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Introduction
Dr Louisa Allen is a Senior Lecturer who is a graduate of the University of Auckland and the University of Cambridge. She has taught at both of these universities in the area of educational sociology, the sociology of youth, research methodologies, feminist post-structural theories and theories of gender. Her research interests lie in the area of sexualities, sexuality education and gender. This work is informed by feminist post-structuralism and theories of embodiment and masculinities.
Educational History
- 1996-1999 University of Cambridge, PhD, Education
- 1994-1995 University of Auckland, MA (First Class Honours), Education
- 1991-1993 University of Auckland, BA, Education
Area of Expertise
Sexuality education, masculinities theories, feminist post-structuralism, discourse analysis, theories of embodiment, educational sociology and research methodology.
Research and professional interest
Recently Louisa has undertaken a Foundation for Research Science and Technology Post-Doctoral Fellowship and Early Career Research Excellence Award. This research has involved determining senior school student’s experience of sexuality education in order to inform the design of a sexuality education resource and investigating the sexual culture of schools. Findings from her doctoral research about youth and sexuality have recently been written into a book entitled ‘Sexual Subjects: Young People, Sexuality and Education’ published by Palgrave Macmillan.
Current Teaching
Louisa currently has doctoral and masters students working in a plethora of fields in education. She also co-ordinates and co-teaches on the Education Doctoral Programme (EdD) which prepares students who are professional educators to become advanced researchers. Other courses she teaches on include:
- EDUC 116 Introduction to Educational Thought
- EDUC 122G Learning Sexualities
- EDUC 120G Education, Knowledge, Society
- EDUC 317 Sociology and History of Education
- EDUC 708 Gender and Sexuality Issues in Education
Recent Publications
Books
2005 Allen, L. Sexual Subjects: Young People, Sexuality and Education. London: Palgrave. ISBN: 1403912831.
2002 Worth, H., Allen, L., Paris, A. (eds) The Life of Brian: Masculinities, Sexualities and Health in New Zealand, Otago University Press: Dunedin. ISBN: 1877276251.
Chapters in Books
2006 Allen, L. ‘Beyond the birds and the bees: constituting a discourse of erotics in sexuality education’ chapter in Madeleine Arnot and Mairtin Mac an Ghaill (eds) The RoutledgeFalmer Reader in Gender and Education. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415345750.
2002 Paris, A. Worth, H., Allen. L ‘Introduction to The Life of Brian’, in Worth, H., Allen, L., Paris, A. (eds) The Life of Brian: Masculinities, Sexualities and Health in New Zealand, Otago University Press: Dunedin. pp.1-26.
2002 Allen. L. ‘As far as sex goes I don’t really think about my body’: Young men’s corporeal experiences of (hetero)sexual pleasure’ in Worth, H., Allen, L., Paris, A. (eds) The Life of Brian: Masculinities, Sexualities and Health in New Zealand, Otago University Press: Dunedin. pp.129-138.
Refereed Journal Articles
2006 Allen, L. ‘Trying not to think straight: Conducting Focus Groups with Lesbian and Gay Youth’, International Journal of Educational Research (19) 2:163-176
2006 Allen, L. ‘Looking at the Real Thing’: Young Men, Pornography and Sexuality Education.’ Discourse: studies in the cultural politics of education (27)1:69-83
2005 Allen, L. ‘Say Everything’: Exploring Young People’s Suggestions For Improving Sexuality Education’, Sex Education. Special Edition on Sexuality Education and Effectiveness. 5(4):391-406.
2005 Allen, L. ‘Concrete and Classrooms: How Schools Shape Educational Research’, British Journal of Sociology of Education. 26 (4):491-504
2005 Allen, L. ‘Managing Masculinity: Young Men’s Identity Work in Focus Groups’, Qualitative Research. Vol. 5 (1):35-58.
2004 Allen, L. ‘Getting Off and Going Out’: young people’s conceptions of (hetero)sexual relationships. Culture, Health and Sexuality. Vol. 6(6): 463-281.
2004 Allen, L. ‘Beyond the Birds and the Bees: Constituting a Discourse of Erotics in Sexuality Education’. Gender and Education. Vol.16 (2):151-167. (internationally refereed)
2003 Allen, L. ‘Girls want Sex, Boys want Love: Resisting dominant discourses of (hetero)sexuality. Sexualities. Vol.6 (2): 215-236.
2003 Allen, L. ‘Power Talk: Young People Negotiating (Hetero)sex’. Women’s Studies International Forum. Vol.26 (3): 235-244.
2002 Allen. L. ‘Naked Skin Together: Exploring young women’s narratives of (hetero)sexual pleasure through a spectrum of Embodiment. Women’s Studies Journal Vol.18 (11): 45-67.
2001 Allen. L. ‘Closing Sex Education’s Knowledge/Practice Gap: the re-conceptualisation of young people’s sexual knowledge’, Sex Education Vol. 1(2): 109-122.
