I’ve been interviewed for the Lady Science podcast. I talk about what sociology is, my career as an applied sociologist, and how Indigenous and other minority sociologists continue to challenge Western and colonial methods and ideas in sociology and in social policy.
Continue reading “Interview on My Sociological Practice”
This past week Australia celebrated NAIDOC Week, a time to reflect on the culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This year’s theme was Because of Her We Can, putting the spotlight on Indigenous women’s central role in overlapping areas, from family, to community organisations, to social justice.
Continue reading “NAIDOC Week 2018”
Dr Ellen Ochoa, a Mexican-American scientist with a PhD in electrical engineering, was the first Latina in space. Twenty-four years later, on May 19 2017, having already been awarded NASA’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, she’ll be inducted into the USA Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Continue reading “Ellen Ochoa First Latin Woman to be Inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame”
June 2014 was a bad month for media stories about social science. First, a study examined how gendered expectations affect the public’s interpretation of severe weather warnings about hurricanes. Second, a story rebounded around the world that wrongly associated domestic violence to marital status.
Continue reading “Why the Media Gets Social Science So Wrong”
Women “mentor” and look after their colleagues at work, while men have “sponsors” who help their careers. A 2010 survey by New York think tank the Centre for Talent Innovation found that men are 46% more likely to have sponsors than women.
Continue reading “Women Need Sponsors at Work”
Researcher Barbara Pocock’s book “The Work/Life Collision” has been influential throughout my career. I taught Professor Pocock’s research for years at Swinburne University while I was still a lecturer and tutor. This book informed my thinking when I worked in social policy research. I draw on her work still.
Continue reading “Creating Real Choice for Women at Work”
I led the research team responding to a state inquiry on the health and safety impact of firefighter training. I reflect on the use of social science during the analysis phase of investigation. This discussion serves as a case study on how to other organisations might improve management responses to environmental, health and safety issues.
Continue reading “Environment, Health and Safety Training”
This is a summary of my recent social media writing about race and identity in Australia and the USA. This included my live tweets during the Sydney hostage siege as well as the Ferguson and the #BlackLivesMatter anti-police violence protests following the death of Eric Garner.
Continue reading “Race and Identity”Women face unwanted “compliments” that focus on their appearance. These comments sexualise women in a way that men are not subjected to en mass. For women who share their work online, this is a form of abuse that takes focus … Continue reading Online ‘Compliments’ and Harassment
Your Social Science Quote of the Week is about looking beyond gender narratives. Writing for Slate, psychology PhD student Jane Hu called out poor media reporting of social science research. She shows that it can adversely affect girls and women, … Continue reading Quote of the Week: Look Beyond Gender Stereotypes
Social Science Insights 