Before joining Huddersfield University in 1992, Professor Bryson lectured and researched in Political Theory (particularly feminist political theory) and Political Sociology at City of London Polytechnic, Manchester Polytechnic, Manchester University, Liverpool University, Bradford University and the Open University. She was appointed Professor of Politics in 2002 in recognition of her record of research excellence. Founder of the Centre for Democracy and Governance in 2006 and Director until August 2008. Unit of Assessment Coordinator for the Politics and International Relations RAE entry. Convener (with Dr Georgina Blakeley) of a series of Political Theory conferences at the University in 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2007. Appointed Emerita Professor on her retirement in 2010, she remains an active researcher, with ongoing links to the Univerity.

Professor Bryson has published extensively on feminist theory and politics; her book Feminist Debates has been translated into Japanese, the second edition of her influential Feminist Political Theory has been translated into Greek and Russian. She has co-edited four books arising out of conferences at the University. Her recent work has focussed on the politics of time. In 2007, she became a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Gender Excellence at the University of Orebro, Sweden; she has co-edited a book resulting from this and continues to have active links with Orebro.

My research interests focus on the overlapping areas of feminist political theory, women and politics and the politics of time.Work currently in progress:

1. Refereed article ‘Towards a Political Theory of Time’
2. Valerie Bryson Anna Jonasdottir and Kathleen Jones (eds) Gender, Sexuality and Globalisation. (Routledge). This prestigious international collection arises from my time as visiting research fellow at University of Orebro, Sweden. I will be co-writing an Introduction and contributing a chapter, as well as editing other chapters.
3. Valerie Bryson and Pamela Fisher (eds) Redefining Social Justice: New Labour rhetoric and reality.  A proposal for this edited volume, arising out of the Centre for Democracy and Governance 2008 research day (part of the University Research Festival), is being considered by Manchester University Press. If accepted, I will co-write an Introduction and contribute a chapter, jointly with Ruth Deery.
4. Valerie Bryson and Tim Heppell refereed article on ‘Conservatism and feminism today: the case of the British Conservative Party’. 
5. Georgina Blakeley and Valerie Bryson. Mind the Gap! Democracy in Theory and in Practice. A selection of papers from our jointly organised conference is being considered for a special issue of Contemporary Political Theory.  If accepted, I will co-write an Introduction for this 
6. Valerie Bryson and Ruth Deery ‘Public policy, ‘men’s time’ and power: the work of midwives in the British National Health Service (NHS)’.  This is being considered by Women’s Studies International Forum

2011

Bryson, V (2011) ‘Time to Love’. In: GEXcel Work in Progress Report Volume XI: Proceedings from GEXcel Theme 10: Love in Our Time - A Question For Feminism. : GEXcel. pp. 99-101. ISBN 9789173931939

Bryson, V (2011) ‘Report from Workshop 2’. In: GEXcel Work in Progress Report Volume XI: Proceedings from GEXcel Theme 10: Love in Our Time - A Question For Feminism. : GEXcel. pp. 85-88. ISBN 9789173931939

Bryson, V. and Deery, R. (2011) ‘Social justice and time: the impact of public sector reform on the work of midwives in the National Health Service’. In: Redefining Social Justice: New Labour rhetoric and reality. Manchester: Manchester University Press. . ISBN 9780719082207

Bryson, V. and Deery, R. (2011) ‘Social justice and time: the impact of public sector reform on the work of midwives in the National Health Service (NHS)’. In: Redefining social justice: New Labour, rhetoric and reality. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. . ISBN 9780719082207

2010

Jonasdottir, A., Bryson, V. and Jones, K. (2010) Sexuality, Gender and Power: Intersectional and Transnational Perspectives . Routledge Advances in Feminist Studies and Intersectionality. : Routledge . ISBN 9780415880879

Bryson, V (2010) ‘Sexuality: the contradictions of love and work’. In: Sexuality, Gender and Power: Intersectional and Transnational Perspectives. : Routledge. . ISBN 9780415880879

Blakeley, G. and Bryson, V. (2010) ‘Mind the gap: Democracy in theory and in practice’ Contemporary Political Theory , 9 (4), pp. 359-392. ISSN 1470-8914

Bryson, V. and Heppell, T. (2010) ‘Conservatism and feminism: the case of the British Conservative Party ’ Journal of political ideologies , 15 (1), pp. 31-50. ISSN 1356-9317

Bryson, V. and Deery, R. (2010) ‘Public policy, ‘men's time’ and power: The work of community midwives in the British National Health Service’ Women's Studies International Forum , 33 (2), pp. 91-98. ISSN 0277-5395

Bryson, V (2010) ‘A Conservative Government: bad news for women?’. In: Shifting Agendas: Women and Politics Specialist Group of the Political Studies Association Annual Conference 2010, 19th February 2010, University of Manchester, UK

2009

Bryson, V (2009) ‘The F-word: has the battle been won or do we still need feminism? ’. In: The F-word: has the battle been won or do we still need feminism? Public Debate, 9th December 2009, The Huddersfield Salon, Huddersfield, UK

2008

Bryson, V (2008) ‘Get Real: Love, Work and the Material Bases of Oppression’. In: GEXcel Work in Progress Report. Sweden: Institute of Thematic Gender Studies: Dept. of Gender Studies, Linköping University and Centre for Feminist Social Studies, Örebro University. pp. 21-24. ISBN 978-91-7393-800-6

Bryson, V (2008) ‘Report from Workshop 1 – Sexuality, Love and Social Theory’. In: GEXcel Work in Progress Report. Sweden: Institute of Thematic Gender Studies: Dept. of Gender Studies, Linköping University and Centre for Feminist Social Studies, Örebro University. pp. 121-124. ISBN 978-91-7393-800-6

