Parenthood and parenting provide the focus for a number of strands of research and scholarship taking place in the Faculty. This includes practice-related research into the role of family centres in strengthening parenting; fatherhood; and specific aspects of parenting, such as reading. It also includes research into reproductive health and the life course – including singleness and early and later parenthood. The ESRC-funded project Making of Modern Motherhoods provided a focus for research activity, with a number of associated PhD studentships. This research activity continues through the Timescapes initiative Dynamics of Motherhood, also funded by the ERSC.
The human research and loss group brings together work on reproductive health with expertise and an excellent reputation in the area of death, dying and bereavement. The group provides a forum both for those who work and research within this field, and for those who have themselves experienced reproductive loss to share their knowledge. Working within this area is the Birth and Death Research Group. In January 2007, the group hosted the very successful Symposium and Workshop: Making a Difference – Experiences of Reproduction and Loss, funded by the Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness (Report (pdf)). This pioneering event brought together key stakeholders in policy and practice, practitioners, researchers, academics and service users. The group is planning a further symposium and workshop for 2008.
This type of collaborative approach strengthens the Faculty's objective to improve the experience of health and social care through relevant research that focuses on service users and practitioners.
Jane Aldgate
Sarah Earle
Pam Foley
Lucy Hadfield
Stephen Handsley
Carol Komaromy
Steve Leverett
Cathy Lloyd
Jill Reynolds
Martin Robb
Rachel Thomson
Sharon Church (Midwives and mothers: reproductive identities and experiences)
Lucy Hadfield (Disabled motherhood: changing times?)
Ruth Ponsford (FELS)
Naomi Rudoe (FELS)
Jo Sanderson Mann (Changing representations of motherhood)
Sharon Tourish (Evaluating the impact of Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities)