Papers by Dr Deborah Talbot
Nightlife historically has been viewed as a social problem to be contained by licensing, policing... more Nightlife historically has been viewed as a social problem to be contained by licensing, policing and the management of supply. In the context of recent trends towards deregulation of hours and supply, fears have again resurfaced as to the detrimental impact of the ‘night-time economy’ on street disorder and violence, concerns that have focused attention on the Licensing Act 2003. Utilizing a case study of the regulation of nightlife in the London locality of Southview, this article will explore how there has been ongoing and renewed attention on the problems associated with the night-time economy centred on differentiating between risky and safe cultural and economic forms. The article will argue that the Licensing Act represents a consolidation of over a decade of regulatory change that has ‘reordered’ regulatory approaches to nightlife; one that has, in combination with other aspects of economic, social and cultural change, been productive of ‘subcultural closure’.
The aim of this article is to examine the concept of ‘alcohol-related disorder’ in the night- tim... more The aim of this article is to examine the concept of ‘alcohol-related disorder’ in the night- time economy as a reified notion that neglects the broader impact of economic, social and cultural influences on nightlife. The combined impact of gentrification and disorder management have in turn created and reinforced an idea of nightlife that is dominated by the culture of consumption; marginalising the potential for experimental subcultures while creating an apparatus of control and moral disapproval directed at the ‘binge’ drinking, common assault and nuisance. The paper will draw on historical frameworks that demonstrate that the regulation of nightlife has, since the earliest licensing statute, been concerned with consolidating big business and criminalising popular cultural forms, a precedent that continues today. The argument will be made that, rather than focusing on nightlife as an undifferentiated social problem, researchers should look more broadly at the cultural, spatial and regulatory barriers facing a creative and diverse nightlife.
The aim of this chapter is to examine the concept of `alcohol-related disorder ́ and anti-social ... more The aim of this chapter is to examine the concept of `alcohol-related disorder ́ and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in nightlife in the eighteenth century and Victorian era, alongside the reform of licensing post-1997, as a notion that reflects the broader impact of economic, social and cultural influences on nightlife. The chapter draws on legislative and policy frameworks from 1751 which demonstrate that the regulation of nightlife has, since the earliest licensing statute, been concerned with consolidating big business and marginalizing alternative or perceived unacceptable cultures and behaviours, a precedent that continue with New Labour and the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition government. The argument is made that, rather than focusing on nightlife as an undifferentiated social problem, researchers should look more broadly at the cultural, spatial and regulatory barriers facing a creative, diverse and free nightlife.
Abstract
This article critically examines popular sociological theories of anxiety and risk-avoid... more Abstract
This article critically examines popular sociological theories of anxiety and risk-avoidance in parenting practices. Using research from an ethnographic case study of parenting under fives and interviews with mothers in Walthamstow, East London, UK, it makes two key arguments. Firstly, that contrary to the argument put forward by popular theories of risk that parents are risk-avoidant and anxious, this research suggests that mother’s attitudes towards risk-taking is more ambiguous and appear to show a strong commitment to notions of freedom and autonomy as an important part of their child’s development. Secondly, attitudes towards risk- taking in childrearing have a geography; localities may be said to give rise to broadly similar approaches to child-rearing defined by its character as a ‘moral region’ (Park, 1925). This article suggests that if society has cultural and policy concerns about excessively restricting children, attention needs to be focused on the localised possibilities for social interaction and on the generation of parental ‘affinity groups’.
This article explores the relationship between childbirth and mothers’ psychosocial experience of... more This article explores the relationship between childbirth and mothers’ psychosocial experience of motherhood, through the lens of the good birth. From research on birthing and risk in an East London locality, case histories of eight mothers were selected and written up; these were mothers who had reported an experience of a ‘good’ or ‘great’ birth (Simkin 2006), to see what they had in common. Three core themes were identified. Firstly, whether as a consequence or a cause of their birthing experience, the mothers were identified as having strong personalities or ‘ego’s’ applied to their birthing experience. Secondly, they had all experienced respectful care. Thirdly, they had experienced a transition to motherhood (Oakley 1980) that was unambiguous. Not all of these women had ‘natural’ births. The conclusion discusses the implications of this for further research and the way childbirth is managed in the UK and beyond.
