Position

Associate Professor
School of Social & Policy Studies

Biography

Mary's research is in intimacy and relationships, gender and sexuality, political sociology, emotions and sociology of the body. She is writing a book on Distance Relationships for Palgrave Macmillan and another on optimism for Sage.

Mary is co-founder and co-convenor of The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) Thematic Group on the Sociology of Emotion and Affect (SEA). She ran a TASA funded workshop for SEA in Melbourne in July 2012 and is working on an edited collection involving group members. Theodore Kemper has agreed to write an afterword for the book. SEA is running sessions at the TASA annual conference in December.

Other current projects include work on return migration (see this article in The Guardian), research on internet dating and a proposal for an emotions journal. Her most recent book was a joyful collaboration with Chris Beasley (Adelaide) and Heather Brook (Flinders). Heterosexuality in Theory and Practice is published by Routledge.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology, 1999. University of Auckland, New Zealand.
  • Master of Arts in Women's Studies, 1991. University of York, England.
  • Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and English, 1987. University of Auckland. New Zealand.

Key responsibilities

Chair of School of Social and Policy Studies Education Committee

Topic Coordinator:

  • SOCI1001  Introduction to Sociology
  • SOCI2022  Sociology of Intimacy
  • SOCI7020  Masterclass in Contemporary Sociology

Research interests

Intimacy and relationships, gender, emotions, the body and political sociology.

Mary's two most cited articles are, 'The emotionalization of reflexivity' and 'An equal distance? Individualisation, gender and intimacy in distance relationships'.

Mary is currently supervising doctoral students working in the fields of intimacy, gender, and social theory. She would love to hear from potential students interested in her areas of research.

