SASS Staff
Dr Julia Downes, BSc (Psychology) MA (Gender Studies Research) PhD (Interdisciplinary Gender Studies) AHEA
(email at julia.downes@durham.ac.uk)
Biography
Julia joined the School in April 2011.
Julia is currently working on a longitudinal study into the effects of community domestic violence perpetrator programmes. The research is funded by grants from the ESRC and the Northern Rock Foundation awarded to Dr Nicole Westmarland (Durham), Professor Liz Kelly (CWASU, London Metropolitan) and Professor Charlotte Watts (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).
Before joining the domestic violence research team Julia worked for Independent Domestic Abuse Services in York and North Yorkshire. Julia has a BSc in Psychology, MA in Gender Studies (Research) and PhD in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Leeds. Julia’s ESRC-funded PhD critically examined contemporary queer feminist activist music cultures in the UK including riot grrrl, Ladyfest and grassroots collectives and bands.
Research Interests
Gendered Violence, Domestic Abuse, Perpetrators, Feminist Activisms.
Selected Publications
Books: edited
- Downes, Julia (2012). Women Make Noise: Girl Bands from Motown to the Modern. Supernova books.
Books: reviews
- Downes, Julia (2012). Sara Ahmed, The Promise of Happiness. Graduate Journal of Social Science 9(2): 231-234
- Downes, Julia (2009). Angela McRobbie, The Aftermath of Feminism: Gender, Culture, and Social Change. Third Space: A Journal of Feminist Theory and Culture 8(2): 11.
Books: sections
- Downes, Julia (2007). Riot Grrrl: The legacy and contemporary landscape of feminist cultural activism. In Riot Grrrl Revolution Girl Style Now!. Monem, Nadine Black Dog Publishing. 12-49.
Essays in edited volumes
- Downes, Julia (2008). “Let Me Hear You Depoliticise My Rhyme” Queer feminist cultural activisms and disruptions of conventional protest. In Bound and Unbound: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Genders and Sexualities. Davy, Zowie Downes, Julia Eckert, Lena Gerodetti, Natalia Llinares, Dario & Santos, Ana Cristina Cambridge Scholars Press. 181-200
Journal papers: academic
- Downes, Julia (2012). The Expansion of Punk Rock: Riot grrrl challenges to gender power relations in British indie music subcultures. Women's Studies 42(2): 204-237.
Research Groups
- Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse
- Crime, Deviance and Culture Research
Research Projects
Teaching Areas
- SOCI 1351 Culture & Society (4 hours/year.)
- SOCI 3211 Sociology of Gender & Sexuality (4 hours/year.)
Media Contacts
Available for media contact about:
- Sociology: feminist activism
- Music: riot grrrl
- Music: all-girl bands