Theresa Petray
Biographic Data
| ID | 99431 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Theresa Petray |
| GIVEN NAMES | Theresa |
| FAMILY NAME | Petray |
| SIGNATURE | PETRAY T |
| AFFILIATIONS | James Cook University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4476-6908 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 48 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
It’s not a future issue, it’s a now issue’: Young climate activists’ changing habitus in the face of climate change
For the good of the Gugu Badhun people: Indigenous Nation building, economic development and sharing as sovereignty
As part of an ongoing process of Indigenous Nation Building, Gugu Badhun Nation is engaged in developing an economy according to Gugu Badhun values. Rather than simply mimicking capitalism, the practice of visioning this economy begins with considering core cultural principles for the Nation. Sharing is central for Gugu Badhun, and we argue that sharing is considered an act of sovereignty stemming from Gugu Badhun law. Other factors emerge from t…
Swimming Upstream: The Aging Experiences of Middle-Aged Gay and Bisexual Men
This paper presents a literature review exploring the lived experiences of middle-aged gay and bisexual men in contemporary Western society. Through a Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis (QIMS) analysis of existing qualitative research, the study explores the emergent themes of identity change, relational change, and bodily change and highlights the need for further research that provides a platform for men to share their own narratives and c…
Gugu Badhun Sovereignty Sundays: An adaptable online Indigenous nation-building method
Nation-building research is a flexible approach to research that prioritises the voices and self-determination agendas of Indigenous Nations.This paper discusses our application of the Indigenous nation-building (INB) methodology in our research with Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Nation, Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic.The methodology allowed us to pivot to online methods for civic engagement, data gathering, and information sharing.Beyond COVID…
Fuelling the climate and science ‘denial machine’ on social media: A case study of the Great Barrier Reef’s 2021 ‘in danger’ recommendation on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook
Australian climate policy has been stifled by a network of free-market and extractive industry-advocating actors, yet there is little empirical evidence to show how these actors and information flows behave in online communication spaces during Australian environmental conflicts. Focusing on the UNESCO 2021 ‘in danger’ recommendation for the Great Barrier Reef for 6 weeks, this mixed-methods study of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube uses social netw…
Indigenous nation building and native title: Strategic uses of a fraught settler-colonial regime
Despite the ongoing and destructive nature of invasion and settler-colonial institutions, laws and policies in Australia, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations continue to assert their sovereignty; exercise their inherent rights to self-determination as self-defined, autonomous peoples; and pursue collective aspirations in highly constrained and contested environments. Many nations are engaged in Indigenous nation (re)building (INB).…
The Impacts of Drug and Alcohol use on Sentencing for First Nations and Non-Indigenous Defendants
This paper examines the ways personal use of illicit substances and alcohol are constructed as either mitigating or aggravating factors to explain offending. We consider the differential constructions of these factors for people who appear in supreme and district courts in northern Queensland, Australia, for offences involving illicit substance use, alcohol use, drug-related offences, and violence. Qualitative analysis of courtroom observations i…
More learning, less activism: Narratives of childhood in Australian media representations of the School Strike for Climate
The School Strike for Climate campaign led to public discussion about children’s political participation. Children are generally excluded from formal political systems, however this campaign challenges mainstream attitudes that children are not sufficiently competent to participate in politics. This paper presents an analysis of Australian mainstream media representations of adult responses to the School Strike for Climate events held in Australi…
Violence
As part of an effort to grapple with the meaning of violence, Hannah Arendt argued that it was curious how infrequently violence was taken up for special consideration in conversations of history and politics, remarking that “this shows to what an extent violence and its arbitrariness were taken for granted and therefore neglected; no one questions or examines what is obvious to all” (8). While we are not suggesting that violence has eluded the c…
The Two Subalterns: Perceived Status and Violent Punitiveness
From the mid-twentieth century, state and public conceptions of deviance and crime control have turned increasingly punitive (Hallett 115; Hutchinson 138). In a Western context, criminal justice has long been retributive, prioritising punishment over rehabilitation (Wenzel et al. 26). Within that context, there has been an increase in punitiveness—understood here as a measure of a punishment’s severity—the intention of which has been to help rest…
Challenging power and creating alternatives: Integrationist, anti-systemic and non-hegemonic approaches in Australian social movements
Social movements are often discussed as either reformist or revolutionary, or, more often, as containing aspects of each of these approaches. However, whether a movement seeks integration into the existing system or seeks to overthrow that system and replace it, both approaches are hegemonic in nature. That is, they focus on totalising power structures. In this article, we explore another aspect of social movements: non-hegemonic approaches are t…
Your Privilege Is Trending: Confronting Whiteness on Social Media
