with multiple personalities. Whilst many believe multiple personalities are caused by (particularly sexual) abuse in childhood, concrete memories are not needed to re-construct an abuse narrative or identify multiple personalities in ones adult life.

Fixing Broken Britain? Social Policy under the Coalition

In its first 12 months in power the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government embarked upon an ambitious programme of social policy reform. Dr Richard Hayton presented a paper at the ‘Cameron and the conservatives: The transition to Coalition Government’conference, University of Leeds, in April 2011 which analysed the social policy objectives the coalition identified, and progress towards implementation of them in its first year in office. It also considered the reality of this process against rhetoric emanating from government ministers, and weighed up the likelihood of success of the programme as a whole and elements within it. The paper argued that the coalition’s social policy is being driven by three main pressures. Firstly, the overriding imperative identified by the politicians involved to reduce the deficit in the public finances, and meet their self-imposed target of eliminating the structural deficit within the lifetime of the current parliament. This perceived need derives from both the neo-liberal framework which prevails in economic discourse in the United Kingdom in general and the Conservative Party in particular, and the constraints of the integrated global economy. Secondly, an ideological commitment to fundamentally rebalance the relationship between the state, economy and society, to reduce the scope and scale of the state’s role.  In this respect, the deficit has provided an opportunity for the coalition to present a picture of a crisis in the public finances, and pursue this ideological objective on seemingly pragmatic grounds. Thirdly, the form and nature of specific policy proposals within the broad field of social policy is being shaped by the dynamics of coalition, namely the need to negotiate positions acceptable to both parties. A related aspect of this is a desire held by both Nick Clegg and David Cameron that the government be able to present its reforms as ‘progressive’.

The British Society of Gerontology 40^th Annual Conference 2011

Dr Sharon Wray reports from the British Society of Gerontology annual conference (July 2011, (University of Plymouth): ‘The conference programme covered a diverse range of topics ranging from well being and quality of life issues to innovations in technology and care. There were also two research-based visual arts exhibitions on display throughout the conference. The images presented in these exhibitions provoked discussion and debate about the representation of older bodies.

The paper presentation sessions I attended were insightful and provided interesting information on the factors affecting quality of life for older people both nationally and internationally. For example, Mazlynda Md Yusuf spoke about the factors influencing women’s pensions in Malaysia. Ling Wu focused on the unequal pension arrangements amongst different groups in China. This included discussion of the economic and social impact of the one child policy. Karan Jutila discussed the difficulties experienced by people with dementia in the Sikh community in Wolverhampton.

My presentation was based on life-history research with older (age 60+) Pakistani and Indian migrant women. It explored their experiences of living with traumatic memories and the impact of these on their health and well-being. An aim was to contribute to the development of an approach to the study of ageing that does not consign memories to the past, but is able to theorise their impact on the present and the future’.

Ageplay, Crime and Sexuality

In March 2011 Dr Carla Reeves gave a presentation about ageplay in Second Life at the Hallam Centre for Community Justice Seminar. Second Life is an adult-only online virtual social world in which players operate through animated characters called avatars. Ageplay is the practice of adult players operating as child avatars. Some people who have child avatars use them to engage in virtual sexual interaction with other child avatars or adult avatars. Sexual ageplay has become a concern to police investigators because of an assumed link between this activity and the risk of the player committing real world child abuse. Sexual ageplayers have also been linked to distribution networks of child abuse imagery. The legal status of ageplay is contentious and no prosecutions have been attempted internationally as yet. However, there is a growing concern amongst criminologists that the practice of sexual ageplay may promote real world abuse. This presentation discussed these concerns and considered research that informs this debate.

Community Cohesion and Prevent - Impact at a regional level

Yorkshire and Humber is one of the most diverse regions in England in terms of its population and range of neighbourhoods, villages, towns and cities. The regional community cohesion network plays an important role in fostering good relations across Yorkshire and Humber. In February 2011 Dr Surya Monro presented findings from a recently conducted research project about community cohesion and Prevent, to this regional network at a meeting in York. The event was attended by a range of people, including community and voluntary sector representatives, Local Authority Councilors, managers and frontline staff, and representatives of the Police Service. The research project was funded by Local Government Yorkshire and Humber, and led by Dr Surya Monro in collaboration with Dr Paul Thomas, Dr Andy Mycock and Umar Razaq.

Diversity and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people

Dr Surya Monro has presented findings from the large ESRC funded project on Organisational Change, Resistance and Democracy: LGBT Equalities in Local Government at a wide range of conferences and related events, including the British Sociological Association annual conference (April 2010), and the Gender, Work and Organisation international conference (June 2010). In particular, she provided a keynote speech for the Transforming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans Lives: Activism and Research for Gender and Sexual Liberation conference, Brighton, September 2010. Material presented at these conferences will be included in a Palgrave Macmillan book, co-authored with Professor Diane Richardson at the University of Newcastle, and forthcoming in 2011. The research has been high impact, for example in April 2010 the Sexuality, Equality and Local Governance team a workshop with the Equality commission for Northern Ireland in Antrim, titled ‘Broadening Horizons: Sexuality, and Diversity and Equality in Local Government’ and facilitated by Dr Ann McNulty and Christina Stoll. The project has been covered by the national and regional media. See more details about the project and the project report.

Breastfeeding, Babies and Fatherhood

Dr Abigail Locke has presented at a wide range of conferences and events in the UK over the last year, including the paper ‘“It's not like I was just sat at home waiting to have a baby for ten years.” Constructing the timing of pregnancy as a woman’s choice: Implications for the “older mother”’ which was presented at the Qualitative Methods in Psychology Conference, University of Nottingham UK, August 2010 and ‘“In practice the theory’s different”. Dilemmas and tensions in the teaching of breastfeeding’. Presentation at Qualitative Methods in Psychology Conference, University of Nottingham UK, August 2010.

Supporting Community Cohesion

What is taking place in Yorkshire and Humber to support communities ‘getting on well’ together? What good practice is there, and what challenges are ongoing?

The University of Huddersfield was delighted to host a very successful event on 13 December 2010 to launch the findings from a research project about community cohesion and Prevent, funded by Local Government Yorkshire and Humber. The research project was led by Dr Surya Monro in collaboration with Dr Paul Thomas, Dr Andy Mycock and Umar Razaq. This closed event allowed people working in the field to share ideas and strategies, using the project report as a basis and then moving on to look at practice in the localities of Kirklees and Bradford. The event was attended by a range of people, including community and voluntary sector representatives, Local Authority Councillors, managers and frontline staff, and representatives of the Police and the Probation Services. An open seminar based on the project will take place in March 2011. See our seminar series page.

The Big Society – special lecture

Dr Andy Mycock gave a very timely and well-attended special lecture on the Big Society at the University of Huddersfield in November 2010. He addressed the implications of the Big Society for the University, local government and third sector organisations. Andy considered the political drivers for the Big Society narrative and how it seeks to reconfigure the relationships between national and local government, the public sector, community and voluntary organisations, and communities and citizens.