Newcastle University

Introduction

I am currently working in PEALS on a 3 year ethnographic study, 'Kinship & Genetic Journeys: A Study of the Experiences of Families Who Are Referred to Paediatric Genetics' (PI: Dr Janice McLaughlin).

This study explores ways in which narratives of kinship and self may be reconsidered by children and their families undergoing genetic investigations to resolve questions around a child's health.

Fieldwork includes observations of consultations in dysmorphology clinics in the UK, alongside in-depth interviews with parent/carers, wider family and friends, siblings, and the referred children themselves.

Roles and Responsibilities

PEALS Seminar Series Organiser, along with Pauline McCormack.

Qualifications

Ph.D. Newcastle University, December 2004
‘Singled Out? An Ethnographic Study of Lone Parents’ Consumer Strategies in East End Newcastle.’ Lead supervisor: Prof Peter Phillimore. ESRC Funded.

BA (hons) Social Studies, University of Newcastle 1997 (1st Class)

Memberships

European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA)

Research Interests

Understandings of new medicine and technology in everyday worlds;

Experiences and perspectives of medically othered children and their families;

Critical engagements with professional cultures (health and social care);

Processes of social and cultural marginalisation;

Ethnographic and ethical research practices.

Other Expertise

I have over 6 years experience working in sensitive areas of health-related research exploring socio-cultural understandings of health and wellbeing.

My research skills include in-depth ethnographic interviewing, obervational work in formal settings such as medical consultations and informal settings such as home and community.

Current Work

Kinship & Genetic Journeys: A Study of Families Who Are Referred to Paediatric Genetics (ESRC Funded)

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/peals/research/project/2745

Postgraduate Supervision

Co-supervisor, along with Dr Janice McLaughlin (lead), Dr Tracy Finch, and Prof Sir John Burn:
Lorraine Cowley, 'Living with Hereditary non Polyposis Colon Cancer.' Funded by Cancer Research UK.

Projects

• Exploring interpreters' perspectives on working in legal, health and social work settings
  Project Leader(s): Janice McLaughlin
• Genetics and kinship - finding morality at their intersection. Living with the aftermath of genetic testing for Lynch Syndrome. What are the intersections between genetics and kinship?
  Project Leader(s): Janice McLaughlin and Tracy Finch (Institute of Health & Society)
• Kinship and Genetic Journeys: a study of the experiences of families who are referred to paediatric genetics
  Project Leader(s): Janice McLaughlin
• Parents, Professionals and Disabled Babies: Identifying Enabling Care
  Project Leader(s): Dan Goodley (University of Sheffield) and Janice McLaughlin

• Clavering EK, McLaughlin J. Children's participation in health research: from objects to agents?. Child: Care, Health and Development 2010, 36(5), 603-611.
• Clavering EK. Betwixt and Between: Managing Marginalised, Classed Identities. In:Taylor, Y, ed. Classed Intersections: Spaces, Selves, Knowledges.Aldershot:Ashgate,2010, pp. 117-136.
• McLaughlin J, Goodley D, Clavering EK, Fisher P. Families Raising Disabled Children: Enabling Care and Social Justice. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2008.
• Clavering EK. Enabling carers to care: Processes of exclusion and support for parents of young disabled children. Benefits: The Journal of Poverty and Social Justice 2007, 15(1), 33-44.
• Clavering EK, McLaughlin J. Crossing multidisciplinary divides: Exploring professional hierarchies and boundaries in focus groups. Qualitative Health Research 2007, 17(3), 400-410.
• McLaughlin J, Clavering EK. Visualising difference, similarity and belonging in paediatric genetics. Sociology of Health and Illness 2012, 34(3), 459-474.
• McLaughlin J, Clavering EK. Questions of kinship and inheritance in pediatric genetics: substance and responsibility. New Genetics and Society 2011, 30(4), 399-413.