Social media activism provides an important space for dialogue and consciousness-raising. Racism, privilege, and inequalities have received considerable attention in social media discussions. #WhiteProverbs was one attempt to confront this issue, focusing particularly on White privilege. The tweets show how social media is a site where 'serious games' are played, as agents are constrained by the 'rules' but still able to make choices and push bou…
Agency and structural constraints: Indigenous peoples and the Australian settler-state in North Queensland
In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long been subjected to attempts at extermination, exclusion, and assimilation, but continually resist these efforts. This history is woven through the social fabric of Australia. This paper is a single case study which looks at contemporary race relations in Townsville, Queensland, and describes current settler-colonial settings in terms of structure and agency. We focus primarily o…
Coral Battleground? Re-examining the ‘Save the Reef’ campaign in 1960s Australia
Today’s campaigns to protect the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have parallels with historical campaigns. With hindsight, we can more clearly see the way environmental discourses are socially constructed as well as their outcomes. This is potentially insightful for contemporary environmentalists. Beginning in 1967, the Save the Reef campaign had a thoughtful media strategy and sought to socially construct the GBR as a precious ecosystem that was at ris…
Teaching engagement: Reflections on sociological praxis
Sociology has a long history of engagement with social justice issues, and through concepts like the 'sociological imagination' we equip our students with the ability to think through, and ideally work to change, inequities. This engagement is under threat, however, from recent changes in the higher education sector that have shifted the focus from learning experiences to qualifications. There is little room within accreditation frameworks for so…
A walk in the park: Political Emotions and Ethnographic Vacillation in Activist Research
Critically engaged activist research blends a theoretical approach towards power and resistance with a practical methodology for ethnographies of social movements. However, when undertaking this sort of research it can be easy to lose sight of critical analysis because of the political emotions that researchers share with activist participants. I was reminded of the need for critical reflection by a particularly jarring ethnographic moment: durin…
The Role of Horror and Dread in the Sacred Experience
In this article we seek to add to the debate/discussion into so called ‘Dark Tourism’. While a plethora of studies analyse this phenomenon through binaries such as authentic/inauthentic, we seek here to approach sites of historical death with a less sceptical view. Rather, like others, we understand tourist engagement with ‘dark’ sites as a source of ritualistic engagement. Using the Australian and New Zealand iconic place of Gallipoli in Turkey …
Protest 2.0: Online interactions and Aboriginal activists
Social movements, like every other aspect of life, have become increasingly reliant on the internet for networking, information sharing and coalition building. This is the case even for disadvantaged groups with few resources and less capacity for utilizing computers and the internet. Aboriginal activists in Townsville have been slow to exert their presence on the web, but are gradually becoming savvy in the use of electronic networking in furthe…
This isn't a Black Issue: Homophily and Diversity in Aboriginal Activism
This paper examines homophily and networking within Aboriginal activism in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia, focusing on the daily demonstrations held outside the manslaughter trial of Police Officer Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley. At this trial, I witnessed a concerted effort by movement activists to avoid homophily (the principle that people who share certain characteristics will interact more often and more closely with one another than w…
Protest 2.0: Online interactions and Aboriginal activists
Social movements, like every other aspect of life, have become increasingly reliant on the internet for networking, information sharing and coalition building. This is the case even for disadvantaged groups with few resources and less capacity for utilizing computers and the internet. Aboriginal activists in Townsville have been slow to exert their presence on the web, but are gradually becoming savvy in the use of electronic networking in furthe…
A walk in the park: Political Emotions and Ethnographic Vacillation in Activist Research
Critically engaged activist research blends a theoretical approach towards power and resistance with a practical methodology for ethnographies of social movements. However, when undertaking this sort of research it can be easy to lose sight of critical analysis because of the political emotions that researchers share with activist participants. I was reminded of the need for critical reflection by a particularly jarring ethnographic moment: durin…
The Role of Horror and Dread in the Sacred Experience
In this article we seek to add to the debate/discussion into so called ‘Dark Tourism’. While a plethora of studies analyse this phenomenon through binaries such as authentic/inauthentic, we seek here to approach sites of historical death with a less sceptical view. Rather, like others, we understand tourist engagement with ‘dark’ sites as a source of ritualistic engagement. Using the Australian and New Zealand iconic place of Gallipoli in Turkey …
Challenging power and creating alternatives: Integrationist, anti-systemic and non-hegemonic approaches in Australian social movements
Social movements are often discussed as either reformist or revolutionary, or, more often, as containing aspects of each of these approaches. However, whether a movement seeks integration into the existing system or seeks to overthrow that system and replace it, both approaches are hegemonic in nature. That is, they focus on totalising power structures. In this article, we explore another aspect of social movements: non-hegemonic approaches are t…
