I owe much to my late father, Mike Hardey, for his work in sociology and all round brilliance. Some of his work can be found here.

Since the early 2000s I have researched remote work & inclusion.
​The long-term effects of remote work and inclusiveness of tech workers continue to be critical issues.
COVID_19 has added unexpected and troubling dimensions. 

Some initial themes from this ongoing research (extracts from daily interviews with global tech workers)...

Guilt

I feel guilt to find joy in such a dark and horrible period, but personally I'm living the best times just being by myself without people literally breathing down my neck. I am more productive, calmer and happier. 

Protection from toxicity

Because of the corona virus my office got us all iPads and kicked us out, so I get to work remotely!!!
This is a MASSIVE game changer.  I do not have to deal with my horrible coworkers or be in that toxic environment - I hope indefinitely. 

Mental health

I'm so relieved. My mental health is so much better. ​I get to spend time with my kids without the guilt of the commute. There are new challenges, but after this I do not want to return to an office every again.  

My long-term research focuses on inequalities in tech, particularly professional experiences, the label "women in tech", and interventions for inclusivity. I  am currently working with tech communities (including the Research Software Engineering (RSE) Association and Institute of Coding (IoC)) and the UK Government Digital Service (GDS).

The step-change is to move away from the lack of understanding about “the problem” and to find alternatives for promoting inclusivity within specialist tech communities and the broader tech industry.

A copy of my RSE talk 'Bias in the Label "Women in Tech"' presented at the Royal Society is available here.
My book: The Culture of Women in Tech. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman is available from Amazon.

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Photo by @annehoang

Di - Disconnected

How do individuals switch off from technology altogether?

COMMUNITIES AND TECHNOLOGY

Growing concern about the impact of constant, mediated connection has often focused on the ways in which technologies contribute to a ubiquitous sense of presence and interaction, and the kind of invasion that this may represent to a sense of self and privacy.

Discussion about ICTs is increasingly converging around the need for a deepened understanding of their effect on pace of life, methods of work, consumption, and wellbeing. Counter-narratives to overwhelming hyper-connectivity have emerged as a result of these changes.

This research focuses on the 'disconnected' those who have self-selected to avoid forms of immediate connection and what they identify as the deep advantages and therapeutic benefits of such ways of being.

Paper nominated for BSA 'best paper award'. Research featured in The Conversation and 'most read article of 2018.'

Photo by @kellysikkema

YW - Yarn Wars

A study and glimpse into the creative-maker knitting fairs and digital communities

DIGITAL CRAFTIVISM, SKILLS AND COMMUNITY

Hardey, M and Cockshut, L.
This project is an analysis and comparison between two Northern English knitting communities. We characterise our findings as a kind of widening ‘yarn absorption’, involving both on-the-spot and multiyear interactions in the development of and articulation of amateur and professionalised knitting skills, and a demonstration of varied ways of integration into an exclusive knowledge system based around learning, yarn and generational contexts.  

Despite the popularity of ‘stitch n bitch’, ‘knit and natter’ and other community groups, the scope of yarn absorption remains poorly elaborated in wider bodies of research, which includes the construction of ‘expert’ knowledge, the thread of craft discourse, and notions and expressions of craftivism produced by different generations of knitters. Tensions (the so-called ‘yarn wars’ by some observers) have also arisen amongst different groups of yarn enthusiasts and professionals around notions of social justice and craftivism, particularly through the generational lens.

Our initial findings will be presented at the Gender Work and Organisation (GWO) conference in Kent June 2021.

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Photo by @lukechesser

mh - mHealth and self-tracking

On the body of the consumer: performance‐seeking with wearables and health and fitness apps

DIGITAL BODY PROJECTS AND HEALTH DATA

Contributing to critical digital health research and the sociology of health consumption, this research investigates the phenomenon of self‐tracking and interpretation of consumer data via wearable technology and mobile fitness software applications (apps).

I seek to understand the meaning and practise of long‐term use of apps and wearables targeted at consumers interested in tracking fitness, and the collection of personal health information over time.

There is a need to raise concerns about the validity of personal fitness data, and how its collection promises improved personal health while visually promoting sought‐after fit bodies.

Paper awarded as Top Downloaded Paper 2018-2019 for SHI. 

Photo by @markadriane

CFNE - Creative Fuse NE

Project focused on the strength, diversity within and nature of the NE's creative digital and IT sector (CDIT).

CREATIVE DIGITAL SKILLS, WORK, LABOUR AND PROFESSIONALISM IN THE NORTH EAST

Creative Fuse North East (CFNE) is a UK northern university partnership - Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, and Teeside. CFNE is a multi-disciplinary, multi stakeholder action research project. 

I am the PI for Durham and have led the project since its launch in the NE in 2013.

Alongside the AHRC, Arts Council England (ACE) and European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) are being used to support direct engagement with creatives freelancers and SMEs in the sector, providing a unique insight into the everyday challenges while at the same time identifying opportunities for cross sector collaboration and spillover into other industries.

Phase 1.0 Fuse project report here. 

Phase 2.0 begins February 2020...