Who we are
Our names are Jane, Susan, Michèle and Kay, and we are researchers
from the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Researchers
ask people about their views and experiences to find out what
they think about certain things. There are two ways of doing
this: we either write down the questions and leave people
to answer them by themselves (a questionnaire) or we simply
ask them face to face (an interview). When everyone has told
us what their views and experiences are we write these in
a report.
As feminist researchers we have a commitment (or pledge)
to locate ourselves in relation to our research. In other
words, we have to tell people our reasons for doing the research
and explain why things have been done in certain ways. For
example:Why are we researching girls and violence? Why did
we use a questionnaire to find out about girls' views? We
also have think about how our own personal characteristics
(e.g. our age, class, race, or gender) and experiences might
affect the research and analysis. If one of us was bullied
at school, for example, we have to make sure that we don't
use the data to support our own view that bullies are bad
people. Feminist researchers also have a commitment to ensuring
research is carried out in ethical and democratic ways. This
means making sure young people are given choices on whether
or not to participate, on how they would like the research
to take place and continue, what they think of initial findings,
and what they think should happen to the research findings.
In the section below, we have each included a short personal
history (or herstory!) as it relates to the research.
Susan Batchelor
My name is Susan and I am 28 years old. I am an only child,
but have had lots of pets, including a cat called 'Cactus'
and a dog called 'Ben'. I was born in Perth, Scotland, but
have lived in Glasgow for about 10 years. I worked as a researcher
on the 'View from the Girls' study between 1998 and 2000.
Part of my job involved setting up this web site, which I
now update during my spare time. I became interested in studying
girls and violence as a result of my own experiences as a
teenage girl, which didn't seem to fit with the ways in which
'violent girls' were represented in the media.
When I was younger, I wasn't very happy at school and was
bullied by a group of 'friends'. Most of the time this involved
verbal abuse and intimidation, but I also got into trouble
for fighting and hitting people in class. I certainly didn't
know anyone who was a girl gang member and wouldn't have mugged
old grannies in the street!
Since working on the girls and violence study I have researched
teenage
sexuality and the media, young people's attitudes to sexual
violence, the Children's
Hearing System and persistent young offenders. I am now
studying for my PhD
on young women who are in prison for violent offences. In
my spare time I enjoy horse riding, swimming, cycling and
going to the gym. I also like going out with my friends, to
the pictures, to see bands and watching TV with my boyfriend,
Angus. Angus and I are expecting our first baby in August.
For more details about my academic qualifications and experience,
go to the Department
of Sociology and Anthropology home page.
Jane Brown
[Under construction]
Michèle Burman
I'm a university lecturer and researcher, and I live with
my partner and our two little girls in Glasgow, Scotland.
Over several years, I've conducted research into violence
against women, particularly the ways in which the law, the
police and the courts deal with it. I've got a special interest
in the lives of younger women and girls though, especially
those who feel troubled in themselves or who get into trouble
with the law. When I was at school, my friends and I were
always getting into trouble, and this is one of the main reasons
why I wanted to research the ways in which girls today experience
and use violence, and how it fits into their lives. Few researchers
have ever asked girls for their views about anything, let
alone about violence; when I was a girl I had plenty to say
but no one ever asked me. I wish they had.
For details about Michèle's academic qualifications and experience,
please refer to the Department
of Sociology and Anthropology home page.
Kay Tisdall
Why this research? I was struck by all the press attention
on girls and violence - all these people were writing and
speaking about it, yet there really was not any substantial
information about it. I thought it was about time that such
information, based on girls' own views, became part of the
debate. What about me? I grew up in Canada, spent some years
in the US and have lived in Scotland for over 10 years. Anything
bizarre or interesting in your past? I can say 'I was chased
by a bear' and 'I swam with the sharks' in French, in three
different tenses. People tend to think I am kidding, but both
are true.
For more details about Kay's professional qualifications
and experience, please refer to Childhood
Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
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