Clare Wiper

Clare has been a lecturer in Criminology at Northumbria University since September 2019. She previously worked as a Research Associate at Newcastle Law School. Clare’s PhD research explored the impact of government austerity measures on women’s experiences of domestic and sexual violence. She is currently working on a range of projects that examine different forms of violence against women including: coerced debt in abusive relationships in Britain; civil compensation claims for sexual violence; and the political economy of violence against women.

Clare is also working with Ian Cook on a research project exploring people's experiences of pedestrian underpasses in Newcastle upon Tyne. If you have lived, worked or studied in Newcastle, it would be great if you could fill out this short survey on your thoughts about, and experiences of pedestrian underpasses in Newcastle: www.bit.ly/surveyunderpass. Thanks! 

Clare's current research projects include: 

• The role of coerced debt in abusive relationships in Britain - this project is funded by the British Academy and uses semi-structured interviews with survivors of coerced debt, domestic abuse advocates, criminal and civil justice professionals and financial advisers to examine: (1) the occurrence of coerced debt in abusive relationships; (2) survivors’ experiences of coerced debt and the consequences it has for their lives; (3) the links between coerced debt and other forms of domestic abuse; and (4) legal and financial responses to coerced debt in Britain. A feminist political economy framework guides this study, drawing attention to issues of structural gender inequality, economic insecurity, neoliberal reform, austerity and debt. 
  
  
• Civil compensation claims for sexual violence - this project explores the benefits and limitations of civil law as a response to sexual violence in the UK. The research team are interviewing civil lawyers about (1) the nature and extent of civil cases for compensation brought by survivors of sexual violence; (2) access and barriers to the legal process and procedural legal problems; (3) the relationship between the civil and criminal legal systems in practice; and (4) their experiences of representing clients who may experience ongoing effects of trauma.
  
  
• Pedestrian underpasses in Newcastle upon Tyne: safety, design and management - this project explores people's experiences of pedestrian underpasses in Newcastle upon Tyne. If you have lived, worked or studied in Newcastle, it would be great if you could fill out this short survey on your thoughts about, and experiences of pedestrian underpasses in Newcastle: www.bit.ly/surveyunderpass. Thanks! 

In addition to researching violence against women, Clare is interested in feminist social movements, feminist political economy and intersectionality theory. Her work often extends into the community and into policy arenas at national and international levels. For instance, she has helped inform Police and Crime Commissioners’ strategies around violence against women, and has lobbied the UN CEDAW Committee about rising levels of violence against women in the UK.

Clare welcomes PhD applications from students interested in studying violence against women, feminist activism, or any of the other topics listed above.