Original review of situational crime prevention theory, which in particular explores its radical ... more Original review of situational crime prevention theory, which in particular explores its radical roots in social psychology.
Original teaching materials on cultural criminology, looking at its cultural context and applicat... more Original teaching materials on cultural criminology, looking at its cultural context and application to criminological problems.
This is a teaching text exploring the origins of labelling theory and applying it to thinking abo... more This is a teaching text exploring the origins of labelling theory and applying it to thinking about crime. It contains original material and perspectives.
This chapter is a teaching text critically examining and applying the theories of the Chicago Sch... more This chapter is a teaching text critically examining and applying the theories of the Chicago School and Merton to thinking about crime. It contains original research material about the workings of the Chicago School and issues of gender.
This paper examines three official discussions on the development of entertainment licensing law ... more This paper examines three official discussions on the development of entertainment licensing law -the Disorderly Houses Act 1752, the Night Clubs Bill 1925 and the Private Places of Entertainment (Licensing) Act 1967 -and argues that the continual extension of regulation over nightlife, particularly as pertains to entertainment, emerged as a result of the official conflation of popular entertainment with crime, disorder and immorality delineated according to social hierarchies of class, generation and often gender and race. Successive legislation extended the scope of entertainment licensing law, which was concerned with controlling through regulation of the conduct of premises, to deal with new presumed dangers. The problem for those engaged in legislative change was how to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable premises in law. The article will examine the shifts in statutory form that enabled these differentiating practices to be applied.
This article will critically examine theories of risk - referred to in this article as 'pro-risk'... more This article will critically examine theories of risk - referred to in this article as 'pro-risk' - as applied to parenting cultures in the UK through a case study of early years parenting, based in Walhamstow, East London. Common to all of these theories is an assertion that children are over-parented - a product of economic, social and cultural changes such as the decline of community as well as theories of child-centred parenting. Through the close examination of two examples where risk and community were contested, the article will argue that missing from these theories is an understanding of the embodiments of early years parenting, which underpin the way that parents handle the tensions between risk and development. Further, that parents sought to militate against isolation and the decline of community through local parenting networks.
International Journal of Cultural Policy, 2011
Nightlife, the night‐time economy and ‘alternative’ culture have been a source of academic contes... more Nightlife, the night‐time economy and ‘alternative’ culture have been a source of academic contestation over recent years, with differing views as to the direction and meaning of the contemporary drift of law and policy that serve to regulate this area of social and cultural life. Further, there have so far been few attempts to theorise the nature of change. This article aims to highlight some key theoretical underpinnings that can facilitate an understanding of the kinds of regulatory innovation that pervade nightlife and alternative cultural forms. Using two case studies – free or alternative festivals and Form 696 – it specifically draws on the concepts of disciplinary power and juridification as a way of theorising both the acceleration of regulatory forms and its impact on the production of alternative culture.
Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2007
2007). Racism, criminalization and the development of night-time economies: Two case studies in L... more 2007). Racism, criminalization and the development of night-time economies: Two case studies in London and Manchester. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 30(1), pp. 95-118. For guidance on citations see FAQs. c [not recorded] Version: [not recorded] Link(s) to article on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/
The medicalisation thesis argues that medical science has diminished people's ability to cope wit... more The medicalisation thesis argues that medical science has diminished people's ability to cope with pain, suffering and death . In the arena of childbirth, medicalisation is seen as disempowering women to the extent that they struggle with the challenges of motherhood . This article will explore the medicalisation thesis as applied to childbirth, through data arising from qualitative interviews with mothers in Walthamstow, East London. It will argue that childbirth matters for women, and the way in which they give birth -whether it is highly interventionist or not, whether they feel in control or not -has long-term consequences for their emotional, psychological and physical health, their relationships and their babies. It will also propose that various localised systems of support are key to women's adjustment to motherhood, whether they have had traumatic, difficult or good births.
