Sociology

I joined Keele University as Senior Lecturer in Sociology in 2006, having previously worked at Durham University (2000-2006) and the University of Stirling (1997-2000). I investigate the intersections between consumption and domestic life, and I have an interest in the adult child dimension of consumer culture; gender, feminism and consumption; mundane everyday domestic practices and products; consumer culture in late modernity; food, kitchens, home, domestic artifacts, intergenerational relationships and domestic identities. I am interested in qualitative and ethnographic research techniques, data handling, and know a few things about cross-tabulations and SPSS.

My research interests focus on consumption and domestic life and I also have an interest in qualitative research methodology, having recently completed an ESRC-funded project in which I researched the potential of video recording in an investigation of everyday life and practices in domestic kitchens. My research agenda is positioned at the intersection between consumption and domestic life. I adopt an approach informed by feminist sociology in an attempt to develop theories of consumption and domestic life that are more gender 'informed' and that aid an analysis of continuity and change in consumer culture, domestic cultures and domestic identities in late modern society. I am currently working on three different substantive terrains with overlapping theoretical concerns. These are:

• Gender & Consumption
• Mundane Practices and Products
• Adults, Children and Consumer Culture

I contribute towards the undergraduate teaching programme in sociology,

• SOC 10012 Researching British Society - Module Leader
• MDS 10008 Mediated World - Module Leader
• SOC 30029 Gender and Consumption - Module Leader