Staff profile

I joined the Department as a PhD student in 2021 and I am now a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Sociology on two projects:

NINE DTP Training on Participatory Action Research with Neurodivergent Children and Young People

Co-developed the training design, participatory evaluation, facilitation and organisation of the training proper for doctoral students with the Centre for Social Justice and Community Action and Centre for Neurodiversity and Development

Towards inclusive responses to victim-survivors of sexual violence

Co-designed animations for the police with lived experienced co-researchers and organised theatre-based reflective workshops to support inclusive multi-agency and police practice for victim-survivors with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic/neurodivergent

Research interests

My research broadly focuses on amplifying children and young people's voices on issues that matter to them and on exploring co-production, participatory, and creative approaches. My doctoral and policy research delved into sexual violence prevention, while my recent postdoctoral research expanded my interests in supporting learning disabled, autistic, and neurodivergent communities and individuals.

Background

I have nearly a decade of experience in the development sector of the Philippines. I have contributed to several policy advocacy campaigns leading to the enactment of child-related laws like the law reform on increasing the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 years old. I also led policy research projects on preventing sexual violence against children and teenage pregnancies. 

Field of Study

My doctoral research project focuses on understanding the views of young people on sexual violence and its prevention through creative participatory methods. This research involved iterative and co-produced workshops with 26 young people (aged 13–18) from Northeast England. This methodology enabled them to articulate complex views on sensitive topics in a safe and supportive environment. It presents a young people-informed conceptualisation of sexual violence that recognises a broad range of behaviours and the diverse language they use to express their experiences. The study highlights how they navigate sexual violence relationally and temporally, exercising agency amid uncertainty about the responses and consequences from others. It also reveals their collective agency in challenging isolation and shame. By promoting young people as co-producers of knowledge and research, it advocates for a reimagining of sexual violence prevention efforts. It positions them as vital partners alongside adults in driving sustainable change. My PhD was funded by the ESRC NINE DTP studentship.

Research Groups

• Centre of Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA)
• Centre for Social Justice and Community Action (CSJCA), Steering Committee Member
• Communities and Social Justice, Durham University

• Sexual violence prevention
• Participatory research
• Co-production
• Violence and abuse research with children and young people

Chapter in book

• Sexual violence against children
  
  Rabe, J. (2024). Sexual violence against children. In T. Abebe, A. Dar, & K. Wells (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Childhood Studies and Global Development (pp. 259-277). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003155843-25

Journal Article

• The Balancing Act: Reflections From Three Projects on Negotiating Participation and Protection in Doing Research With Children and Young People on Violence and Abuse
  
  Rabe, J., Jobson, C., & Cairns, L. O. (2025). The Balancing Act: Reflections From Three Projects on Negotiating Participation and Protection in Doing Research With Children and Young People on Violence and Abuse. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251323626
• Listening Differently: Centring Children and Young People's Voices in Understanding Sexual Violence
  
  Rabe, J. (2025). Listening Differently: Centring Children and Young People’s Voices in Understanding Sexual Violence. Journal of Sociology, 61(4), 599-607. https://doi.org/10.1177/14407833251388713
• Ecosystems of Care (EOC): An Approach to Addressing Child Sexual Abuse in Southeast Asian Communities in the United Kingdom
  
  Rabe, J., & Pineda, L. (2025). Ecosystems of Care (EOC): An Approach to Addressing Child Sexual Abuse in Southeast Asian Communities in the United Kingdom. Child Abuse Review, 34(4), Article e70042. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.70042

Report

• Interventions for Intrafamilial Physical Abuse and Violence Against Children
  
  Kurdi, Z., Rabe, J., Duncan, C., McMellon, C., Warrington, C., & Mitchell, M. (2026). Interventions for Intrafamilial Physical Abuse and Violence Against Children (Nos. 2). Child Safety, Justice and Recovery Research Group.
• Practice considerations when responding to peer-on-peer abuse
  
  Rabe, J., Kurdi, Z., Duncan, C., McMellon, C., Warrington, C., & Mitchell, M. (2026). Practice considerations when responding to peer-on-peer abuse. Child Safety, Justice and Recovery Research Group.