About Dr Karen Atkinson
I joined the University of Sunderland in 2022 after having practised in statutory social work with adults with complex needs. Before becoming a social worker, I held lecturing posts at the Universities of Roehampton, Glamorgan, Wales, Leicester and Newcastle, mainly in the fields of discourse analysis and media and cultural studies.
I have a PhD in intergenerational communication and an MA in Social Work and, relatedly, have researched and published in the area of discourse and ageing. My PhD specifically looked at the everyday talk between domiciliary care workers and older adults in the home during care call visits, examining the interactional complexities of ageist discourses. My later MA thesis explored how family carers of a parent with dementia utilised online social media forums as support to navigate the stresses of their role. A predominant theme across both my teaching and research over the years has been the focus on issues around inequality, power, diversity, identity and community.
My current research interests continue the focus around discourses of care and ageing. I am also working with Dan Baron Cohen (arts educator and cultural community activist in Brazil) and Dr Hellmuth Weich (University of Northumbria) on ecological disasters, social work and communities.
Teaching and supervision
I teach BA (Hons) Social Work (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship) where I'm module leader for Theories for Social Work Practice, and the Service Development Project. I also teach Research Methods for Social Work Practice.
I am also module leader for Contemporary Issues in Social Welfare on BA (Hons) Social Work.
I hold HEA Fellowship (2022).
Interests
- Discourse Analysis and Social Work
- Family Carers of Older Adults with Dementia
- Adults Social Work
- Online Communities of Support
- Eco-Social Work in a World of Climate Change
Research
My PhD focused on intergenerational communication exploring the everyday talk between domiciliary care workers and older adults in the home during care call visits. My MA thesis specifically looked at how family carers of a parent with dementia utilised online social media forums as support to navigate the stresses of their role and changing identities.
My research interests over the years have focused on issues around inequality, power and diversity, and community. My current research interests include discourse of care and ageing and eco-social work and communities.
Publications
Books:
- Language and Power in the Modern World (2003) (with Mary Talbot & David Atkinson). EUP. Also published in the USA by University of Alabama Press.
- Feminisms on Edge: Politics, Discourses and National Identities (2000) (with Gill Plain & Sarah Oerton (eds.) Cardiff Academic Press.
- Women’s Studies: A Reader (1993) (with Stevi Jackson et al.) Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Book chapters:
- ‘Representing AIDS: the textual politics of health discourse: an interdisciplinary critique after Postmodernism’ (with Rob Middlehurst) in Adam, B & Allan, S (1995) Theorising Culture. UCL Press.
Journal articles:
- ‘We all have bad bad days’: attending to face in broadcast troubles-talk’ (with Shaun Moores) in Crissell, A (2009) (ed.) Radio – Vol 1: Radio Theory and Genres (Routledge)
- ‘Voices from the Valleys’: researching lone mother’s talk’, Community, Work & Family, 1999, Vol 2:2/3 (with Sarah Oerton).
- ‘Time and the Politics of Nostalgia: an analysis of the Conservative Party Election Broadcast “The Journey”' (with Stuart Allan) in Time & Society, 1995, Vol 4:3.
Evaluation reports:
- Glenda Cook, Juliana Thompson, Ana Marie Salai and Karen Atkinson (2021) Your Health and Care Validation Study (August 2021)
Conference papers:
- January 2023 Joint Paper to be delivered at the Social Work in Times of Crisis and Disaster Conference, University of Northumbria, 27th January 2023. With Dan Baron Cohen, Elisa Dias and Hellmuth Weich.
- September 2021 Poster Presentation ‘PEGGI: A validation study of a multi-media app to promote older adults’ wellbeing’, delivered at the Recovery, Diversity and Social Work Conference, University of Northumbria, September 24th, 2021. With Glenda Cooke, Juliana Thompson and Ana Marie Salai.