Public Lecture Series 2021/22

In 2021/22, the following Public Lectures were held:

'Place aesthetics and dialectics in the cultural and creative industries' by Dr Matt Durey.

 Date/Time: Wednesday 29 June 2022, 3-5pm

Venue: Sir Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre, Sir Tom Cowie campus, SR6 0DD and online via Teams.

'Once my mam and dad have gone out of my room.  When it’s bedtime, I unlock my duvet cover on my bed and I get inside and read’: Listening to Young Children’s Voices: An Ethnographic Study of Children’s Experiences of Reading for Pleasure by Linda Graham.

Date/Time: We hope to reschedule this seminar for our next series

Venue: Sir Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre, Sir Tom Cowie campus, SR6 0DD and online via Teams

‘I've been asked to return to my home country’ - An exploratory study into the discrimination experienced by Eastern European women living in Tyne and Wear by Dr Louise Harvey-Golding, Dr Diane Simpson, Ms Carrie Phillips and Ms Julie Smiles

Project Report Part 1: Survey findings

Project Report Part 2: Qualitative findings

Wednesday 25 May 2022

'Domestic abuse and the older population: Key lessons for practice' by Dr Sarah Lonbay, Zeta Bikova and Dr Carole Southall

Wednesday 30 March 2022

In recent years, there has been a considerable focus on the global ageing population. Projections from the UN estimate that the world’s population over the age of 60 will triple by 2100 (UN, 2015). This has implications across the globe in a number of ways, but a key one is related to the high numbers of older people who are subjected to abuse every year, including those who are subjected to domestic abuse. Yon et al., (2017), for example, found a prevalence rate of 15.7% for older people living in the community. Despite this, the response to domestic abuse in later life has been significantly neglected, both in terms of policy and practice guidelines and in terms of developing knowledge and understanding through research. Older survivors of domestic abuse can therefore be considered as a ‘hidden group’, based on a false assumption that this only impacts younger people (predominantly women). There is therefore a need to develop knowledge and understanding in this area. This CASS public lecture reported findings from a research project which explored domestic abuse in the older population. The project was initiated by a Safeguarding Adults Board following growing concerns in the region about domestic abuse in this population group. The project was developed to explore the knowledge base and practice approaches within the area both from the perspective of workers from key agencies and from the perspectives of older people. This CASS lecture shared findings and key learning from this work in relation to how domestic abuse in the older population is identified and how older people are supported when they experience this type of abuse.

'Podcasting to Smash the Patriarchy: The Heart as a case study of quiet activism' by Dr Helen Williams and Dr Evi Karathanasopoulou
Wednesday 23 February 2022

The #metoo movement established the disclosure of sexual violence via social media as mainstream and offered participants a platform to share experiences, receive support and feel part of a community. In response to this, we explore the use of audio methods such as podcasting as a conduit to describe embodied experiences and the ways in which non-visual media can provide a safe, positive environment to reveal deeply personal information and help to overcome trauma.

In this talk, we used the miniseries ‘No’ of podcast The Heart as a case study to highlight patriarchal power and sexual violence myths as the host revisits previous relationships and sexual experiences. The result can be profoundly discomforting but also emancipatory – simply talking about sexual violence can constitute a revolutionary act given the stigma and victim blaming prevalent in Western society. By making private, intimate experiences public and centring female perspectives, The Heart highlights the disparate, gendered perceptions of the same interaction in nuanced ways. In the same way that #metoo underscored the universality of women’s experiences of male harassment, we argue that The Heart is an example of both ‘quiet activism’ and public scholarship that challenges patriarchal assumptions.

The talk involved discussion of subject matter and the use of audio clips that some people may find upsetting.

'Do we need the HE classroom in Social Sciences to be a safe space or a discomforting space? Research from the teacher perspective' by Dr Sheila Quaid, Dr Helen Williams and Dr Angela Wilcock

Wednesday 26 January 2022

"I felt like I deserved it because I was Austistic": Understanding the Impact of Interpersonal Victimisation on the Lives of Austitic People by Dr Amy Pearson

Wednesday 15 December 2021

Research suggests that experiences of interpersonal violence are common within the autistic population with figures putting prevalence between 50-89%. The prevalence of IPV may explain higher rates of PTSD within the autistic population, and has been related to poorer mental health outcomes.

Thus, it is essential that we understand the impact of IPV within the autistic population, and how to support autistic adults who have been victimised by those close to them. In the current study we aimed to examine the impact of IPV on autistic adults, including how it affects their identity, what kind of support they would like to see, and what the barriers to support and recovery are.

We recruited 102 autistic adults to take part in an interview about their experiences. We used thematic analysis to identify 5 main themes, centered around normalisation of violence, stigma, and the need for societal change. Dr Amy Pearson discussed these findings in relation to recent research.

'Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) in Police Custody Settings: The importance of screening and intervention' by Dr Patrick Hutchinson, Dr Donna Peacock and Ms Clare Holland

Wednesday 24 November 2021

People who have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are disproportionately found to be subject to Criminal Justice proceedings. Effective communication is key to effective engagement, to accessing support and interventions, and to receiving fair and equitable outcomes.

Previous research has shown that there is a need for screening and early interventions for young people who come into contact with the police, in order to reduce rates of reoffending.

Based upon quantitative analysis of screening data collected by Liaison and Diversion practitioners in a single UK police force area with an operational Speech and Language Therapist embedded, this research conceptualises police custody as a key gateway to the justice system and a crucial turning point for diversionary practice. The research identifies an urgent need for screening and interventions for adults as well as young people, and for people who have no previous SLCN related diagnosis.

'Raising Aspirations and Impartiality: A paradoxical position for career guidance practitioners?' by Neil Evans

Wednesday 29 September 2021

This paper explores the role of career guidance practitioners in relation to their responsibility to provide impartial advice and guidance and how this might be challenged in view of recent debates regarding the aspirations of young people.

It questions whether practitioners can encourage the ‘raising of aspirations’ whilst remaining impartial? These potential contradictions are explored drawing upon themes of social and cultural capital, equality and power.

The concepts of aspirations and impartiality are explored within the context of current career education and guidance policy and how this impacts on practice.