Professor Kerry Robinson

Biography

Professor Kerry Robinson is in the School of Social Sciences and Psychology and in the Sexualities and Genders Research Network. Her research interests focus on childhood studies; diversity, equity and social justice issues in educational contexts; constructions of gendered and sexualized identities; sexual harassment; constructions of childhood and sexuality; and sexuality education. Prof Robinson currently lectures in sociology, constructions of childhood, cultural diversity and difference, and contemporary debates in the social sciences.  Prof Robinson is currently the Australian/New Zealand Associate Editor for the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (QSE)  and an Editor of the Journal of Sociology (JoS). She is an invited reader/expert on the Australian Research Council. She is the recipient of a Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning Award for her innovative curriculum and transformative pedagogies that inspire and motivate students to learn, and scholarly research that enhances learning and teaching. She also received a NSW Minister for Education and Training & The Australian College of Educators Quality Teaching Award, a UWS Vice Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award, as well as a UWS College of Arts Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.

Kerry has published widely on her research, including her recent book, Innocence, Knowledge and the construction of childhood: The contradictory relationship between sexuality and censorship in children's contemporary lives (2013, Routledge, London); a co-edited collection Rethinking school violence (Saltmarsh, Robinson & Davies, 2012, PalgraveMacmillan, London) and a co-authored book, Diversity and Difference in Early Childhood Education: Issues for Theory and Practice (Robinson & Jones Diaz, 2006, Open University Press) -  a second edition of this latter book is currently being written and will be published by McGraw-Hill in 2015. 

Qualifications

BA (Wollongong), DipEd (Wollongong), MA (UNSW), PhD (UNSW)

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Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise

Professor Kerry Robinson's research interests focus on childhood studies; diversity, equity and social justice issues in educational contexts; constructions of gendered and sexualized identities; sexual harassment; constructions of childhood and sexuality; and sexuality education.

The following is a brief overview of her current projects and interests: 

Kerry is currently leading a three year Australian Research Council Discovery funded project (2011- 2013) titled: 'The tensions for parents, educators and children in building a sustainable culture of ethical and respectful relationships early in life'. Kerry is conducting this research with Professor Moira Carmody (UWS) and Dr Sue Dyson (LaTrobe). This research, which is being conducted in NSW and Victoria, involves interviews with parents and their primary school age children (5-11) and with teachers of primary school children; and an online survey for parents and teachers of primary school age children. The project is in its third year. This research explores children's understandings of respect, sexuality and relationships (e.g. marriage, initimacy, love); where children get their information about these issues; how parents approach their children's early education regarding sexuality education and in building children's knowledge and practice around respect; and how primary school teachers approach these areas in children's early education. 

Kerry is also leading a researcher in the Engaging Creativity stream in the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre. Kerry recently led a project titled, 'Performing queer', which was a pilot study exploring the issues facing young people identifying as gender variant and sexuality diverse (LGBTIQ). The research involved focus group and workshops with groups of gender variant and sexuality diverse young people, and a national survey targeting this group. This project also included the development of video resources and a performed ethnography based on this research to be used as professional development and community education resources. A research report titled, 'Growing Up Queer': Stories from Gender variant and sexuality diverse young people' will be published in 2013. This research project has been funded for the next three years and will continue to develop creative and innovative approaches, with a focus on technology,  for working with gender variant and sexuality diverse young people and their allies. 

Kerry is also currently initiating research focusing on gender variance in young children in Australia. 

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Grants / Current Projects

University of Western Sydney Research Grant (2012-): An Historical Analysis of Queer Youth Identities: A Pilot Study. Kerry Robinson, Nida Denson, Peter Bansel.

Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (CRC) (2013-2016): Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre - YAWCRC - Engaging Creativity Through Technologies P2:P2.  Amanda Third, Kerry Robinson, Nida Denson and Peter Bansel

Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (CRC) ((2012-2016): Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre - YAWCRC - Transforming communities and institutions: Young people sharing experiences to promote understanding and inclusion. Natalie Bolzan, Frances Gale, Brian Stout, Kerry Robinson, Nida Denson, Amanda Third, Ann Dadich and Michael Teo.