Talks by Dr Deborah Talbot
Audio recording on SoundCloud
Books by Dr Deborah Talbot
The promotion of night-time economies in town centres across Britain has sparked new fears about ... more The promotion of night-time economies in town centres across Britain has sparked new fears about disorder, violence and binge-drinking. However, there has been little consideration of the social and cultural benefits of a diverse urban nightlife. This timely work examines the processes that have led to a mainstreaming of subcultural expression at night, and the impact of legislation aimed at providing the police and councils with new powers to manage and contain the ‘social problem’ of contemporary nightlife.
Based on an ethnographic study of a London locality, the book examines the unwitting consequences of local decision-making, and the contradictory struggles that ensued. Utilizing the concept of the 'outsider area' as a space that stands outside of conventional norms, and where cultural innovation and transgression can occur, it explores the social consequences of losing contact with the 'other'.
Attached is a link which takes you to a pre-publication version of the book uploaded to my personal website. The publishers details for the book can be found at https://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754685760.
Uploads
Papers by Dr Deborah Talbot
This article critically examines popular sociological theories of anxiety and risk-avoidance in parenting practices. Using research from an ethnographic case study of parenting under fives and interviews with mothers in Walthamstow, East London, UK, it makes two key arguments. Firstly, that contrary to the argument put forward by popular theories of risk that parents are risk-avoidant and anxious, this research suggests that mother’s attitudes towards risk-taking is more ambiguous and appear to show a strong commitment to notions of freedom and autonomy as an important part of their child’s development. Secondly, attitudes towards risk- taking in childrearing have a geography; localities may be said to give rise to broadly similar approaches to child-rearing defined by its character as a ‘moral region’ (Park, 1925). This article suggests that if society has cultural and policy concerns about excessively restricting children, attention needs to be focused on the localised possibilities for social interaction and on the generation of parental ‘affinity groups’.
Talks by Dr Deborah Talbot
Books by Dr Deborah Talbot
Based on an ethnographic study of a London locality, the book examines the unwitting consequences of local decision-making, and the contradictory struggles that ensued. Utilizing the concept of the 'outsider area' as a space that stands outside of conventional norms, and where cultural innovation and transgression can occur, it explores the social consequences of losing contact with the 'other'.
Attached is a link which takes you to a pre-publication version of the book uploaded to my personal website. The publishers details for the book can be found at https://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754685760.
This article critically examines popular sociological theories of anxiety and risk-avoidance in parenting practices. Using research from an ethnographic case study of parenting under fives and interviews with mothers in Walthamstow, East London, UK, it makes two key arguments. Firstly, that contrary to the argument put forward by popular theories of risk that parents are risk-avoidant and anxious, this research suggests that mother’s attitudes towards risk-taking is more ambiguous and appear to show a strong commitment to notions of freedom and autonomy as an important part of their child’s development. Secondly, attitudes towards risk- taking in childrearing have a geography; localities may be said to give rise to broadly similar approaches to child-rearing defined by its character as a ‘moral region’ (Park, 1925). This article suggests that if society has cultural and policy concerns about excessively restricting children, attention needs to be focused on the localised possibilities for social interaction and on the generation of parental ‘affinity groups’.
Based on an ethnographic study of a London locality, the book examines the unwitting consequences of local decision-making, and the contradictory struggles that ensued. Utilizing the concept of the 'outsider area' as a space that stands outside of conventional norms, and where cultural innovation and transgression can occur, it explores the social consequences of losing contact with the 'other'.
Attached is a link which takes you to a pre-publication version of the book uploaded to my personal website. The publishers details for the book can be found at https://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754685760.