Professor of Social Policy and Applied Social Research; Director of the Centre for Young People, Poverty and Social Disadvantage with the Institute of Applied Social Research
I contribute to teaching on a range of programmes within the department at undergraduate and post-graduate levels, including Masters Programmes and Professional Doctorate. I undertake supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students as they carry out work for their independent projects, dissertations and PhD theses.
I am currently involved in research projects investigating young women’s experiences of custody and resettlement and young people’s experiences of sexual victimisation and sexual violence in gangs.
My published work has appeared in national and international publications and has been presented at many national and international conferences. I am Chair of the Institute for Applied Social Research Ethics Committee.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Sociology - Polytechnic of North London, now London Metropolitan University
- MA Media and Cultural Studies (by Independent Study & Research) - University of East London
- PhD By publication - University of Bedfordshire
Teaching Role
Undergraduate Studies:
- Globalisation and Welfare States
- Globalisation and Social Inequality
- Globalisation and Drug Markets
- Social Research Methods
- Ethics in Social Research
Postgraduate Studies: Various Topics including:
- The Social Construction of Childhood
- Young People’s Experiences of Poverty
- The Impact of Welfare Reforms on Young People
- Young People’s involvement in Informal Economic Activities
- Language and the Construction of Social Problems
- Young People, Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking
- Ethics in Social Research
Research Interests
- Young People’s Involvement in Informal Economic Activity and Informal Markets in the Context of Globalisation
- Informal Economic Activity as a Survival Strategy
- Young People and Sexual Exploitation
- Official Responses to Young People’s Sexual Exploitation
- Practitioner Understandings of Young People’s Sexual Exploitation
- Trafficking of Young People
- Young People’s Participation in Illegal Drug Markets and Illegal Drug Use
- Young People as Victims and Perpetrators of Sexual and Violent Crime
- Globalisation and its Impact of the Welfare of Young People
- Young People’s Experiences of Poverty and Unemployment
- Young People and Social Exclusion
Recent Research Projects
- Young People’s Experiences of Violent and Sexual Victimisation
- The Support Needs of Young Women in Custody
- Young People’s Experiences of Growing Up in Poverty
- LSCB responses to Young People’s Sexual Exploitation
- Young People’s Experiences of Living in Gang-Affected Neighbourhoods
Service to Academic/Professional Community
- Consultant to NSPCC Services for Young Runaways
- Consultant to Barnardos Working with Young People who are Sexually Exploited
- International Expert Belgian Federal Science Policy Office Juvenile Delinquency in Belgium
- Advisory Group Member LSBU/Eaves Housing Exit Processes for Victims of Trafficking
- Peer Reviewer for various academic journals, publishers such as Routledge and Research Funding Bodies such as ESRC and Big Lottery
Publications
- Melrose, M. (2012 forthcoming) ‘Young People, Poverty and Social Insecurity’, Youth and Policy
- Melrose, M. (2012 forthcoming) ‘Twenty-First Century Party People: Young People and Sexual Exploitation in the New Millennium’, Child Abuse Review
- Melrose, M. (2011) ‘Regulating Social Research: Exploring the Implications of Extending Ethical Review Processes in Social Research’, Sociological Research Online, Vol. 36 (2)< www.socresonline.org >
- Melrose, M with Waqad, M. and Randhawa, G. (2011) Hard Times: Young People’s and Young Parents’ Experiences of Living in Poverty, Luton, LB
- Melrose, M. (2010) ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It? Theorising Young People’s Involvement in Prostitution’, Youth and Policy Special Edition,
- Melrose, M. (2010) ‘Mercenary Territory: Sex Trafficking in the UK’, in McCabe, K. and Manian, S. (eds.) Sex Trafficking: Global Perspectives, Roman and Littlefield, New York
- Melrose, M. (2009) ‘Out on the Street and Out of Control? Drug Using Sex Workers and the Government’s New Prostitution Strategy’ in Phoenix, J. (ed.) Prostitution Reform and Public Policy, Devon, Willan Publishing
Contact Details
Luton campus
Park Square
Luton, LU1 3JU
T: +44 (0)1582 743088
E: margaret.melrose@beds.ac.uk