Australian Research Council Discovery Grant (2011- 2013): The tensions for parents, educators and children in building a sustainable culture of ethical and respectful relationships early in life. Robinson, Carmody and Dyson (LaTrobe)

Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (CRC) (2012-2013): YAWCRC - Performing Queer: Young people challenging vulnerabilities and inequities through performance ethnography and handheld technologies. Kerry Robinson, Peter Bansel and Nida Denson.

Previous Projects 

University of Western Sydney Research Grant (2010-2011): A pilot study exploration of the socio-cultural values and perspectives around childhood and sexuality and children's knowledge of sexuality. Kerry Robinson

Semann & Slattery and Child Australia (2010): Using performed ethnography for reflective practice with early childhood education professionals in NT and WA. Robinson.

Marrickville Council Community Grant, 2007: This project is about increasing community awareness about family diversity and the issues facing gay men, lesbians, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities. This is the initial component of a larger project that will develop an educational package around the issues facing children/youth and their families who identify as non-heterosexual. Davies, Robinson.

NSW Department of Education & Training (2005-2007): Impact Study Research on the Safe Schools Making the Links 2004 pilot project. Margaret Vickers, Kerry Robinson, Tania Ferfolja and Maggie Clarke

Australian Research Council Linkages Grant, 2005-7. From high school to higher education: Gendered Pathways into ICCTs - with Professor Margaret Vickers, Dr Carol Reid, Dr Susanne Gannon, Ms Cristyn Davies from UWS; Dr Julianne Lynch, Dr Catherine Harris, and Dr Leonie Rowan from Deakin University; and Professor Toni Downes from Charles Sturt University.

Department of Education and Training Research Tender, 2005. An Evaluation of the Safe Schools- Making the links pilot project – with Margaret Vickers, Tania Ferfolja, Maggie Clarke.

South Penrith & Neighbourhood Services Inc. and the Department of Community Services, 2003. Access and Equity Issues Facing Young People from Diverse Sexualities: Perspectives from Youth Service Providers in Western Sydney.

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Awards and Recognition

Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Carrick Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning Award 2007: For specialist expertise in innovative curriculum and transformative pedagogies that inspire and motivate students to learn and scholarly research that enhances learning and teaching.

University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, Citation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, 2007.

University of Western Sydney, Vice Chancellor's Excellence Award 2006, Community Engagement: Highly Commended.

NSW Minister for Education and Training & The Australian College of Educators, Quality Teaching Award, 2005.

University of Western Sydney, Vice Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award, 2005.

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Publications

Books

Diversity and difference in early childhood education

Robinson, K. (2013), Innocence, Knowledge and the Construction of Childhood : The Contradictory Nature of Sexuality and Censorship in Children's Contemporary Lives, Routledge. 

Robinson, K.H. & Jones-Diaz, C. (2006) Diversity and difference in early childhood: Issues for theory and practice, Open University Press.

Book Chapters

Robinson, K. (2012), 'Sexual harassment in schools : issues of identity and power : negotiating the complexities, contexts, and contradictions of this everyday practice', in Saltmarsh, S, Robinson, K.H., & Davies, C (Eds) Rethinking School Violence: Theory, Gender, Context, Palgrave Macmillan.

Robinson, K., Saltmarsh, S. and Davies, C. (2012), 'Introduction : the case for rethinking school violence', in Saltmarsh, S, Robinson, K.H., & Davies, C (Eds) Rethinking School Violence: Theory, Gender, Context, Palgrave Macmillan.

Robinson, K., Davies, C. and Saltmarsh, S. (2012), 'Conclusions : rethinking school violence : implications for theory, policy and practice', in Saltmarsh, S, Robinson, K.H., & Davies, C (Eds)Rethinking School Violence: Theory, Gender, Context, Palgrave.

Robinson, K. (2012), 'Childhood as a 'queer time and space' : alternative imaginings of normative markers of gendered lives', in Robinson, K.H. & Davies, C. (Eds) Queer and Subjugated Knowledges: Generating Subversive Imaginaries, Bentham Science.

