My research focuses on gendered embodiment - how do ideas about gender impact the ways in which we use our bodies and understand our self? How does this in turn impact power relations within different settings? I have particular interest and expertise in the ways in which gendered embodiments are molded and/or 'undone' within sporting contexts, specifically mixed-sex karate. 

In doing so, I take a micro-sociological approach to understand and explore power relations. I have used multiple qualitative research methods to do so including sensory ethnographic methods, autoethnography, and photo-elicitation interviews

I look to continue to explore embodied experiences of gender and social class, and how these embodiments relate to power relations. From this broad interest I have two key focuses:

1. Violence against women survivors' experiences of embodiment in sport
2. Women's experiences of menstruation

I am excited by research methods that enable participants voices and knowledge to florish, and for participants to gain something meaning from the experience. I look to incorporate action research methods and collaborative research methods in future research projects. 

My teaching focuses on sociological approaches to gender, the body, social class, and qualitative research methods. I currently teach on the following modules for the Social Sciences BA (Hons.) programme:

• Gender and Society
• Embodiment of Social Inequalities
• Designing your Dissertation Project
• Foundations of Qualitative Research
• Foundations of Social and Political Thought
• Global Society
• Social Activism and Social Justice

Domestic abuse during Covid-19

I am a co-investigator on an ESRC funded project: An investigation into domestic abuse helpline staff and service users experiences during Covid-19.  This project has 3 aims:

• Examine the experiences of DA helpline staff during Covid-19
• Explore DA helpline service users experiences during Covid-19
• Identify changes in patterns of domestic abuse during Covid-19

Menstruation in sport

I am the principle investigator on the Leisure Studies funded project: Bloody Karate: Karate pracitioners experiences and management of menstruation. This project took a mixed-methods approach, collecting quantitative durvey data and qualitative interview data. This project has 3 aims:

• Identify menstruation-related issues experienced by female karate practioners, and the prevelance of such issues
• Explore the meanings attached to menstruation within karate contexts
• Examine menstruation-management strategies used by women in karate contexts

UWS-Oxfam Partnership

I am a co-lead of the UWS-Oxfam Partnership. Through the partnership, I conduct and support research projects that seek to address poverty and inequality in Scotland, in collaboration with Oxfam Scotland. These projects have explored:

• Social and unpaid care
• Food insecurity
• Community perspectives on climate justice