Bev Skeggs BA PhD PGCE
Research interests: class, media and cultural formations, feminist and poststructuralist theory, Pierre Bourdieu and Marx, violence.
Bev worked at the Worcester College of Higher Education and the Universities of Keele, York, Lancaster and Manchester before joining the Department of Sociology at Goldsmiths. She has worked in the areas of Women’s Studies and Cultural Studies as well as Sociology.
Selected publications
Most recent publications
Books:
Issues in Sociology: The Media. (co-authored, with Mundy, J.) London. Nelson. 1992. (0-17-4384467)
Feminist Cultural Theory: Production and Process. (edited). Manchester. Manchester University Press. 1995. (0-7190-4471-5)
Formations of Class and Gender: Becoming Respectable (single authored monograph) Theory, Culture and Society series. London. Sage. 1997. (0-7619-5511-9)
Transformations: Thinking Through Feminism (edited, with S. Ahmed, C. Lury, M. McNeil, J. Kilby) London. Routledge. 2000. (0-415-22066-1)
Series editor of Transformations: Thinking Through Feminism. London. Routledge. (2000- currently 10 books published)
Class, Self and Culture. (single authored monograph) London. Routledge. (2004)(0-415-30085-1)
Sexuality and the Politics of Violence. (co-authored, with Les Moran) London. Routledge. (2004)(0-415-30091-6)
Feministm After Bourdieu (edited, with Lisa Adkins) Oxford. Blackwell. (2004)
Contributions To Refereed Journals:
Anti-Sexist Initiatives in Education (1985) Youth & Society. 23-24
Gender Reproduction and Further Education: Domestic Apprenticeships (1989) British Journal of Sociology of Education. 9: 2: 131-151. (0142-5692)
Symposium: 'Louts and Legends' (1989) British Journal of Sociology of Education. 10: 4: 481-495. (0142-5692)
Explosions on the Dance floor (1990) Magazine of Cultural Studies. 1: 8.
Cultural Studies in Poland (1990) Magazine of Cultural Studies. 2: 12-13.
Challenging Masculinity and Using Sexuality (1991) British Journal of Sociology of Education. 12: 2: 127-141. (0142-5692)
Postmodernism: what is all the fuss about? (1991) British Journal of Sociology of Education. 12: 2: 255-79. (0142-5692)
A Spanking Good Time: Sexuality and Feminist Readings (1991) Magazine of Cultural Studies. 3: 28-33.
Doing Feminist Research (1992) Sociology Review. 2: 2: 14-18.
Two Minute Brother: Contestation Through Gender, 'Race' and Sexuality (1993) Innovation in Social Science Research. 6: 3: 299-322. (1012-8050)
Women's Studies in Britain in the 1990s: Entitlement Cultures and Institutional Constraints (1995)
Women's Studies International Forum. 18: 4: 475-485. (0277-5395-x)
Pedagogies of Pornography (with Pat Kirkham) (1996) Jump Cut 42: 14-20. (74470-82267)
Becoming a Modern 'Woman' (review article) (1997) Cultural Studies 11: 3: 489-492.
Matter out of Place: Visibility and Sexualities in Leisure Spaces Leisure Studies (1999) 18: 213-232. (0261-4367)
Seeing Differently: Ethnography and Explanatory Power, in Australian Journal for Research in Education (1999) 26: 1: 33-55. (0311-6999).
One Down - Five Hundred to go, (review article) in Journal of Gender Studies, 8: 3: 343-344. (0958-9236)
Remaining the Same with Difference, in Feminist Review. (2000) 64: 122-123. (0958-9236)
The Toilet Paper: Femininity, Class and Misrecognition (Women's Studies International Forum. (2001) 24, nos 2-3: 295-307.
Property, Boundary, Exclusion: Making Sense of Heterocentric Violence and Safer Spaces (with Les Moran) Social and Cultural Geography (2001) vol 2: 4: 407-420. (1464-9365).
The Property of Safety (with Les Moran) Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law (2001) 23: 4: 379-393. (0141-8033).
