School of Social Sciences, Media & Communication

Michael FloodDr Michael Flood

Office: 19:2014
Phone: 02 4221 4063
Email: mflood@uow.edu.au

Biography

Dr Michael Flood is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology. His research agenda focuses on gender, sexuality, and interpersonal violence. He conducts research on the organisation of heterosexual men’s social and sexual lives and relations and more widely on gender and sexual relations – their social organisation and meaning, shifts in these, and efforts to change them. Dr Flood’s research at present is focused in particular on interpersonal violence and its prevention, particularly with reference to men and masculinities. He has also published on fathering, pornography, anti-feminist men’s groups, homophobia, and related topics. His research draws on both materialist and cultural emphases in social theory, contributes to a critical sociological scholarship concerned with questions of power and injustice, and generates strategies and frameworks for policy reform and social change.

Dr Flood is an established researcher with a strong national and international reputation. Dr Flood has an extensive record of publication, with a total of 24 journal articles and 14 book chapters, 17 research monographs, and over 80 other publications. His research has attracted close to $900,000 of external funding. As evidence of his esteem in research communities, Dr Flood is an ARC ‘International Reader’ – an Expert Assessor of international standing. He has given 43 keynote or invited addresses, and been the referee for 44 journal articles and three book manuscripts. He is the co-founder and Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Men and Masculinities (CROMM), the first research centre in Australia focused on this field of scholarship. He is the lead editor of an international encyclopedia on men and masculinities (Routledge), he has presented invited papers at international gatherings held at the United Nations (New York) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) (Bangkok), and he has contributed by invitation to various reference and expert groups (including for the Australian Burea of Statistics, the Human Rights Commission, the NRL, and the AFL).

Dr Flood is also a well-regarded teacher. His teaching has received outstanding student evaluations and exemplary subject evaluations. In 2011 Dr Flood was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning (Faculty Early Career Academic Award).

Finally, Dr Flood has an extensive record of community and professional engagement. He has established a reputation in Australian community and government sectors as a knowledgeable and articulate researcher on gender, sexuality, and violence. He contributes in particular to men’s anti-violence activism, coordinates the profeminist website XY, and has a series of other community involvements. In 2006 he received a NSW Violence Against Women Prevention Award, one of ten awards given each year nationally, for playing “an important role in raising community and professional awareness of the issue of violence prevention”.

Areas of expertise and potential topics for HDR & Honours Supervision

  • Sociology of gender, especially in relation to men and masculinities
  • Sociology of interpersonal violence and especially violence against women
  • Sexualities and especially male sexuality and heterosexuality
  • Sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS
  • Fathering and families
  • Pornography
  • Qualitative research methods

Research profile

» Searchable RIS Publications database

Recent publications

Edited Books and Journals

  • Flood, M., J. Gardiner, B. Pease, and K. Pringle (eds.) The International Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinities. Taylor & Francis (2007).
  • Flood, M. and N. Pelling (eds.) Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Health, Special Issue: The Use of Technology in Mental Health, 5(1) (2009).