Publications

  • Holmes, M. (2013). Gendering. In S Matthewman, CL West-Newman & B Curtis, ed. Being Sociological. 2nd ed. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 121-138.
    [Web Link]
  • Holmes, M. (2012). 'Building on a firm foundation of tolerance and love'? Emotional reflexivity in feminist political processes. In P Hoggett & S Thompson, ed. Politics and the Emotions: The affective Turn in Contemporary Political Studies. 1 ed. London, UK: Continuum International Publishing Group, pp. 115-136.
  • Holmes, M. (2011). Gendered identities. In Anthony Elliott, ed. Routledge Handbook of Identity Studies. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 186-202.
  • Holmes, M.E. (2010). Social theory of the body. In Anthony Elliott, with the assistance of Daniel Mendelson, ed. Routledge Companion to Social Theory. London, UK: Routledge, pp. 102-116.
  • Holmes, M.E. (2009). Commuter couples and distance relationships : living apart together. In J. Casey and S. Sweet, ed. Work and Family Encyclopedia. Chestnut Hill, USA: Sloan Work and Family Research Network.
    [Web Link]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2008). Relational emotions? On feelings in distance relationships (translated from Swedish) In Wettergren A, Starrin B & Lindgren G, ed. The Social LIfe's emotional pleas (translated from Swedish) Malmo: Liber, pp. 145-166.
  • Holmes, M.E. (2006). Couples living apart together. In Ritzer, G, ed. Encyclopedia of Sociology. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing.
    [10.1111/b.9781405124331.2007.x]
  • Blaikie, A., Hepworth, M., Holmes, M.E., Howson, A. and Inglis, D. (2003). The sociology of the body: genesis, development and futures. In Andrew Blaikie, Mike Hepworth, Mary Holmes, Alexandra Howson, David Inglis and Sheree Sartain, ed. The Body: critical concepts in Sociology. London, United Kingdom: Routledge, pp. 1-23.
  • Holmes, M.E. (2002). Politicising time: temporal issues for second wave feminists. In Graham Crow and Sue Heath, ed. Social Conceptions of Time: Structure and Process in Work and Everyday Life. New York, United States of America: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 38-52.
  • Holmes, M.E. (2014). Distance Relationships: Intimacy and Emotions amongst Academics and their Partners in Dual-Locations. Morgan David, Jamieson Lynn and Allan Graham, ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Beasley, C., Brook, H. and Holmes, M. (2012). Heterosexuality in Theory and Practice. 1st ed. New York, USA: Routledge.
    [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2008). The representation of feminists as political actors. Saarbrucken: VDM Verlag.
  • Holmes, M.E. (2008). Gender and everyday life. UK: Taylor and Francis.
    [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2007). What Is Gender?: Sociological Approaches. London: Sage Publications.
  • Blaikie, A., Hepworth, M., Holmes, M.E., Howson, A., Inglis, D. and Sartain, S. (2003). Editor. London, UK: Routledge.
  • Blaikie, A., Hepworth, M., Holmes, M.E., Howson, A., Inglis, D. and Sartain, S. (2003). Editor. London, UK: Routledge.
  • Blaikie, A., Hepworth, M., Holmes, M.E., Howson, A., Inglis, D. and Sartain, S. (2003). Editor. London, UK: Routledge.
  • Blaikie, A., Hepworth, M., Holmes, M.E., Howson, A., Inglis, D. and Sartain, S. (2003). Editor. London, Uk: Routledge.
  • Blaikie, A., Hepworth, M., Holmes, M.E., Howson, A., Inglis, D. and Sartain, S. (2003). Editor. London, UK: Routledge.
  • Manning, N. and Holmes, M. (2013). Political emotions: A role for feelings of affinity in citizens' (dis)engagements with electoral politics? Sociology-The Journal of The British Sociological Association,
    [10.1177/0038038513500103] [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M. and Manning, N. (2013). 'Them that runs the country don't know what they're doing': Political dissatisfaction amongst members of the white working class. Sociological Review, 61(3) pp. 479-498.
    [10.1111/1467-954X.12033] [Scopus]
  • Manning, N. and Holmes, M. (2013). 'He's snooty 'im': exploring 'white working class' political disengagement. Citizenship Studies, 17(3-04) pp. 479-490.
    [10.1080/13621025.2013.793082] [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M. and Burrows, R. (2012). Ping-pong poms: Emotional reflexivity in contemporary return migration from Australia to the United Kingdom. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 47(1) pp. 105-123.
    [Scopus] [Web Link]
  • Haggis, J. and Holmes, M.E. (2011). Epistles to Emails: Letters, relationship building and the virtual age. Life Writing, 8(2) pp. 169-185.
    [10.1080/14484528.2011.559733] [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2011). Emotional Reflexivity in Contemporary Friendships: Understanding it using Elias and Facebook etiquette. Sociological Research Online, 16(1) pp. 11.
    [10.5153/sro.2292] [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2010). Intimacy, distance relationships, and emotional care. Recherches Sociologiques et Anthropologiques, 41(1) pp. 105-123.
    [Web Link]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2010). The Loves of Others: Autoethnography and Reflexivity in Researching Distance Relationships. Qualitative Sociological Review, 6(2) pp. 89-104.
    [Scopus] [Web Link]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2010). The emotionalization of reflexivity. Sociology-The Journal of The British Sociological Association, 44(1) pp. 139-154.
    [10.1177/0038038509351616] [Scopus]
  • Mallyon, A., Holmes, M.E., Coveney, J.D. and Zadoroznyj, M. (2010). I'm not dieting, 'I'm doing it for science': Masculinities and the experience of dieting. Health Sociology Review, 19(3) pp. 330-342.
    [10.5172/hesr.2010.19.3.330] [Scopus] [Web Link]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2006). Love lives at a distance : distance relationships over the lifecourse. Sociological Research Online, 11(3)
    [Scopus] [Web Link]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2004). An equal distance? Individualisation, gender and intimacy in distance relationships. Sociological Review, 52(2) pp. 180-200.
    [10.1111/j.1467-954X.2004.00464.x] [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2004). Feeling beyond rules: politicizing the sociology of emotion and anger in feminist politics. European Journal of Social Theory, 7(2) pp. 209-227.
    [10.1177/1368431004041752] [10.1177/1368431004041752]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2004). Introduction: the importance of being angry: anger in political life. European Journal of Social Theory, 7(2) pp. 123-132.
    [10.1177/1368431004041747] [10.1177/1368431004041747]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2004). The precariousness of choice in the new sentimental order: a response to Bawin-Legros. Current Sociology, 52(2) pp. 251-257.
    [10.1177/0011392104041811] [10.1177/0011392104041811]
  • Holmes, M.E. and Inglis, D. (2004). Selling the spectre: ghost stories and tourism in modern Scotland. Studies in Travel Writing, 8(2) pp. 107-123.
  • Inglis, D. and Holmes, M.E. (2003). Highland and other haunts: ghosts in Scottish tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 30(1) pp. 50-63.
    [10.1016/S0160-7383(02)00031-2] [Scopus]
  • Beasley, C., Brook, H. and Holmes, M. (2012). Heterosexuality in Theory and Practice. 1st ed. New York, USA: Routledge.
    [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2008). Gender and everyday life. UK: Taylor and Francis.
    [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2007). What Is Gender?: Sociological Approaches. London: Sage Publications.
  • Haggis, J. and Holmes, M.E. (2011). Epistles to Emails: Letters, relationship building and the virtual age. Life Writing, 8(2) pp. 169-185.
    [10.1080/14484528.2011.559733] [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2011). Emotional Reflexivity in Contemporary Friendships: Understanding it using Elias and Facebook etiquette. Sociological Research Online, 16(1) pp. 11.
    [10.5153/sro.2292] [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2010). The Loves of Others: Autoethnography and Reflexivity in Researching Distance Relationships. Qualitative Sociological Review, 6(2) pp. 89-104.
    [Scopus] [Web Link]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2010). Intimacy, distance relationships, and emotional care. Recherches Sociologiques et Anthropologiques, 41(1) pp. 105-123.
    [Web Link]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2010). The emotionalization of reflexivity. Sociology-The Journal of The British Sociological Association, 44(1) pp. 139-154.
    [10.1177/0038038509351616] [Scopus]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2006). Love lives at a distance : distance relationships over the lifecourse. Sociological Research Online, 11(3)
    [Scopus] [Web Link]
  • Holmes, M.E. (2004). An equal distance? Individualisation, gender and intimacy in distance relationships. Sociological Review, 52(2) pp. 180-200.
    [10.1111/j.1467-954X.2004.00464.x] [Scopus]

Professional and community engagement

Co-founder and co-convenor of The Australian Sociological Assocation Thematic Group on Sociology of Emotions and Affect.

Contact

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Location: Social Sciences North
Postal address: GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia
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