The Formation of Fear in Gay Pace: the 'Straight' Story (with Les Moran, Karen Corteen and Paul Tyrer) Capital and Class (2003) 80. 2003. pp. 173-199. (0-309-8168).
New Directions in the Study of Gender and Sexuality, GLQ (Gay and Lesbian Quarterly) (2004) 10: 2: 291-298. (1064-2684)
Cosmopolitan Sexualities: Disrupting the Logic of Late Capitalism (with Jon Binnie), Sociological Review (2004) 52: 1: 39-62. (1467-954-x).
Queer as Folk: Producing the Real of Urban Space (with Les Moran, Paul Tyrer Jon Binnie) , Urban Studies (2004) 21: 9: (1360-063-x).
Notes on Ethical Scenarios of Self on British Reality TV (with Helen Wood) Feminist Media Studies (2004) 4:1: 205-208. (1468-0777).
The Making of Class through Visualising Moral Subject Formation, special edition ‘Class, Culture and Identity’ of Sociology (2005) 39: 5: 965-982.
Oh goodness, I am watching Reality TV’: How methodology makes class in multi-method audience research, for European Journal of Cultural Studies. (2008) 11: 1: 5-24 (with Helen Wood and Nancy Thumim).
Chapters In Edited Books:
Gender Differences in Education, in I. Reid & E. Stratta (1989) (Eds.) Gender Differences in Britain. Aldershot. Gower. pp.103-133. (0-566-05595-3, 0556-05804-9).
Gender Reproduction in Education and its Alternatives, in: D. Gleeson (1990) (Ed.) Training and Its Alternatives. Milton Keynes. Open University Press. pp.183-217.
The Cultural Production of 'Learning to Labour', in: A. Beezer & M. Barker (1992) (Eds.) Reading into Cultural Studies. London. Routledge. pp.181-196. (0-415-06376-0, 0-415-06377-9).
All Around the World: Televising Live Music, in: N. Millar & R. Allen (1993) (Eds.) Its Live But is it Real? London. John Libbey. pp.59-66. (0-86196-370-9)
A Good Time for Women Only, in: F. Lloyd (1993) (Ed.) Deconstructing Madonna. Batsford Press. pp. 271-281. (0-7134-7402-5).
Theories of Masculinities, for: P. Ahokes, M. Lahti & J. Sihvonen (1994) (Eds.) Discourse of Masculinity. Jyuaskylan Nykykultluria, Tutkimusyksikio, Finnish/English Publication. pp.13 - 36.
Situating the Production of Feminist Ethnography, in: M. Maynard & J. Purvis (1994) (Eds.) Researching Women's Lives. Basingstoke. Taylor & Francis. pp.72-93. (0-74840-1520).
Refusing to be Civilised: 'Race', Sexuality and Power, in: H. Afshar & M. Maynard (1994) (Eds.) The Dynamics of Race, and Gender. Basingstoke. Taylor & Francis. pp.106 - 127. (0-7484-0211-x, 0-7484-0212-8).
The Limits of Neutrality: Feminist Research and the ERA, in: B. Troyna & D. Halpin (1994) (Eds.) Researching Educational Policy: Ethical and Methodological Issues. Lewes. Falmer. pp. 75-94. (0-7507-0345-8, 0-7505-0344-x).
Theorising, Writing and Ethics: the Production of Ethnography, in: B. Skeggs (1995) (Eds.) The Production of Feminist Cultural Theory Manchester. Manchester University Press. pp. 190-207. (0 7190 4471-5).
Classifying Practices: Representations, Capitals and Recognitions, in: P. Mahoney and C. Zmroczek (1997) (Eds.) Class Matters London. Taylor and Francis. pp.123-140. (0 7484-0541-0).
Absolutely Fabulous and Textual Analysis, in: C. Geraghty and D. Lusted (1998) (Eds.) The Television Book. London. Edward Arnold. pp.287-301. (0-340-6623-x, 0-340-66232-8).
The Appearance of Class: Challenges in Gay Space, in: S. Munt (Ed.)(2000) Cultural Studies and Class. London. Cassell. pp 129-151. (0-304-70548-9).
