Rachel is Deputy Head of School, History, Politics, Philosophy and Sociology (HiPPS), Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Sociology and Senior Lecturer in Sociology at ARU.
Before taking up her position as a Lecturer in Social Policy at ARU in 2016, Rachel was a Research Associate at the University of Central Lancashire and ARU, working on European and nationally funded projects in a wide range of social policy areas, including health policy and crime and anti-social behaviour.
Rachel has worked in academic research and teaching for 11 years, working in criminology, sociology and social policy in UK and international projects.
She was involved in a large scale EU-funded study on the experience of antisocial behaviour victimisation of children and young people across eight European countries (2012). She has also conducted research in criminal justice settings, exploring concepts such as partnership working for local government agencies, and structured supervision for a regional probation service.
Alongside this diverse body of research, Rachel has taught on the BA (Hons) Social Policy and MSc International Social Welfare and Social Policy courses at ARU.
Rachel’s doctoral research reflects her concern for interdisciplinary practice in teaching and research. A historical sociology approach to understanding the extra-governmental regulation of women’s drinking conduct led to a study concerning the attempts to regulate women’s drinking conduct in the mid-19th century and in the post millennium period. This study reflects an interest in governance, moral regulation, gender and social constructions of alcohol.
Rachel currently teaches on the following modules:
Ryder, R. (forthcoming) 'Femininity 'out of place': The proximity of dirt to women in British Temperance tracts'
McErlain, R (2015) 'Alcohol and moral regulation in historical context' in Staddon, P. Women and alcohol: a social approach, Policy Press