Refereed Journal Articles

  • Flood, M. "Men as Students and Teachers of Feminist Scholarship.” Men and Masculinities 14 (2011).
  • Flood, M. “Involving Men in Efforts to End Violence Against Women.” Men and Masculinities 14 (2011).
  • Flood, M. “Building Men’s Commitment to Ending Sexual Violence Against Women.” Feminism & Psychology 21 (2011).
  • Flood, M. “‘Fathers’ Rights’ and the Defense of Paternal Authority in Australia.” Violence Against Women 16 (2010).
  • Flood, M. “The Harms of Pornography Exposure Among Children and Young People.” Child Abuse Review 18 (2009).
  • Flood, M., and B. Pease “Factors Influencing Attitudes to Violence Against Women.” Trauma, Violence and Abuse 10 (2009).
  • Flood, M. “Youth, Sex, and the Internet.” Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Health 5 (2009).
  • Pease, B., and M. Flood “Rethinking the Significance of ‘Attitudes’ in Challenging Men’s Violence Against Women.” Australian Journal of Social Issues 43 (2008).
  • Flood, M. “Men, Sex, and Homosociality: How bonds between men shape their sexual relations with women.” Men and Masculinities 10 (2008).
  • Flood, M. “Involving Men in Gender Practice and Policy.” Critical Half 5 (2007).
  • Flood, M. “Exposure to Pornography Among Youth in Australia.” Journal of Sociology 43 (2007).
  • Flood, M., and B. Pease “Undoing Men’s Privilege and Advancing Gender Equality in Public Sector Institutions.” Policy and Society 24 (2006).
  • Flood, M. “Changing Men: Best practice in sexual violence education.” Women Against Violence 18 (2005-2006).
  • Flood, M. “The Myth of Women’s False Accusations of Domestic Violence and Misuse of Protection Orders.” Women Against Violence 16 (2004-2005).
  • Flood, M. “The Myth of False Accusations of Child Abuse.” Women Against Violence 16 (2004-2005).
  • McInnes, E., G. Orkin, K. Swinbourne, and M. Flood “What’s Wrong With a Presumption of Joint Custody?” Family Matters 55 (2003).
  • Flood, M. “Lust, Trust and Latex: Why young heterosexual men do not use condoms.” Culture, Health, & Sexuality 5 (2003).
  • Flood, M. “Engaging Men: Strategies and dilemmas in violence prevention education among men.” Women Against Violence: A Feminist Journal 13 (2002-2003).
  • Flood, M. “Pathways to Manhood: The social and sexual ordering of young men’s lives.” Health Education Australia 2 (2002).
  • Taft, A., K. Hegarty, and M. Flood “Are Men and Women Equally Violent to Intimate Partners?” Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 25 (2001).
  • Flood, M. “Men’s Collective Anti-violence Activism and the Struggle for Gender Justice.” Development (Special Issue: Violence against Women and the Culture of Masculinity) 44 (2001).
  • Flood, M. “Men’s Movements.” Community Quarterly (Special Issue: Masculinities) 46 (1998).
  • Castles, F.G., and M. Flood “Divorce, the Law and Social Context: Families of nations and the legal dissolution of marriage.” Acta Sociologica 34 (1991).
  • Flood, M. “Pro-Feminist Publishing: Delights and dilemmas.” Social Alternatives 16 (1997).

Book Chapters

  • Flood, M. “Young Men Using Porn.” Everyday Pornographies. Ed. K. Boyle. Routledge, 2010.
  • Flood, M. “Violence Prevention with Men: Strategies and challenges.” El Juego del Hombre: Las masculinidades (A Game for Men: Masculinities). Ed. J. C. Ramirez, 2009.
  • Flood, M., B. Pease, N. Taylor, and K. Webster “Reshaping Attitudes toward Violence against Women.” Violence Against Women in Families and Relationships: Volume 4, The Media and Cultural Attitudes. Eds. E. Stark and E. Buzawa. Praeger, 2009. Flood, M., and C. Hamilton “Mapping Homophobia in Australia.” Homophobia: An Australian History. Ed. S. Robinson. Federation Press, 2008.
  • Flood, M. “Engaging Men: Strategies and dilemmas in violence prevention education among men.” The Value Basis of Social Work and Social Care. Ed. A. Barnard, N. Horner and J. Wild. Open University Press, 2008.
  • Walker, L., M. Flood, and K. Webster “Violence Against Women: A key determinant of health and wellbeing.” Understanding Health: A Social Determinants Approach. Ed. H. Keleher and C. MacDougall. Oxford University Press, 2008.
  • Flood, M. “Bent Straights: Diversity and flux among heterosexual men.” Intimate Citizenships: Gender, Subjectivity, Politics. Ed. E.H. Oleksy. Routledge (Also in Tozsamosc I Obywatelstwo W Spoleczenstwie Wielokulturowym. Ed. E.H. Oleksy. Polish Scientific Publishers), 2008.
  • Flood, M. “What’s Wrong with Fathers’ Rights?” Men Speak Out: Views on gender, sex, and power. Ed. S. Tarrant. Routledge, 2007.
  • Buchanan, C., V. Farr, M. Flood, and J. Galeria “Women, Men, and Gun Violence: Options for action.” Missing Pieces: Directions for reducing gun violence through the UN process on small arms control. Ed. Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Geneva: Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, 2005.
  • Flood, M. “Backlash: Angry men’s movements.” The Battle and Backlash Rage On: Why Feminism Cannot Be Obsolete. Ed. S.E. Rossi. Xlibris Press, 2004.
  • Flood, M. “Men’s Collective Struggles for Gender Justice: The case of anti-violence activism.” Handbook for Studies of Masculinities. Ed. M. Kimmel, R.W. Connell and J. Hearn. Sage, 2004.
  • Flood, M. “Between Men and Masculinity: An assessment of the term “masculinity” in recent scholarship on men.” Manning the Next Millennium: Studies in Masculinities. Ed. S. Pearce and V. Muller. Black Swan Press, 2002.
  • Flood, M., and S. Eastwood “Specialist Programs – To reach all the boys”. I Can Hardly Wait Till Monday: Women teachers talk about what works for them and for boys. Ed. D. Hartman. University of Newcastle Press, 1999.
  • Castles, F.G., and M. Flood “Why Divorce Rates Differ: Law, religious belief and modernity.” Families of Nations: Patterns of public policy in Western democracies. Ed. F.G. Castles. Hampshire: Dartmouth, 1993. 