Cultures of Class, in M. Haralambos (Ed.)(2000) New Developments in Sociology. Vol 16.Ormskirk. Causeway Press. pp 1-25. (1-902796-13-6).
The Rhetorics of Affect, in S. Ahmed et al. (Eds.)(2000) Transformations: Thinking Through Feminism. London: Routledge. pp. 25-27. ( 0-415-22067-x)
Introduction: Thinking Through Feminism, (with S. Ahmed, J. Kilby, M. McNeil, C. Lury), in S. Ahmed et al. (Eds.)(2000) Transformations: Thinking Through Feminism. London: Routledge. pp. 1-25. (0-415-22067-x)
Women Avoiding being Working Class, in N.Abercrombie & A.Warde (Eds.) The Contemporary British Society Reader. Cambridge. Polity. Pp. 118-126. (0-7456-2262-3).
Entries on Feminist Cultural Theory and Technology of Gender, in L. Code (Ed.) Encyclopaedia of Feminist Theories. London. Routledge. 1750 words / 150 words. (2001). 0-415-13274-6).
Feminist Ethnography, in S. Delamont , P. Atkinson & A. Coffey (Eds.) Handbook of Ethnography. London. Sage. (2001) pp. 426-443. ( 0 7619-6480-0).
Techniques for Telling the Reflexive Self, in T. May (Ed.) Qualitative Research in Action. London. Sage. pp.349-375. (2002)( 07619-6068-6).
Safety Talk, Violence and Laughter: Methodological Reflections on Focus Groups in Violence Research (with Les Moran, Paul Tyrer and Karen Corteen), in R. M. Lee and E. A. Stanko (2003) Researching Violence: Essays on Methodology and Measurement. London. Routledge. Pp. 107-126 (0-415-30132-7).
The Constitution of Fear in Gay Space, (with Les Moran, Paul Tyrer and Karen Corteen) for E.A. Stanko (2003) The Meaning of Violence . London. Routledge. (pp. 107-126). (0-415-30130-0)
The Re-branding of Class, in, F. Devine, M. Savage, J. Scott & R. Crompton (eds.) (2004) Rethinking Class: Culture, Identities, Lifestyle. Basingstoke: Palgrave/Macmillan. pp. 46-67. (0-333-96895-6).
Context and Background: Pierre Bourdieu’s Analysis of Class, Gender and Sexuality, for L. Adkins and B. Skeggs (eds.) (2004) Feminism After Bourdieu. Oxford. Blackwell. pp. 19-35. (1-4051-2395-8)
Exchange Value and Affect: Bourdieu and the Self, for L. Adkins and B. Skeggs (eds.) (2004) Feminism After Bourdieu. Oxford. Blackwell. pp. 75-97. (1-4051-2395-8)
Spectacular Morality: Reality Television and the Re-making of the Working Class, for D. Hesmondhlough and J. Toynbee (eds.) Media and Social Theory (with Helen Wood). Pp. 177-194. (0-415-44800).‘It’s Just Sad: Affect and Judgment on Reality TV, for J. Hollows and S. (ed.) Homefires: Domesticity, Feminism and Popular Culture. London: Routledge. (with Helen Wood). In press.
Forthcoming Chapters in Edited Books:
Class, for M.Wetherell and C.Mohanty (eds.) The Identities Handbook. London. Sage.
The Labour of Transformation on ‘Reality’ Television: Synoptical Viewing and Judgment, for T. Lewis (ed.) TV Transformations: Revealing the Makeover Show. London. Taylor and Francis.
