Abby Gilsenan
Research Associate

Profile

Biography

Abby Gilsenan joined the department as a research associate in 2023. Her work explores gender-based and sexual violence in education settings, including pathways for prevention, and inclusive relationships and sex education (RSE).  She is particularly interested in the role of intersecting inequalities (including race/ethnicity, class, disability) in shaping experiences of gender-based violence, and compounding barriers for disclosure and support. Her PhD research focused on young women’s experiences of statutory RSE in Catholic schools, and she continued to hold interest in the intersection of faith and sexuality education.

Her work primarily is informed by intersectional, feminist methodologies, and draws on co-produced, qualitative and arts-based approaches to explore young people’s and educators’ lived experiences of gender, sexuality, and violence.

Departmental roles

Post-doctoral representative for the Department of Education Athena Swan Self Assessment Team

Research

Overview

My current research focuses on racially minoritised girls’ experiences of sexual harassment; engaging young men and boys as allies in gender-based violence prevention, the development of whole-school approaches to gender-based violence prevention, and SEND inclusive Relationships and Sex Education design.

Projects

2025-26: Born in Bradford Collaboration Fund.  Racially Minoritised Girls’ Experiences of Sexual Harassment

2025 - EDI Research Centre and Administrative Fairness Lab PPI funding scheme. ALLIES Pilot: Identifying Barriers to Including Young Men and Boys in Gender-Based Violence

Research group(s)

CRESJ

Publications

Full publications list

Journal Articles:

Gilsenan, A. & Sundaram, V. (2025). Beyond Educator-Targeted Bullying: A Narrative Review Exploring Women Teachers’ Experience from an Intersectional Perspective. Gender & Education.

Gilsenan, A., & Sundaram, V. (2025). What do we mean by a whole-school approach to gender-related violence prevention? A critical exploration of existing models. Gender and Education, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2025.2527413

King-Hill S, Gilsenan A. (2024). The Sibling Sexual Behaviour Mapping Tool (SSBMT): Supporting practitioner confidence, planning and competency when responding to sexual behaviours between siblings.  Child Abuse & Neglect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.107080

King-Hill, S., McCartan, K., Gilsenan, A. (2023) Professional responses to sibling sexual abuse. Journal of Sexual Aggression. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2023.2241482

McCartan, K., King-Hill, S., Gilsenan, A. (2023) Sibling Sexual Abuse: a form of family dysfunction as opposed to individualised behaviour. Journal of Sexual Aggression. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/13552600.2023.2258928

Books:

King-Hill, S., McCartan, K., Gilsenan, A., Beavis, J., & Adams, A. (2023) Understanding and Responding to Sibling Sexual Abuse. Springer Nature.

Book Chapters:

Gilsenan, A. Teenage Pregnancy in Schools (Forthcoming). Encyclopaedia of Social Justice in Education. Ed. Moreau , M. Bloomsbury.

Briefing Papers:

Ferguson, H., Kelly, L., Gilsenan, A. Social work and child protection beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: Key challenges and good practice (2023). Dartington: Research in Practice.