Dr Bridgette Rickett
Head of Psychology, Sociology and Politics
Summary
After my completing my PhD in social psychology at the University of Sheffield, I gained cross-sector experience as a senior lecturer, followed by head of psychology at Leeds Beckett University and currently Head of psychology, sociology, and politics at Sheffield Hallam University. My published work uses feminist-informed understandings of education, health, and organisational inequalities, particularly within the intersection of social class and gender. This work has featured in media coverage (e.g., New Statesman; Telegraph; BBC radio; and UK TV programming) and used in work on EDI strategies with organisations such as the BBC, UK Parliament, legal organisations, and the NHS.
About
Head of Department
Teaching
Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences
College of Social Sciences and Arts
Chair of POSCUPI, a collaboration between UK psychologists who examine the policy and practice implications for the psychology of social class
Gendered and classed discourses around (un)ideal parenting, family foodwork and body management
Gendered and classed discourses around the (un)ideal worker in traditionally masculinised/ middle class organisations.
Research
1. Chair of POSCUPI, a collaboration between UK psychologists who examine the policy and practice implications for the psychology of social class
Rickett, B., Easterbrook, M., Reavey, P., Sheehy-Skeffington, J., & Woolhouse, M. (2022). Psychology of Social Class-based Inequalities: Policy Implications for a revised (2010) UK Equality Act. British Psychology Society. doi.org/10.53841/bpsrep.2022.rep167
Rickett, B. (2022). We need reform, and class has got to be protected’. Psychologist, May 2022. https://t.co/37qXf7Z
2. Gendered and classed discourses around (un)ideal parenting, family foodwork and body management:
Gillborn, S, Rickett, B., & Woolhouse, M. (2022). “You just feel like you’ve failed them”: A Feminist Relational Discourse Analysis on mothers’ voiced accounts of the ‘duty to protect’ children from fatness. Feminism and Psychology. doi.org/ 10.1177/09593535221074802
Reavey, P., Woolhouse, M., & Rickett, B. (2022). Psychology of social class-based inequalities – Policy implications for a revised (2010) UK Equality Act: Health. British Psychology Society. doi.org/10.53841/bpsrep.2022.rep167
Rickett, B., Johnson, K., Ingles, H, Reynolds, M. (2021). SES and support for parents/carers of primary school aged gender diverse children in England, UK: a mixed-method analysis of experiences with health services, Heath Sociology Review. doi.org/10.1080/14461242.2020.1857656
Gillborn, S., Rickett, B., Muskett, T, & Woolhouse, M. (2020). Apocalyptic Public Health: Exploring discourses of fatness in childhood 'obesity' policy, Journal of Education Policy. doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2019.1566839.
Woolhouse, M., Day, K., Rickett, B, (2019). "‘Growing your own herbs’ and ‘cooking from scratch’: Contemporary discourses around good mothering, food and class-related identities”. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2019.1566839
Thompson, L., Rickett, B., Day, K. (2018). Feminist relational discourse analysis – A voice-centered discursive method for feminist research. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 15 (1), 93-115. doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2017.1393586
Rickett, B. (2016). Feminist psychology – post-structuralism, class, and maternal subjectivities: Where are we and where should we go next? Feminism and Psychology. 26 (3), 320 – 326.
3: Gendered and classed discourses around the (un)ideal worker in traditionally masculinised/ middle class organisations:
Rickett, B., Evans, S., & Sheehy-Skeffington, J., (2022). Psychology of social class-based inequalities – Policy implications for a revised (2010) UK Equality Act: Work. British Psychology Society. doi.org/10.53841/bpsrep.2022.rep167
Thompson, L., Rickett, B., Day, K. (2018). Feminist relational discourse analysis – A voice-centered discursive method for feminist research. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 15 (1), 93-115. doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2017.1393586
Rickett, B., & Morris, A, (2021). “Mopping up tears” in the academy - Discourse in working class, female lecturers talk around emotional labour and belonging in contemporary UK Higher Education. Discourse. doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2020.1834952
Drakett, J., Rickett, B, Day, K., & Milnes, K. (2019) Old jokes, new media – Online sexism and constructions of gender in Internet memes. Feminism and Psychology. 28, 109-127. doi.org/10.1177%2F0959353517727560
Kemp, L, & Rickett, B. (2017). The lived experiences of foreign women: Influences on their international working lives. Gender, Work and Organization. 25 (4) 343-360. doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12201
Rickett, B. & Roman, A. (2015). 'Heroes and matriarchs': A Discourse analysis of female door supervisors’ talk around violence. Gender, Work and Organisation. 20 (6), 664-667. doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12002
Publications
Journal articles
Rickett, B., & Thompson, L. (2024). Beyond the academic imposter syndrome. A Feminist Relational Discourse Analysis of accounts of (un)belonging from UK working-class women academics. Qualitative Research in Psychology. http://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2024.2406339
Other activities
2023 – 2025: Expert board member – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Board. British Psychology Society.
2022 - Present: Expert board member – Legal framework for protection of social class in UK Equality Act (2010), Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.
2022 - Present: Expert advisor – Psychology of Gender and Social Class – implications for organisations, BBC RAISED (Real Action in Social and Economic Diversity) Employee Network. BBC, UK
2020 – Present: Member. Association of European Qualitative Researchers in Psychology (EQuiP)
2021- 2024: Vice Chair. International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP)
2021-Present: Founder and Chair: ‘Psychology of Social Class; UK Policy and Practice Implications (POSCUPI)
Postgraduate supervision
Supervision areas:
Critical and feminist-informed qualitative methods to understand how discourses can shape our identities, relations, and experiences.
Education, health and organisationally situated inequalities, particularly within the intersection of social class and gender
Completions:
2019 - 2023: Director of Studies for PhD. Oluwatoyin Bewaji – ‘Classed femininities of black women: Subjectivities and agency in body reshaping and body management practices’.
2015 – 2022: Supervisor for PhD. Adam Lowe – ‘Class, masculinities and workplace emotional well-being’.
2015 – 2020: Director of Studies for PhD. Sarah Gillborn - ‘Discourses of fatness and motherhood (re)produced through UK government 'childhood obesity' policy’
2009 – 2017: Supervisor for PhD. Rebecca Wray - ‘Constructions of professional femininities in print and online women’s magazines’ (part time)
2013 – 2016: Director of Studies for PhD. Gemma Ahearne - ‘Sex workers experiences of prison and imprisonment’
2012 – 2016: Director of Studies for PhD. Jessica Drakett - ‘Constructions of femininities in IT workspaces’
2009 – 2013: Director of Studies for PhD. Lucy Thompson - 'Gendering and classing Police-work: A Feminist Relational Discourse Analysis of Ideal Organisational Identities under Late Capitalism'
2008 – 2012: Supervisor for PhD. Ruth Cross - ‘Discourse around health, risk and health promotion (part time)
2007 – 2012: Supervisor for PhD: Maxine Woolhouse - ‘Constructions of class, femininities and eating’.
PhD - Current Supervision:
2023 – Present: Director of Studies. Ella Rhodes - ‘Exploring women’s involvement in masculinised work - Experiences in the UK construction industry.
2020 – Present: Director of Studies for PhD. Emma Dickens – ‘Classing the imagining of belonging in UK Higher Education’.
2018 – Present: Supervisor for PhD. Solome Mealin – ‘An exploration of mental health issues and poverty among African migrant women in the UK’