Postgraduate Supervision
ESRC Funded Students: Anne Cronin ‘Cultural Consumption: Comparative Studies of France and the UK (1994-1998); Breda Gray ‘ Irish Women and the Diaspora’ (1994-1998); Diane Railton ‘Young Women and Musical Appreciation’ (1995-1999); Jocey Quinn ‘ Widening Pasrticipantion: Women Returner’s Experiences of Higher Education’ (1996-1999); Lucie Scott (1996- suspended); Lindsay Turner (1999- transfer); Annie Meyer ‘Discourses of Pedophilia’ (2001- 2004); Jenny Burchill ‘Changing Landscapes: Manchester Streetscapes’ (2001- 2005); Danielle Griffiths ‘Intimacy on Television’ (2001- 2006). Emma Jackson ‘Urban Regeneration in Kings Cross, London’ (2005- ), Vikki Loveday ‘Young Men’s Experiences of Returning to Education’ (2007-);
Not ESRC: Ming Phang Sun Educational Experience in Transforming Taiwan’ (1989-1993); Fang Long Sook ‘Ghosts: Inheritance in Taiwan’ (1996-1999); Sahar Khamis ‘Women’s Use of Media in Egypt (1997-2000); Myung Sook Sun ‘South Korean Women’s Responses to Western Feminism’ (1998-2002); Val Balding (pt)(1998-); Tara Few ‘Young Women’s Responses to Popular Music’ (1998-2003); Debbie Fallon(pt) ‘ A Feminist Analysis of Young Women Accessing Post-Coital Contraception’ (2001- 2007) Feichi Chang ‘Women Journalists in Taiwan’ (2002-); Jason Peplowski (2005- 2006 transferred to Bath); Sian Weston (2007-) Branding Burberry: Good and Bad Consumers’; Benny Lu (Jan 2008- ) NeoLiberalism and Sexuality in Mainland China; Patsy Hickman (2007- joint with Creative Writing Dept) ‘Connections: Relations between Successful Women’
External PhD examiner:
Mary Maddigan, Centre for Women's Studies, University of York (1994)
Maria Jarvela, Department of English, University of Oulu, Finland (1996)
Kay Standing, Department of Education, South Bank University
Mary Kehily, Institute of Education , London University (1999)
Jamilah Ahmed, Goldsmiths, London University (1999).
Nicole Vitellone, Sociology, University of Melbourne (2000).
Anita Pilgrim, Sociology, Goldsmiths, London University (2001)
Sylvie Reif, Sociology, Goldsmiths, London University (2003)
Karen Corteen, Criminology, Edge Hill College, Lancaster University (2003)
Emma Casey, Cultural Studies, London Metropolitan University (2004)
Claire Beckett, Social Policy, Sheffield Hallam University (2004)
Mark Casey, Sociology, University of Newcastle (2004)
Rachel Thompson, Education and Social Policy, University of South London (2004)
Jacquie O’Riordan, Sociology, Maynooth (2005)
Giovanni Piofordio, Sociology, London School of Economics (2005)
Sue Parker, Sociology, Durham University (2006
Fateneh Farahani, Ethnology, Stockholm University (2007)
Internal PhD Examination:
Mary Maddigan (1993); Steph Lawler (1998); David Longold (1998); Drew Hemment (1999); Andrew Hill (2000); Laura Turney (2001); Emma Nugent (2005); Alison Rooke (2005); Becky Coleman (2005); Jill Ebrey (2006); Andrew Sullivan (2006)
Research Projects:
PhD 1980-1986: An Ethnographic Study of Young Women and Their Experience of Caring Further Education Using Further Education as an institutional foci and tracing movement through broader cultural spaces it explored how young, white, working class women became implicated in the construction of their own subjectivities in relation to wider structures of class and gender. Drawing from the theories of Bourdieu, Gramsci, Genovese and Foucault, the study demonstrated how, in this process, they implicate themselves in subordination and self-surveillance and also provide free caring labour in areas where state provision was cut. (SSRC funded)
1983-1984: The Educational and Vocational Choice of School Leavers . This research produced a data bank by monitoring and recording the qualifications and labour market choices of all sixteen -year old school pupils in Cheshire. Use was made of SPSS computation through IBM mainframes. (ESRC funded £84,000)
April 1988 July 1988: Multi-Ethnic Needs in Hereford and Worcester Part One . This involved interviewing all managers and department heads in Hereford and Worcester Further Education Colleges to estimate the form and type of racism in existence in college in order to develop staff training programmes to fit local requirements. (LEA/GRIST funded: £26,000)
Sept. 1988-Nov. 1988: Follow-up study to doctoral research . This traced the eighty -three young women studied for the PhD, to develop theories of sexuality and explore the influences of popular culture upon familial and employment decisions. (GRIST £7,500)
Nov. 1988-April 1989: Multi-Ethnic Educational Needs in Hereford and Worcester Part Two . This identified the needs of black students in Hereford and Worcester Further Education Colleges. Firstly, to inform the design and provision of staff development courses. Secondly, to establish a county network for the incorporation of this research in the review and design of curriculum materials. (LEA/GRIST £26,000)
July - Dec. 1991: Sexual Awareness Amongst Young People in the North East . Using innovative research methods, such as popular cultural questionnaires, and intensive interviewing with a sampled group of 16-24 year old young people, it generated issue understanding that was used to develop training materials for Further Education staff development on HIV/AIDS awareness. (Health Authority funded: £6,500)
April, May, September 1992 : Women, 'Race' & Resistance in Music. In New York, London, LA, Manchester. Interviewed performers and powerful women in the music industry to identify the sites, places and motivations for the production of popular feminism.
