Pauline Dirven MA

PhD candidate

E-mail: p.e.a.m.dirven@uu.nl

Area(s) of interest: European History, History of the Body, Modern & Contemporary History

Cohort/Start PhD: 2018-2019

Forensic Culture. A Comparative Analysis of Forensic Practices in Europe, 1930-2000

Utrecht University
Project: FORCE – Forensic Culture in Europe, 1930-2000
Promotor(es): Dr Willemijn Ruberg
Aanstelling: vanaf september 2018

My project focuses on ‘the cultural influences that determine how forensic science was accepted’ in England 1930-2000. It specifically researches the impact of political ideology, media representations and gender- sexuality norms on the position of forensic science in the courtroom. I intent to look at the ways in which forensic practices created gendered ideas, and at the interaction between ‘cultural’ or public knowledge on gender and sexuality and (scientific) forensic procedures. My focus is on the exchange of knowledge to see to what degree the legal and forensic investigation sustained, changed or was influenced by social ideas on the body.