Dr Laurie Parsons

I am a Lecturer and currently Programme Director for the Sociology BA programmes in the school of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy.

My research interests include the use of auto/biographical, feminist and creative methods to research families, family practices and everyday life. I'm particularly interested in how people make sense of their experiences and how this relates to affect, narrative and memory. My teaching focusses on the use of experiential, reflective and creative techniques to facilitate learning.

My PhD was awarded in 2025, titled Shadows of Hope: using haunting-informed auto/biography to explore women's family-making across three women in one family. As part of this PhD I developed a new research process ('haunting-informed auto/biography') and produced a series of short, sociological fictions and life-writings.

Prior to working at the University I worked in the charity sector in Leicester. I worked as part of a partnership programme, supporting initiatives combining arts and creative education to tackle educational and social inequalities. Prior to this I worked in children's publishing.

My research interests are interdisciplinary, including psychosocial studies, sociology and family history. I use auto/biographical, feminist and creative practices to research families, family practices and everyday life. I'm particularly interested in how people make sense of their experiences and how this relates to affect, narrative and memory. 

My PhD was awarded in 2025, titled Shadows of Hope: using haunting-informed auto/biography to explore women's family-making across three women in one family. As part of this PhD I developed a new research process ('haunting-informed auto/biography') and produced a series of short, sociological fiction and life-writings.

Parsons, L., & Goodwin, J. (2025). Between the Field and Elsewhere: Using Dialogic Collaborative Autoethnography in Ethnographic Restudies. Qualitative Inquiry, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10778004251355903

Goodwin J, & Parsons L. (2021) A Life in Motion: Exploring Auto/Biographical Exchanges by Walking With Nelson Sullivan. Sociological Research Online.  doi:10.1177/13607804211025541

Goodwin, J., O'Connor, H. and Parsons, L. (2020) Certainties and control in the lives of young men: Stories from three research projects, in Nico, M. and Caetano, A (2020) Structure and Agency in Young People's Lives. London Routledge (forthcoming)

Goodwin, J. Parsons, L., and O'Connor, H. (2020) COVID-19: A Global 'Civilising Offensive', Timelines, Issue 29 pp.13-15

Goodwin, J. and Parsons, L. (2020) Locating the auto/biographical: sociological exchanges through walking with Nelson Sullivan, School of Media, Commutation and Sociology: Occasional Paper. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31346.73928

Parsons, L. (2020) 'Harriet Martineau' chapter in Paul Atkinson, Sara Delamont, Alexandru Cernat, Joseph W. Sakshaug & Richard A. Williams (eds), Sage Research Methods Foundation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781526421036905571

I am currently the undergraduate Programme Director for Sociology programmes in the School of Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy. I lead and teach on a number of undergraduate modules, and am the careers and employability lead for the School.

• SY1004/5 Sociology in Practice (1st Year, Module Convenor)
• SY2098 Sociology through Literature and Film (2nd Year, Module Convenor)
• SY3094 Selfie Society (3rd Year, Module Convenor)

BA English Literature - Canterbury Christ Church University completed 2012. 2:1.

MA Contemporary Sociology - University of Leicester completed 2018. Distinction.