May - August 1997: Sexual Citizenship: Space, Consumption, Law. Seedcorn funding IWS Lancaster University (with Les Moran and Carole Truman). This research generated pilot data for the following ESRC research proposal. It used three different focus groups (Lesbians, gay men and heterosexual women to generate an issue based understanding of homophobic violence and the production of safer-space (Institute for Women's Studies £2,000)
May 1998- 2001: ESRC (L133251031) Violence, Sexuality, Space: A Study of the Practical and Policy Context of Sustainable Safe Public Places: (Principal Investigator, with Les Moran). The study explores how safer places are generated and maintained for three different groups (gay men, lesbians and heterosexual women) in two different geographical locations (Manchester and Lancaster). It uses multi methods and has generated innovative methods of feedback of research results to interested stakeholder groups, policy makers and community organizations. (ESRC £143,000)
June 1999- Jan 2000: Representations of Smokers (Seedcorn funding, Faculty of Social Science, Lancaster University (with Professor Hilary Graham). A literature search and review of the state of research on smoking. This included all health promotion literature alongside TV and media representations. (FSS, £1,000)
February 2003- Regenerating Communities through Radio: A case study of Radio Regen
(funded by Manchester City Council + European Social Fund). The study involved 3 stages. The first is an organizational evaluation, examining work culture and how this impacts upon training policy and stations output. The second examined training and volunteers and the third was a community evaluation to understand how both the former two stages of analysis can be used to understand the impact of the Radio stations on their local community.
October 2003- 2005 Convenor of New Political Formations stream of the ESRC Centre for Social and Cultural Change, with Mike Savage, Tony Bennett, Karel Williams.
January 2007 – July 2007 CRESC Contingencies of Value (ESRC Centre for Social and Cultural Change small grant 10k) to study what matters to people who are beyond the normative understandings of exchange value personhood. Three groups were interviewed: ex-offenders, a group of older women +80 and a group of young mothers to examine what matters when investments either previously made, not made or impossible to make do not generate attachments to future participation in society.
April 2005 – Sept 2007: (ESRC 148-25-0040) Making Class through Televised Ethical Scenarios (£123,000)
This is a project about how identities based on class (with gender and race) are shaped by the ethical scenarios offered by television. The research explores how televisual texts mediate subjectivity by showing how class is currently produced through different methods for self-making. Whilst many social commentators promote and predict the demise of class, our prior research suggests that class is not declining at all but is instead made differently, in ways that have not yet been fully identified. It is the purpose of this project to identify these new ways of making class. (with Dr Helen Wood, Manchester and Nancy Thumim, researcher Oct 2005-April 2007)
June 2007-July 2008: Sun, Sea, Sand and Silicone (Leeds University small grant seedcorn funding (8k for symposium and planning meeting of international group headed by Professor Ruth Holliday to generate research project on the global market for aesthetic surgery.
January 2007-2010.The Fourth Shift: On the Borders of Home, Labour and Affects: (Principal Applicant, Professor Eeva Jokinen, University of Joensuu, Finland), funded by the Finnish Academy.