Your Privilege Is Trending: Confronting Whiteness on Social Media
Social media activism provides an important space for dialogue and consciousness-raising. Racism, privilege, and inequalities have received considerable attention in social media discussions. #WhiteProverbs was one attempt to confront this issue, focusing particularly on White privilege. The tweets show how social media is a site where 'serious games' are played, as agents are constrained by the 'rules' but still able to make choices and push bou…
Teaching engagement: Reflections on sociological praxis
Sociology has a long history of engagement with social justice issues, and through concepts like the 'sociological imagination' we equip our students with the ability to think through, and ideally work to change, inequities. This engagement is under threat, however, from recent changes in the higher education sector that have shifted the focus from learning experiences to qualifications. There is little room within accreditation frameworks for so…
Coral Battleground? Re-examining the ‘Save the Reef’ campaign in 1960s Australia
Today’s campaigns to protect the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have parallels with historical campaigns. With hindsight, we can more clearly see the way environmental discourses are socially constructed as well as their outcomes. This is potentially insightful for contemporary environmentalists. Beginning in 1967, the Save the Reef campaign had a thoughtful media strategy and sought to socially construct the GBR as a precious ecosystem that was at ris…
This isn't a Black Issue: Homophily and Diversity in Aboriginal Activism
This paper examines homophily and networking within Aboriginal activism in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia, focusing on the daily demonstrations held outside the manslaughter trial of Police Officer Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley. At this trial, I witnessed a concerted effort by movement activists to avoid homophily (the principle that people who share certain characteristics will interact more often and more closely with one another than w…
This isn't a Black Issue: Homophily and Diversity in Aboriginal Activism
This paper examines homophily and networking within Aboriginal activism in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia, focusing on the daily demonstrations held outside the manslaughter trial of Police Officer Senior-Sergeant Chris Hurley. At this trial, I witnessed a concerted effort by movement activists to avoid homophily (the principle that people who share certain characteristics will interact more often and more closely with one another than w…
The Role of Horror and Dread in the Sacred Experience
In this article we seek to add to the debate/discussion into so called ‘Dark Tourism’. While a plethora of studies analyse this phenomenon through binaries such as authentic/inauthentic, we seek here to approach sites of historical death with a less sceptical view. Rather, like others, we understand tourist engagement with ‘dark’ sites as a source of ritualistic engagement. Using the Australian and New Zealand iconic place of Gallipoli in Turkey …
Protest 2.0: Online interactions and Aboriginal activists
Social movements, like every other aspect of life, have become increasingly reliant on the internet for networking, information sharing and coalition building. This is the case even for disadvantaged groups with few resources and less capacity for utilizing computers and the internet. Aboriginal activists in Townsville have been slow to exert their presence on the web, but are gradually becoming savvy in the use of electronic networking in furthe…
A walk in the park: Political Emotions and Ethnographic Vacillation in Activist Research
Critically engaged activist research blends a theoretical approach towards power and resistance with a practical methodology for ethnographies of social movements. However, when undertaking this sort of research it can be easy to lose sight of critical analysis because of the political emotions that researchers share with activist participants. I was reminded of the need for critical reflection by a particularly jarring ethnographic moment: durin…
Teaching engagement: Reflections on sociological praxis
Sociology has a long history of engagement with social justice issues, and through concepts like the 'sociological imagination' we equip our students with the ability to think through, and ideally work to change, inequities. This engagement is under threat, however, from recent changes in the higher education sector that have shifted the focus from learning experiences to qualifications. There is little room within accreditation frameworks for so…
Agency and structural constraints: Indigenous peoples and the Australian settler-state in North Queensland
In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long been subjected to attempts at extermination, exclusion, and assimilation, but continually resist these efforts. This history is woven through the social fabric of Australia. This paper is a single case study which looks at contemporary race relations in Townsville, Queensland, and describes current settler-colonial settings in terms of structure and agency. We focus primarily o…
Coral Battleground? Re-examining the ‘Save the Reef’ campaign in 1960s Australia
Today’s campaigns to protect the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have parallels with historical campaigns. With hindsight, we can more clearly see the way environmental discourses are socially constructed as well as their outcomes. This is potentially insightful for contemporary environmentalists. Beginning in 1967, the Save the Reef campaign had a thoughtful media strategy and sought to socially construct the GBR as a precious ecosystem that was at ris…
Your Privilege Is Trending: Confronting Whiteness on Social Media
