Sara O’sullivan
Biographic Data
| ID | 4908489 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sara O’sullivan |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sara |
| FAMILY NAME | O’sullivan |
| SIGNATURE | O’SULLIVAN S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University College Dublin |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5190-5668 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 8 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 27 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 8 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Divergent Numbers, Convergent Narratives
This article examines the first three cycles of Ireland's gender pay gap (GPG) reporting regime. Drawing on a longitudinal analysis of 546 organizations, the study reveals a fundamental paradox: organizations with dramatically different statistical outcomes employ remarkably similar narrative strategies and interventions. Although aggregate data show modest improvement in gender pay gaps nationally, a detailed analysis of statistical outliers poi…
Gender parity in higher education enrolments
Higher education systems globally have seen major increases in women’s participation and the overall trend in OECD countries has been a transition from the traditional male majority in enrolments to a substantial female majority. Prompted by a recent reversal of this trend, this paper explores gender differences in participation in higher education in 27 OECD countries between 1971 and 2015. While increased participation by women was thought to b…
Teaching sociology in an age of teaching ‘excellence’
In 2004 Wright et al. issued a challenge to sociologists, to examine ‘the effect of the structure of the academy on teaching and learning outcomes’ (2004: 155). In this paper I take up this challenge, beginning with a short overview of the changing Irish higher education context, highlighting three macro level changes that currently impact on teaching sociology in Ireland. I argue that such a structural lens is essential to our understanding of t…
I Did Not Miss Any, Only When I Had a Valid Reason”
In this study we explore how absence from sociology classes is understood by undergraduate students at University College Dublin. The authors use Scott and Lyman’s (1968) concept of accounts to explore absence sociologically. Drawing on data generated via focus groups, an open-ended questionnaire, and an online survey with students, we outline the different excuses and justifications for missing classes used by students and present their understa…
Onwards and Upwards? Gender and Work in Ireland
It can be argued that the Irish workforce has been revolutionised over the past 25 years, as married women entered the world of paid work in increasing numbers, bolstering the female participation rate. There have also been changes in gender roles and gender role attitudes over the period. This review will present sociological research analysing this major social change, including research that places the Irish case in a comparative European and …
All Changed, Changed Utterly’?1 Gender role attitudes and the feminisation of the Irish labour force
Applying the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in an Irish Context
This article reports on an Irish study that examines the teaching of large, introductory-level sociology courses at a research-intensive university. The study’s aim was to ameliorate some of the problems associated with large classes by applying key lessons from the U.S. literature to an Irish setting. Overall, the initiative was successful; attendance improved, student evaluations were positive, and the numbers of students continuing with sociol…
The whole nation is listening to you
This article focuses on callers’ experiences of participating on a tabloid talk radio show. The performative dimension of calling was found to be central. This is an aspect of participation on talk radio shows that has been largely neglected by previous studies. Callers have concerns about how they manage their self-presentation on-air. They are aware of both the host and the listening audience, and try to control the impression they ‘give off’. …
The whole nation is listening to you
This article focuses on callers’ experiences of participating on a tabloid talk radio show. The performative dimension of calling was found to be central. This is an aspect of participation on talk radio shows that has been largely neglected by previous studies. Callers have concerns about how they manage their self-presentation on-air. They are aware of both the host and the listening audience, and try to control the impression they ‘give off’. …
All Changed, Changed Utterly’?1 Gender role attitudes and the feminisation of the Irish labour force
I Did Not Miss Any, Only When I Had a Valid Reason”
In this study we explore how absence from sociology classes is understood by undergraduate students at University College Dublin. The authors use Scott and Lyman’s (1968) concept of accounts to explore absence sociologically. Drawing on data generated via focus groups, an open-ended questionnaire, and an online survey with students, we outline the different excuses and justifications for missing classes used by students and present their understa…
Applying the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in an Irish Context
This article reports on an Irish study that examines the teaching of large, introductory-level sociology courses at a research-intensive university. The study’s aim was to ameliorate some of the problems associated with large classes by applying key lessons from the U.S. literature to an Irish setting. Overall, the initiative was successful; attendance improved, student evaluations were positive, and the numbers of students continuing with sociol…
Onwards and Upwards? Gender and Work in Ireland
It can be argued that the Irish workforce has been revolutionised over the past 25 years, as married women entered the world of paid work in increasing numbers, bolstering the female participation rate. There have also been changes in gender roles and gender role attitudes over the period. This review will present sociological research analysing this major social change, including research that places the Irish case in a comparative European and …
The whole nation is listening to you
This article focuses on callers’ experiences of participating on a tabloid talk radio show. The performative dimension of calling was found to be central. This is an aspect of participation on talk radio shows that has been largely neglected by previous studies. Callers have concerns about how they manage their self-presentation on-air. They are aware of both the host and the listening audience, and try to control the impression they ‘give off’. …
Applying the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in an Irish Context
This article reports on an Irish study that examines the teaching of large, introductory-level sociology courses at a research-intensive university. The study’s aim was to ameliorate some of the problems associated with large classes by applying key lessons from the U.S. literature to an Irish setting. Overall, the initiative was successful; attendance improved, student evaluations were positive, and the numbers of students continuing with sociol…
Onwards and Upwards? Gender and Work in Ireland
It can be argued that the Irish workforce has been revolutionised over the past 25 years, as married women entered the world of paid work in increasing numbers, bolstering the female participation rate. There have also been changes in gender roles and gender role attitudes over the period. This review will present sociological research analysing this major social change, including research that places the Irish case in a comparative European and …
All Changed, Changed Utterly’?1 Gender role attitudes and the feminisation of the Irish labour force
I Did Not Miss Any, Only When I Had a Valid Reason”
In this study we explore how absence from sociology classes is understood by undergraduate students at University College Dublin. The authors use Scott and Lyman’s (1968) concept of accounts to explore absence sociologically. Drawing on data generated via focus groups, an open-ended questionnaire, and an online survey with students, we outline the different excuses and justifications for missing classes used by students and present their understa…
Teaching sociology in an age of teaching ‘excellence’
In 2004 Wright et al. issued a challenge to sociologists, to examine ‘the effect of the structure of the academy on teaching and learning outcomes’ (2004: 155). In this paper I take up this challenge, beginning with a short overview of the changing Irish higher education context, highlighting three macro level changes that currently impact on teaching sociology in Ireland. I argue that such a structural lens is essential to our understanding of t…
Gender parity in higher education enrolments
Higher education systems globally have seen major increases in women’s participation and the overall trend in OECD countries has been a transition from the traditional male majority in enrolments to a substantial female majority. Prompted by a recent reversal of this trend, this paper explores gender differences in participation in higher education in 27 OECD countries between 1971 and 2015. While increased participation by women was thought to b…
Divergent Numbers, Convergent Narratives
This article examines the first three cycles of Ireland's gender pay gap (GPG) reporting regime. Drawing on a longitudinal analysis of 546 organizations, the study reveals a fundamental paradox: organizations with dramatically different statistical outcomes employ remarkably similar narrative strategies and interventions. Although aggregate data show modest improvement in gender pay gaps nationally, a detailed analysis of statistical outliers poi…
Sociology (7 works) · Political science (5 works) · Gender Diversity and Inequality (4 works) · Higher education (4 works) · Irish (4 works) · Law (4 works) · Curriculum (3 works) · Demographic economics (3 works) · Division of labour (3 works) · Economics (3 works)