Bryson, V. and Deery, R. (2008) ‘Public policy, power and time: a case study of community-based midwives in the NHS’. In: University of Huddersfield Research Festival 2008, 25 Feb-13 March 2008, Huddersfield

Bryson, V (2008) ‘From making tools to making love: Marx, materialism and feminist thought’. In: GEXcel Work in Progress Report. Sweden: Institute of thematic gender studies, Dept. of Gender Studies, Linköping University. pp. 23-36. ISBN 978-91-7393-983-6

Bryson, V (2008) ‘Poverty, work and care’ Soundings a Journal of Politics and Culture . ISSN 1362-6620

Bryson, V (2008) ‘Time-Use Studies’ International Feminist Journal of Politics , 10 (2), pp. 135-153. ISSN 14616742

2007

Bryson, V (2007) Gender and the politics of time: feminist theory and contemporary debates . Bristol, UK: The Policy Press . ISBN 9781861347497

Bryson, V (2007) ‘Time’. In: The impact of feminism on political concepts and debates. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. pp. 161-178. ISBN 9780719075117

Bryson, V (2007) ‘The politics of time’ Soundings a Journal of Politics and Culture (36). ISSN 1362-6620

Blakeley, G. and Bryson, V. (2007) The impact of feminism on political concepts and debates . London, UK: Manchester University Press . ISBN 9780719075117

Bryson, V (2007) ‘Perspectives in Gender Equality: Challenging the Terms of Debates’. In: The future of gender. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 35-53. ISBN 9780521874410

2006

Bryson, V (2006) ‘Andrea Dworkin, feminist political theory and the role of men’. In: Andrea Dworkin Commemorative Conference, Friday 7th April 2007, Oxford University

2005

Bryson, V (2005) ‘Production and reproduction’. In: Marx and other four-letter words. : Pluto Press. . ISBN 9780745322520

2004

Bryson, V (2004) ‘Women, men and free time: do the facts really speak for themselves?’. In: International Association for Time Use Research Conference 2004: The 26th IATUR Conference on Time Use Research, October 2004, Rome , Italy

Bryson, V (2004) ‘Perspectives on sex equality: challenging the terms of debate’. In: 7th Annual Gender Symposium: Gender, Equality and Social Change Post 1945, 5th March 2004, Downing College, Cambridge, UK

Bryson, V (2004) ‘Marxism and feminism: can the "unhappy marriage" be saved? ’ Journal of Political Ideologies , 9 (1), pp. 13-30. ISSN 1356-9317

Bryson, V (2004) ‘Time’. In: Just Something for the Girls?, Sat 13th-Sun 14th November 2004, University of Huddersfield

2003

Bryson, V (2003) ‘Sex, Lies and Time-Use Studies’. In: International Association for Time Use Research Conference 2003: Comparing Time - The 25th IATUR Conference on Time Use Research, 17th - 19th September 2003, Brussels, Belgium

Bryson, V (2003) Feminist political theory: an introduction . Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan . ISBN 0333945689

2002

Blakeley, G. and Bryson, V. (2002) ‘Introduction and Conclusions’. In: Contemporary political concepts: a critical introduction. London: Pluto Press. . ISBN 9780745317960

Bryson, V (2002) ‘Gender’. In: Contemporary political concepts. London, UK: Pluto. pp. 108-125. ISBN 9780745317960

Blakeley, G. and Bryson, V. (2002) Contemporary political concepts . London, UK: Pluto . ISBN 9780745317960

2000

Bryson, V (2000) ‘Feminist challenges to common sense’. In: Feminisms and women's movements in contemporary Europe. Basingstoke: Macmillan. pp. 35-49. ISBN 9780333734797

Women, citizenship and the politics of time

Recent developments in feminist thought have shown that, contrary to their apparent gender neutrality, dominant conceptions of citizenship remain underpinned by gendered assumptions that reflect and sustain male privileges in public and private life. Many writers see time, and the variable ways in which it is used, distributed, experienced and rewarded, as central to these processes; many also link this to the comparative analysis of time-related policies in Western welfare states. Proposals are invited that will explore the theoretical and empirical aspects of these issues.

Gender, feminism and women in the undergraduate Politics curriculum

As an academic discipline, Politics has traditionally ignored or marginalised women and gender issues. Today, many feminists argue further that its underlying assumptions (particularly the public/private distinction) are premised upon the exclusion of women and that they are bound up with the exercise of male power. Proposals are invited that explore these issues in relation to the undergraduate Politics curriculum.

The concept of patriarchy in feminist political thought

Some feminists see the concept of patriarchy as a powerful political tool that illuminates the extent and ubiquity of men’s power over women. Others have rejected it, arguing that it is misleadingly simplistic, a-historical, essentialist and/or based on out-dated assumptions about power and identity. Proposals are invited that examine the concept in the light of recent developments in feminist political thought.

Female politicians and ‘work-life balance’

There is a growing body of empirical research on the impact of female politicians on the political agenda, informed by theories of representation and ‘women’s interests’. Many writers also see the ‘politics of time’ as a key area of feminist concern. Proposals are invited that will bring these areas together, by assessing the impact of female politicians on policies around ‘work-life balance’.

Marxism and feminism: the ‘unhappy marriage’ and beyond

The relationship between feminism and Marxism has never been straightforward. While some left-wing feminists have long argued that Marxist theory provides the key to understanding women’s oppression and/or have joined Marxist organisations, others have argued that women’s interests are marginalised both in Marxist theory and the political practice of Marxist organisations. Proposals are invited that investigate these issues in relation to contemporary thought and/or historical examples.