Social media activism provides an important space for dialogue and consciousness-raising. Racism, privilege, and inequalities have received considerable attention in social media discussions. #WhiteProverbs was one attempt to confront this issue, focusing particularly on White privilege. The tweets show how social media is a site where 'serious games' are played, as agents are constrained by the 'rules' but still able to make choices and push bou…
Challenging power and creating alternatives: Integrationist, anti-systemic and non-hegemonic approaches in Australian social movements
Social movements are often discussed as either reformist or revolutionary, or, more often, as containing aspects of each of these approaches. However, whether a movement seeks integration into the existing system or seeks to overthrow that system and replace it, both approaches are hegemonic in nature. That is, they focus on totalising power structures. In this article, we explore another aspect of social movements: non-hegemonic approaches are t…
Violence
As part of an effort to grapple with the meaning of violence, Hannah Arendt argued that it was curious how infrequently violence was taken up for special consideration in conversations of history and politics, remarking that “this shows to what an extent violence and its arbitrariness were taken for granted and therefore neglected; no one questions or examines what is obvious to all” (8). While we are not suggesting that violence has eluded the c…
The Two Subalterns: Perceived Status and Violent Punitiveness
From the mid-twentieth century, state and public conceptions of deviance and crime control have turned increasingly punitive (Hallett 115; Hutchinson 138). In a Western context, criminal justice has long been retributive, prioritising punishment over rehabilitation (Wenzel et al. 26). Within that context, there has been an increase in punitiveness—understood here as a measure of a punishment’s severity—the intention of which has been to help rest…
More learning, less activism: Narratives of childhood in Australian media representations of the School Strike for Climate
The School Strike for Climate campaign led to public discussion about children’s political participation. Children are generally excluded from formal political systems, however this campaign challenges mainstream attitudes that children are not sufficiently competent to participate in politics. This paper presents an analysis of Australian mainstream media representations of adult responses to the School Strike for Climate events held in Australi…
Gugu Badhun Sovereignty Sundays: An adaptable online Indigenous nation-building method
Nation-building research is a flexible approach to research that prioritises the voices and self-determination agendas of Indigenous Nations.This paper discusses our application of the Indigenous nation-building (INB) methodology in our research with Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Nation, Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic.The methodology allowed us to pivot to online methods for civic engagement, data gathering, and information sharing.Beyond COVID…
Fuelling the climate and science ‘denial machine’ on social media: A case study of the Great Barrier Reef’s 2021 ‘in danger’ recommendation on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook
Australian climate policy has been stifled by a network of free-market and extractive industry-advocating actors, yet there is little empirical evidence to show how these actors and information flows behave in online communication spaces during Australian environmental conflicts. Focusing on the UNESCO 2021 ‘in danger’ recommendation for the Great Barrier Reef for 6 weeks, this mixed-methods study of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube uses social netw…
Indigenous nation building and native title: Strategic uses of a fraught settler-colonial regime
Despite the ongoing and destructive nature of invasion and settler-colonial institutions, laws and policies in Australia, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations continue to assert their sovereignty; exercise their inherent rights to self-determination as self-defined, autonomous peoples; and pursue collective aspirations in highly constrained and contested environments. Many nations are engaged in Indigenous nation (re)building (INB).…
The Impacts of Drug and Alcohol use on Sentencing for First Nations and Non-Indigenous Defendants
This paper examines the ways personal use of illicit substances and alcohol are constructed as either mitigating or aggravating factors to explain offending. We consider the differential constructions of these factors for people who appear in supreme and district courts in northern Queensland, Australia, for offences involving illicit substance use, alcohol use, drug-related offences, and violence. Qualitative analysis of courtroom observations i…
It’s not a future issue, it’s a now issue’: Young climate activists’ changing habitus in the face of climate change
For the good of the Gugu Badhun people: Indigenous Nation building, economic development and sharing as sovereignty
As part of an ongoing process of Indigenous Nation Building, Gugu Badhun Nation is engaged in developing an economy according to Gugu Badhun values. Rather than simply mimicking capitalism, the practice of visioning this economy begins with considering core cultural principles for the Nation. Sharing is central for Gugu Badhun, and we argue that sharing is considered an act of sovereignty stemming from Gugu Badhun law. Other factors emerge from t…
Swimming Upstream: The Aging Experiences of Middle-Aged Gay and Bisexual Men
This paper presents a literature review exploring the lived experiences of middle-aged gay and bisexual men in contemporary Western society. Through a Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis (QIMS) analysis of existing qualitative research, the study explores the emergent themes of identity change, relational change, and bodily change and highlights the need for further research that provides a platform for men to share their own narratives and c…
Sociology (18 works) · Law (16 works) · Political science (16 works) · Politics (11 works) · Media studies (7 works) · Gender Studies (6 works) · Indigenous (6 works) · Social science (6 works) · Criminology (4 works) · Epistemology (4 works)