Researcher
looking for older LGB
You may remember me from a few years ago. I was doing research for
an MScon LGB informal support networks in older age. You kindly posted
somethingabout my research on your website. Well, I am doing more
research now. This time for a PhD. Just to remindyou, I am a lesbian, in
my mid-fifties. Here's a link to my university webpage:http://www.keele.ac.uk/risocsci/currentstudents/students/westwoodsue/
I am researching LGB ageing from an equalities perspective, with the
aim of making older LGB more visible and of impacting upon social policy
andhousing, health and social care provision. I also work for Age UKOxfordshire,
managing their end of life and dementia services. I am theonly person out
in the entire organisation. Need I say more? So, I am hoping you will kindly
post details of my research on your website again. Look forward to hearing
from you. Many thanks in anticipation of yoursupport.
All good wishes,
Sue Westwood
07722355266
s.westwood@ilpj.keele.ac.uk
HELP
WANTED WITH AGEING SEXUALITY AND WORK
I am currently part of an academic research team undertaking a small
project exploring the experience and intersections between ageing, sexuality
and
work, focussing on the experiences of those ages 40 and over and working
full or part-time in London. As I'm sure you are aware, alot of the current
knowledge surrounding growing older at work is based on heteronormative
assumptions surrounding marriage and the gendering of the breadwinner status,
and often this can influence policies as evidence filters upstream.
It is our long-term aim to develop a project that provides evidence that
will in turn ensure policies surrounding work in later life are inclusive
and not favour particular lifestyles. This small project is the first step
in doing so.
So far we have interviewed a number of people self-identifying as LGBTQ,
but was wondering if there was any chance of putting a small call for participants
on your website if you would allow. Ideally, we would like our study to
be as participant inclusive as possible, with interviewees continuing to
engage with the researchers after the interview to ensure the project findings
reflect their experiences and challenges, should they wish.
I have attached a call for participants and the biographies of the researchers
undertaking the study. If you would like to chat further about this research,
please do not hesitate to contat me either by e-mail or telephone.
I am located in North London (in Finsbury Park) so an also happy to meet
to discuss face to face if this is easier.
Dr Kathleen Riach
PhD Director
Senior Lecturer in Management
Essex Business School
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester, Essex
CO4 3SQ
01206 872373
Web Page: http://www.essex.ac.uk/ebs/staff/profile.aspx?ID=613
Call for Participants:
Exploring the Lived Experience of Gender, Sexuality and Ageing at Work
Research Team : Dr Kathleen Riach and Melissa Tyler, Essex Business
School, University of Essex
Dr Nick Rumens, Department of Management, Bristol University
Current studies acknowledge that as we grow older, we may experience
our jobs and occupational identities in particular ways depending on our
sexuality, age or lifestyle choices. However, most studies of working life
assume that employees follow a career trajectory influenced by ‘heteronormative’
decision-making surrounding a partner of the opposite sex, marriage, becoming
a breadwinner, children and grandparenting.
In light of this gap in understanding, academics at the Universities
of Essex and Bristol are exploring how ageing, sexuality and occupational
life are collectively negotiated, managed and experienced by those who
work and live in the UK.
As part of this project, we are looking to interview men and women
over the age of 40 who currently work full or part-time and self-identify
as gay, lesbian or bisexual. Interviews will last around 1 hour with questions
exploring your experiences of growing older at work, decision-making surrounding
career, the relationship between work and non-work identities, and thoughts
about planning future careers or post-working lifestyles.
Although no payment will be made, any expenses (such as travel) will
be reimbursed and interviews will take place at a time and location convenient
for you. Interviews will be anonymous, confidential and subject to Institutional
codes of ethical practice in research. All participants will also be invited
to continue to exchange thoughts and ideas with the researchers after the
interview.
For more information or to take part in the study, please contact Kathleen
Riach at kriach@essex.ac.uk, or on 07971 072595.
INFORMATION
WANTED ON GAY LIFE 1967-MID EIGHTIES
Please allow me to introduce myself
and congratulate you on the fascinating website you've produced.
My name is Charles Smith and I’m a PHD
history student at Loughborough University, working on the evolution of
gay life in the uk between 1967 and the mid 80s. The project looks
at three areas, gay clubs, the gay press and political groups to chart
how gay people’s lives changed and how the idea of a gay community evolved
from 1967 onwards. It looks at both the controversies and debates within
the gay world, and attacks from outside.
As such your website is an incredible
resource, which I'm finding very useful. I'm interested in hearing more
from your site's users, and was wondering whether you could put something
up inviting any men who would be willing to be interviewed (anonymously
if requested) in person or by email about their experiences in the seventies
to get in contact with me? I'm particularly interested in talking to people
who attended or ran gay pubs and clubs.
Any help you could give will be most
appreciated,
Charles Smith
PHD Candidate
C.Smith4@lboro.ac.uk
BOOKS YOU MAY FIND OF INTEREST
My partner Nigel and I have both - as older gay men, 61
and 69 respectively - written our memoirs.
mine, DAVID EVANS is entitled APPOINTMENTS
WITH THE DREAM FAIRY and is about me and growing up and coming to
london in the sixties and later working for two high-flying artists management
companies in the music and theatre and film industries, looking after the
careers of cat stevens, elton john and queen - amongst many others. i also
have three books all available on the biographical topic of my friend freddie
mercury as well as other novels originally published by the now defunct
MILLIVRES BOOKS.
My partner NIGEL QUINEY has two memoirs, the first
is A COCK-EYED OPTIMIST and the second, just
published, is entitled MORE COCK-EYED OPTIMISM.
we joke privately that the third will be called MORE COCK, LESS OPTIMISM!
All these books are published by TUSITALA
PRESS and available via bookshops or online via GARDNERS
BOOK DISTRIBUTORS of Eastbourne, the largest distributors in
the country.
Thank you for doing your website - it's a very necessary
resource and reference point. so many young people of all persuasions have
now both forgotten or have never been aware of the brave lives that have
been led for many centuries in order for them to enjoy the wonderful freedom
they have today. 1967 seems a long time ago ...
hope you can make something positive out of this information
take care
best wishes
David Evans and Nigel Quiney