Dr Dawn Llewellyn

Research Interests

I am a qualitative researcher who focuses on religion and gender, mainly contemporary Christianity and spiritualties. My work has explored women’s religious reading practices and cultures; the relationship between gender, feminism, and religion; feminist generations; motherhood and childlessness; and feminist methodologies and methods in the study of religions.

My forthcoming book examines Christian women’s reproductive choices to have children or be childfree, and the impact this has on their religious, gendered identities, and I am also researching a service ritual known as ‘Churching’ (Thanksgiving of Women after Childbirth) in the Church of England, which is funded by the British Sociological Association (Sociology of Religion Study Group).

Latest / Proudest Achievement

It is always exciting to see something you have written in print, and to hear that your publications are contributing to your field of research.  I do not think I will every quite get over being awarded PhD (a while ago, now!) but seeing the undergraduate and postgraduate students I work with succeed is almost better than passing myself! 

I really enjoy engaging with wider audiences about my work, for example through the media or by working on ‘Storyhouse Women’ events like the annual festival and ‘Storyhouse Childless’.  For me, as a feminist, this is form of activism; I hope I can raise awareness and help challenge the gender inequalities that continue to confront women and girls.

I am, however, most proud of working in my Department. It is a supportive, collegial, and fun, and my colleagues are brilliant scholars and lecturers who manage to balance excellence in research and excellence in teaching. I am very lucky to be part of this academic community.

Further information

British Sociological Association Sociology of Religion Study Group, Seed Corn Grant for ‘Churching: The Revival of a Ritual for Mothers in the Church of England’

• Reading Feminism and Spirituality:  Troubling the Waves https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781137549952
• Religion, Equalities and Inequalities: https://www.routledge.com/Religion-Equalities-and-Inequalities/Llewellyn-Sharma/p/book/9781472439963
• Series Editor Bloomsbury Studies in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/series/bloomsbury-studies-in-religion-gender-and-sexuality/