By Professor Sarah Montano Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham We are delighted to host ‘The Taylor Swift Phenomenon’ as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science. Taylor Swift’s ascent to such an iconic status compels us to question how society creates and sustains such cultural icons and the impact they have on people. … Continue reading “Why hold an academic event about Taylor Swift?”
Category: Society
Labour’s new Employment Rights Bill: an initial assessment
By Tony Dobbins, Professor of Work and Employment Relations Department of Management, Birmingham Business School The Labour Government’s new Employment Rights Bill undoubtedly heralds a significant boost in workers’ rights after 14 years of Conservative government espousal of a liberalized flexible labour market model – translated as let the market run its course/let people do … Continue reading “Labour’s new Employment Rights Bill: an initial assessment”
Corporal Punishment: Then & Now
By Dr Emma Watkins, Associate Professor in Criminology School of Social Policy and Society, University of Birmingham The topic of corporal punishment evokes passionate responses by those on both sides of the debate. It has always been a contested subject. Historically, the regulations concerning corporal punishment differed according to age, sex and context. Meaning, not … Continue reading “Corporal Punishment: Then & Now”
Social housing repairs and maintenance: challenges, consequences, and a way forward
By Dr Hannah Absalom, University of Birmingham Social housing is meant to provide secure and affordable homes for those who need them most, but residents often face significant hurdles with repairs and maintenance. These issues impact not only the physical state of the property but the wellbeing of residents, leading to stress, health problems, and … Continue reading “Social housing repairs and maintenance: challenges, consequences, and a way forward”
Homes, not just houses: How social housing can lead the fight against domestic abuse
By Dr Hannah Absalom, University of Birmingham The social housing sector has long been seen as a vital safety net, providing affordable homes to millions across the UK. However, in today’s social and political climate, the sector faces an urgent need to reassess its social purpose, particularly in light of Labour’s ambitious goal to halve … Continue reading “Homes, not just houses: How social housing can lead the fight against domestic abuse”
Indigenous migrants in the Americas draw on grass-roots strategies and digitalization to defend their rights
By Dr Jennifer Allsopp Birmingham Fellow, School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham The migration of Indigenous communities is often far from safe and, to date, States have failed to deliver adequate protections for these populations. A new report has found that Indigenous communities have therefore developed their own strategies to respond to rights violations. … Continue reading “Indigenous migrants in the Americas draw on grass-roots strategies and digitalization to defend their rights”
King’s Speech: Will government’s more active role in housing improve availability and affordability?
By Dr Jacob Salder Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Organisation, Birmingham Business School Housing availability, housing affordability, and access to housing and the housing market have been a critical issue for many people in the UK in recent years. Seeking to resolve these issues has therefore become a priority for successive UK governments. The success of … Continue reading “King’s Speech: Will government’s more active role in housing improve availability and affordability?”
A (Long) Path to ‘Recovery’? The Public (Dis)Trust of the Police
By Dr Heng Choon (Oliver) Chan Associate Professor of Criminology, Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology In the wake of several high-profile police scandals and a rise in offences including cybercrime and shoplifting, the public is beginning to lose faith in the police. A recent Savanta survey for The Independent (conducted between 24 and … Continue reading “A (Long) Path to ‘Recovery’? The Public (Dis)Trust of the Police”
How will minority groups vote in the general election?
By Professor Aditya Goenka, Department of Economics, Birmingham Business School Understanding the voting intentions of the minority groups is important as they constituted 19.3% of the population in 2021 in England and Wales. The distribution within England varies with a much higher representation in urban areas such as greater London, Birmingham and West Midlands, Leicester, … Continue reading “How will minority groups vote in the general election?”
General Election 2024: Whatever happened to levelling up?
By Abigail Taylor, Research Fellow & Johannes Read, Policy and Data Analyst, City-REDI, Birmingham Business School The phrase ‘levelling up’ – which refers to tackling inequality between places – has been cast aside in the 2024 election campaign. There has been relatively little detailed discussion about addressing regional inequalities by any of the main parties. … Continue reading “General Election 2024: Whatever happened to levelling up?”