Past Events
Disability, Sociology, and Sibling Research - 13/03/2024
Organised by Nikita Hayden
What does sibling disability research have to learn from sociology?
Psychological studies continue to dominate sibling and disability research. The importance of bringing in sociological perspectives to this research area cannot be underestimated. Structural factors, such as poverty and deprivation, so often predict the mental health outcomes of individuals, including the siblings of disabled people. Sociological approaches also support our thinking around the ways that disabled people, siblings, and families, are inextricably interconnected. This connection is almost antithetical to the often hyper-individualistic approach of psychology.
Societal attitudes towards disabled people and carers, and the ableism and discrimination that disabled people face, all contribute to the experiences of siblings and families. These important aspects cannot be fully understood by psychology alone. This symposium brings together expert researchers to discuss the important contributions of sociology to our understanding of the experiences of siblings of disabled people. I am very excited to bring together Dr Shaquinta Richardson, Tom Ryan, Dr Georgia Pavlopolou, and Dr Ariella Meltzer, to discuss this important area.
The 2nd Sibling Studies Colloquium - 5 & 6/12/2023
Organised by Nikita Hayden, Katherine Davies, Rachel Harley, and Shawn Whiteman
Following the success of our first interdisciplinary symposium, the Sibling Studies Network held the 2nd Sibling Studies Colloquium in December 2023. The thematic focus of the conference was ‘Why Siblings Matter?'
Siblings and Sociology with Dr Katherine Davies - 26/04/2023
Organised by Katherine Davies, Rachel Harley, and Shawn Whiteman
Dr Katherine Davies, a senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of Sheffield, discussed her new book published by Manchester University Press in 2023. This book draws upon innovative qualitative data sources to explore the significance of siblings throughout the life course, demonstrating why sociologists should pay attention to siblingship. Focussing on four themes central to the discipline of sociology – self, relationality, imagination and time – the book shows why siblings matter. Grounded in theories of relatedness but spanning theoretical work on generation, life course, emotion, sensory worlds, normativity and identity, Siblings and Sociology explores the importance of siblings in everyday life and how they inform wider social processes: the relational construction of identity, the inculcation of capital, experiences of institutions like schools and the meanings of relatedness. Siblings tap into profound questions about who we are and who we can become. This book shows how the intrigue of siblingship renders them an important lens through which to think about familiar sociological ideas in new ways.
Sadly, we were unable to record this session due to technical issues. However, click here to read a blog post written by Katherine, which gives an overview of her new book and shows why siblings matter sociologically.
The Sibling Studies Network Launch - 14/03/23
Organised by Katherine Davies, Rachel Harley, Nikita Hayden, Rachel Moss and Shawn Whiteman
This was an informal launch meeting for the Sibling Studies Network. It offered individuals an opportunity to meet one another and share what they wanted from the network.
Click here to read a summary of the event.
The Sibling Studies Colloquium - 08/07/22
Organised by Rachel Harley
Generously funded by the White Rose College of Arts and Humanities and the Centre for Modern Studies, University of York
The first Sibling Studies Colloquium had a range of speakers from the humanities and social sciences:
Professor Cati Coe (Anthropology, Carleton University)
Siblings in Elder Care in Ghana: An Example of the Thinning of Kin Relations and Strategies for its Thickening
Dr Katherine Davies (Sociology, University of Sheffield)
Temporal Sibling Relationalities
Emre Deniz (Education and Psychology, University of York)
Sibling Relationships of Autistic Adolescents During COVID-19: A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study Between the UK and Turkey
Rachel Harley (Medieval Studies, University of York)
The Lexicon of Later Medieval Siblingship
Dr Nikita Hayden (Applied Psychology, University of Warwick)
Siblings and Disability
Professor Shawn Whiteman (Human Development and Family Studies, Utah State University)
Direct and Indirect Influences of Siblings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dr Rachel Moss (History, University of Northampton)
Responding Remarks
Click here to read Dr Rachel Moss' reflections on the symposium