Robinson, K. and Davies, C. (2012), 'Introduction ', in Robinson, K.H. & Davies, C. (Eds) Queer and Subjugated Knowledges: Generating Subversive Imaginaries, Bentham Science.

Robinson, K. and Davies, C. (2007), 'Boys nerds, girl nerds: constituting and negotiating Computing and Information Technologies and peer groups as gendered subjects in schooling', Gender and I.T: Ongoing challenges for Computing and Information Technology Education in Australian Secondary Schools, Common Ground and Curriculum Corporation.

Robinson, K. (2005), 'Childhood and Sexuality: Adult constructions and silenced children', Children Taken Seriously: In theory, policy and practice, Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Robinson, K. and Ferfolja, T. (2002), 'A reflection of resistance. Discourses of heterosexism and homophobia in teacher training classrooms', From Here to Diversity: The impact of lesbian and gay issues in education in Australia and New Zealand, Harrington Park Press.

Journal Articles

Robinson, K. (2013), 'Building respectful relationships early : educating children on gender variance and sexual diversity : a response to Damien Riggs', Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood , 81 - 87.

Davies, C. and Robinson, K. (2013), 'Reconceptualising family : negotiating sexuality in a governmental climate of neoliberalism', Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 39 - 53.

Robinson, K. (2012), ''Difficult citizenship' : the precarious relationships between childhood, sexuality and access to knowledge', Sexualities, 257 - 276.

Davies, C. and Robinson, K. (2010), 'Hatching babies and Stork deliveries: risk and regulation in the construction of children's sexual knowledge', Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 249 - 262.

Robinson, K. and Davies, C. (2010), 'Tomboys and sissy girls: Exploring girls' power, agency and female relationships in childhood through the memories of women', Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 24 - 31.

Robinson, K. and Ferfolja, T. (2008), 'Playing it up, playing it down, playing it safe: Queering teacher education', Teaching and Teacher Education, 846 - 858.

Robinson, K. (2008), 'In the name of 'childhood innocence'; A Discursive Exploration of the Moral Panic Associated with Childhood and Sexuality', Cultural Studies Review, 113 - 129.

Robinson, K. and Davies, C. (2008), 'Docile Bodies and Heteronormative Moral Subjects: Constructing the Child and Sexual Knowledge in Schooling', Sexuality & Culture, 221 - 239.

Robinson, K. and Davies, C. (2008), 'She's Kickin' Ass, That's What She's Doing! Deconstructing Childhood 'Innocence' in Media Representations', Australian Feminist Studies, 343 - 358.

Robinson, K. and Davies, C. (2007), 'Tomboys and Sissy Girls: young girls' negotiations of femininity and masculinity', International Journal of Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood, 17 - 31.

Affrica, T., Mindy, B. and Robinson, K. (2007), 'Making Trouble: A conversation about departing from the straight and narrow in early childhood', International Journal of Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood, 32 - 46.

Robinson, K. (2005), 'Reinforcing hegemonic masculinities through sexual harassment:issues of identity, power and popularity in secondary schools', Gender and Education, 19 - 37.

Robinson, K. (2005), 'Doing anti-homophobia and anti-heterosexism in early childhood education: moving beyond the immobilising impacts of 'risks', 'fears' and 'silences'. Can we afford not to', Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 175 - 188.

Robinson, K. (2005), 'Queerying gender: Heteronormativity in early childhood education', Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 19 - 28.

Robinson, K., Ferfolja, T. and Goldstein, T. (2004), 'Editorial - Special Issue: Anti-homophobia teacher education', Teacher Education, 3 - 8.

Ferfolja, T. and Robinson, K. (2004), 'Why anti-homophobia education in teacher education? perspectives from Australian teacher educators', Teaching Education, 9 - 25.

Robinson, K. (2002), 'Making the Invisible Visible: gay and lesbian issues in early childhood education', Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 415 - 434.

Robinson, K. and Ferfolja, T. (2001), 'What are we doing this for? ; Dealing with lesbian and gay issues in teacher education', British Journal of Sociology of Education, 121 - 133.

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