Donna Bridges

Teaching and Research Staff

Dr Donna Bridges

Senior Lecturer in Sociology
Bathurst
Mansfield Building 1411, Room 321

Dr Donna Bridges is a Senior lecturer in sociology based on Bathurst campus where she teaches a range of sociology subjects. Donna is a gender and work theorist and a feminist, qualitative researcher. Her work focuses on gender norms in society, gender constructions, workplace inequality, discrimination and harassment. She has completed a PhD about women’s roles in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) – specifically in the areas of the combat arms and United Nations peacekeeping. During the PhD she undertook extensive interview research with women across the ADF. Her military research concentrates on the traditional roles of both genders within organisational cultures exploring organisational change as well as barriers to change. Her research interests span disciplines relating to gender and work; organisations; peace and conflict studies; hegemonic masculinities; feminisms; the power of discrimination and exclusion, and social justice. She is currently working on two projects “The Gendered Spaces of Social Work” that analyses the gendered nature of the social work profession that focuses on gendered power and gendered dynamics in a female dominated profession. “Women in Regional Trades and resilience” exploring the experience of women who work in the manual trade industries in Australia, specifically factors that contribute to women’s resilience and success in the manual trades. Donna also has research interests in the areas of qualitative research, teaching and learning in higher education and professional development.

Donna is a CSU Ally

And an active member of the Athena Swan - Gender Equity working party

Donna is a Senior lecturer in sociology based on Bathurst campus.  She has experience teaching across a broad range of social science subjects. The majority of her teaching experience is in subjects that concern understanding society and human behaviour and in the improvement of human interaction interpersonally and with wider social environments. Significant areas of experience are in social inequality, gender and society, health sociology, introductory sociology, social research methods, global studies and peace and conflict studies.

Donna currently teaches:

  • Social Inequality (SOC102)
  • Advanced Social Inequality (SOC401)
  • Introduction to Sociology (SOC101)

Research

Dr Donna Bridges is a gender and work theorist and a feminist, qualitative researcher. Her work focuses on gender norms in society, gender constructions, workplace inequality, discrimination and harassment. She has completed a PhD about women’s roles in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) – specifically in the areas of the combat arms and United Nations peacekeeping. During the PhD she undertook extensive interview research with women across the ADF. Her military research concentrates on the traditional roles of both genders within organisational cultures exploring organisational change as well as barriers to change. Her research interests span disciplines relating to gender and work; organisations; peace and conflict studies; hegemonic masculinities; feminisms; the power of discrimination and exclusion, and social justice. She is currently working on two projects “The Gendered Spaces of Social Work” that analyses the gendered nature of the social work profession that focuses on gendered power and gendered dynamics in a female dominated profession. “Women in Regional Trades and resilience” exploring the experience of women who work in the manual trade industries in Australia, specifically factors that contribute to women’s resilience and success in the manual trades. Donna also has research interests in the areas of qualitative research, teaching and learning in higher education and professional development.

Research Interests

  • Gender and work – non-traditional work occupations for women
  • Military sociology – women’s integration into defence forces and gender relations in the ADF
  • Gender – peace and security
  • Gender and social work
  • Qualitative research
  • Higher education and professional development

Current Research Projects

  • Dr Donna Bridges; Associate Professor Branka Krivokapic-Skoko Larissa Bamberry (CSU) and Dr Stacey Jenkins (CSU). “Women in regional trades: understanding resilience”.
  • Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences Compact Project Pilot Funding (15,000);
  • Institute of Land, Society and Water (10,000);
  • Faculty of Arts and Education (14,000).
  • Associate Professor Susan Mlcek (CSU); Dr John Healy and Dr Donna Bridges (CSU) “Gendered narratives in Social Work and Social Welfare practice and education contexts.
    • Faculty of Arts and Education Research Income and Initiatives Funding (15,000)
  • Dr Donna Bridges (CSU); Associate Professor Ben Wadham; Dr Anu Munkur (ACMC) “Women in the Australian Defence Force: perspectives of diversity and gender equality”
    • Faculty of Arts and Education Research Income and Initiatives Funding (15,000)
    • Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law, Flinders University (8,000)

The conversation

Invited interviews and Articles

  • Sarah, Jones. 'ATTRACTING AND RETAINING WOMEN TRADIES IN REGIONAL AUSTRALIA' 'The Australian TAFE Teacher Magazine'. The Australian Education Union.  Spring Edition 2018. Article feature on the research project “Women in regional trades: Understanding resilience” (Bridges, Krivokapic-Skoko; Bamberry & Jenkins).
  • Bridges, Donna.Invited guest speaker. Cassie McCullagh (Presenter). (4 June 2018). “Female Tradies.” ABC Radio Sydney 702, Australian Broadcasting Company. http://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/focus/focus/9809744
  • Bridges, Donna. Invited guest speaker. Tom Mann (Presenter). (4 June 2018). “The female tradie shortage.” Radio Adelaide Breakfast Show. http://radioadelaide.org.au/podcasts/
  • Bridges, Donna. Invited guest speaker. Gillian O'Shaughnessy (Presenter). (1 June 2018). “Why hasn't the number of women tradies increased?” WA Afternoons. ABC Radio Western Australia, Australian Broadcasting Company. http://www.abc.net.au/radio/perth/programs/wa-afternoons/wa-afternoons/9802226
  • Bridges, Donna. Invited guest speaker. (14 May 2018). Fiona Wyllie (Presenter). “Women in Regional Trades: Understanding Resilience”.  ABC NSW Statewide Drive , Australian Broadcasting Company.
  • Bridges, Donna., Bamberry, Larissa., Jenkins, Stacey & Krivokapic-Skoko, Branka. (18 May 2018). Kate Fotheringham (Producer). "Girls can do it. Girls can do anything." Office of Government & Community Relations, Charles Sturt University. https://www.facebook.com/charlessturtuni/videos/10157563935123916/
  • Bridges, Donna. Invited guest speaker. (10 May 2018). Kristy Reading (Presenter). Women in the trades in regional NSW. ABC Central West NSW Breakfast. Australian Broadcasting Company
  • Bridges, Donna., Krivokapic-Skoko, Branka., Bamberry, Larissa., & Jenkins, Stacey cited in Ward, Wes. (4 May 2018).  Some do, some don't: women succeeding in 'macho' trades." Charles Sturt University News. http://news.csu.edu.au/latest-news/society/some-do,-some-dont-women-succeeding-in-macho-trades?P8E4CFZFbtRyZiRz.99
  • Bridges, Donna – Invited guest speaker. Wyllie, Fiona (Presenter). (20 September 2017). “LGBTI experience of rural living”: Statewide Drive: Radio Programme. ABC Central West, Australian Broadcasting Company.
  • Bridges, Donna – Invited guest speaker. Blue Mountains, Katoomba and Springwood Neighbourhood Centres (March 8th 2015) ‘International Women’s Day Address’, Springwood NSW.