Research Monographs

  • Flood, M., and V. Kendrick. LOVEBiTES: An evaluation of the LOVEBiTES and Respectful Relationships programs in a Sydney school. Wollongong: University of Wollongong, 2012.
  • Flood, M. Men Speak Up: A toolkit for action in men’s daily lives. Sydney: White Ribbon Prevention Research Series, No. 3, 2011.
  • Flood, M. Where Men Stand: Men’s roles in ending violence against women. Sydney: White Ribbon Prevention Research Series, No. 2, 2010.
  • Flood, M., D. Peacock, O. Stern, G. Barker, and A. Greig World Health Organization Men and Gender Policy Brief: Policy approaches to involving men and boys in achieving gender equality and health equity. Sonke Gender Justice Network, Johannesburg, 2010.
  • Flood, M., L. Fergus, and M. Heenan Respectful Relationships Education: Violence prevention and respectful relationships education in Victorian secondary schools. Melbourne: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, State of Victoria, 2009.
  • Carmody, M., S. Evans, C. Krogh, M. Flood, M. Heenan, and G. Ovenden Framing Best Practice: National standards for the primary prevention of sexual assault through education. Sydney: University of Western Sydney, 2009.
  • Flood, M., and L. Fergus An Assault on Our Future: The impact of violence on young people and their relationships. Sydney: White Ribbon Foundation, 2008.
  • Flood, M. Preventing Violence Before It Occurs: A framework and background paper to guide the primary prevention of violence against women in Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), 2007.
  • Dyson, S., and M. Flood Building Cultures of Respect and Non-Violence: A Review of Literature Concerning Adult Learning and Violence Prevention Programs with Men. Melbourne: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, 2007.
  • Flood, M., and B. Pease The Factors Influencing Community Attitudes in Relation to Violence Against Women: A Critical Review of the Literature. Melbourne: Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), 2006.
  • Flood, M., and C. Hamilton Mapping Homophobia in Australia. Canberra: The Australia Institute, Web Paper, July 2005.
  • Flood, M., and C. Barbato Off to Work: Commuting in Australia. Canberra: The Australia Institute, Discussion Paper No. 77, February 2005.
  • Flood, M. Mapping Loneliness in Australia. Canberra: The Australia Institute, Discussion Paper No. 76, February 2005. Flood, M. Lost Children: Condemning children to long-term disadvantage. Canberra: The Australia Institute, Discussion Paper No. 64, May 2004.
  • Flood, M. Fatherhood and Fatherlessness. Canberra: The Australia Institute, Discussion Paper No. 59, November 2003.
  • Kenyon, M., J. Power, M. Kaitani, and M. Flood Pacific Men’s Health Workshop, 14-18 October 2002, Nadi, Fiji: Report. Canberra: Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, March 2003.
  • Flood, M., and C. Hamilton Regulating Youth Access to Pornography. Canberra: The Australia Institute, Discussion Paper No. 53, March 2003. Flood, M., and C. Hamilton Youth and Pornography in Australia: Evidence on the extent of exposure and likely effects. Canberra: The Australia Institute, Discussion Paper No. 52, February 2003.

Book Reviews

  • Flood, M. Review of Tarrant’s Men and Feminism, Men and Masculinities (in-press, accepted December 2009).
  • Flood, M. Review of Worth et al.’s The Life of Brian: Masculinities, Sexualities and Health in New Zealand. International Journal of Men’s Health 3 (2004)

Other non-refereed publications

Over 80 articles in non-refereed publications, including:

  • Seven encyclopedia entries in The International Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinities and another in the Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinities
  • Seven opinion-editorials in Australia’s major daily newspapers;
  • Articles in the Development Bulletin (Research School of Social Sciences, ANU), the journal HIV Australia, and the UK National AIDS Trust journal Impact;
  • Articles in the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Newsletter, the Family Planning Association journal On The Level, Melbourne’s Domestic Violence Resource Centre Newsletter, the journal of the Association of Women Educators Redress, No To Violence’s NTV Journal, and the magazine XY: Men, Sex, Politics. 

Web Resources 

 

Last reviewed: 15 November, 2012