University of Aberdeen

Faculty Member, Department of Sociology

Teaching Fellow

Social Science

Thesis Title: Rebels of the Road: A Sociological Analysis of Aberdeen's 'Boy Racer' Culture and the Societal Reaction to their Behaviour

About

My research interests include gender, youth, crime and deviance, subcultures, car culture, mobilities and qualitative research methods (including ethnographic methods, feminist research and reflexivity).

I graduated in 2004 with a MA (Hons.) in Sociology and in 2005 I graduated with a Masters in Social Research from the University of Aberdeen. I recently completed a PhD in Sociology which focused on the 'boy racer' culture in Aberdeen and the related social reaction to their behaviour.

The first strand of the thesis involved an investigation of the internal dynamics of the culture. This included its organisation and the various rituals engaged in by participants. These included car modification, the quest for celebrity status, performances in public space and the role of subcultural media (such as magazines and the Internet). Also central to the thesis was the role of gender within the culture and participants' involvement in various forms of deviant or anti-social behaviour.

The second strand of my research was concerned with the social reaction towards the subculture. This included the reactions and opinions of outside groups such as the police, media, politicians and local residents. I am also interested in how anti-social behaviour legislation (such as Seizure of Vehicles, Dispersal Orders and ASBOS) is applied to deviant car use and on a wider scale to deviant behaviour by young people. Media and public concern vis-a-vis the 'boy racer' culture can be seen as evidence of a local moral panic.

In June 2009 I participated in an interview for BBC Radio 4's 'Talking Allowed' programme in which I discussed my doctoral research: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ktdbb

I also provided comments for an article in 'The Times' which focused on 'girl racers' (August 2009): http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6805957.ece

Contact Information

Homepage: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/socsci/staff/details.php?id=k.lumsden

Address: Department of Sociology
Edward Wright Building
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
AB24 3QY
UK

Telephone: +44 1224 272735