Sex, gender and consumption

A relatively new area of research for ARCSHS focuses on sex, gender and consumption. The rise of the consumer society worldwide since the middle of the 20th century has redefined key notions of the self, productivity and responsibility in contemporary life. From shopping, digital sociality, and the healthy body as identity project, to alcohol and other drug use, and other marginalised consumption activity, consumption is sexualised and gendered in ways that shape social, health and other supports and responses. ARCSHS aims to understand the rich dynamics at work in the sexual and gender meanings of consumption in order to enhance academic and public discourse and inform relevant policy responses and service provision.


Blurry time-lapse photo of people on a green striped background with text 'Human rights and drug policy: Summary of report of project findings and recommendations, Chief Investigator Kate Seear, Report Authors Kate Seear, Sean Mulcahy' with logos of La Trobe/ARCSHS and the GLaD Program

Human rights and drug policy

2025

Summary report of project findings and recommendations

Kate Seear and Sean Mulcahy

This report details findings and recommendations from an Australian Research Council-funded project entitled ‘A world-first “post-human rights” framework for drug policy: Improving social, economic and health outcomes’.

The project’s key findings and recommendations are summarised in this report across four thematic areas:

  1. Australia’s approach to drug policy and human rights
  2. Parliamentary perspectives on human rights and drug law, policy and practice in Australia
  3. Expert perspectives on the value of human rights for drug law, policy and practice
  4. Human rights and stigma

Human rights and drug policy: Summary report of project findings and recommendations


Cover of Research directions for improved responses to young people's e-cigarette use: a report from a consultation with e-cigarette policy and practice professionals, by Adrian Farrugia, Kiran Pienaar, Sarah MacLean and Julia De Nicola, October 2024, with logos of La Trobe and Deakin University, ARCSHS and the DruGS program, on a background of an image of people picnicing in a park on a sunny day.

Research directions for improved responses to young people’s e-cigarette use

2024

A report from a consultation with e-cigarette policy and practice professionals

Adrian Farrugia, Kiran Pienaar, Sarah MacLean and Julia De Nicola

Research directions for improved responses to young people’s e-cigarette use


Brightly coloured watercolour abstract human figures on a white background

Understanding women's perspectives on take-home naloxone to support equitable overdose prevention

2024

Nyssa Ferguson, Adrian Farrugia and Andrew Whalley

Understanding women's perspectives on take-home naloxone to support equitable overdose prevention


Blurred, hyper-coloured image of a crowd of people with their arms up

Analysing gender in research and policy on alcohol-related violence among young people

2023

A summary of findings and recommendations from an international comparative study

David Moore, Helaen Keane, Mats Ekendahl, Kathryn Graham, Duane Duncan, Adrian Farrugia, Gemma Nourse and Emily Lenton

Analysing gender in research and policy on alcohol-related violence among young people


Over-exposed, blurred image of people standing and walking in a large public area

Lived experiences of treatment for hepatitis C in Australia

2022

An online resource for people considering treatment, members of the public, healthcare workers and other professionals

Renae Fomiatti, Frances Shaw, Adrian Farrugia, Suzanne Fraser, David Moore, Carla Treloar, Michael Edwards and Elizabeth Birbilis

Experiences of hepatitis C diagnosis: Testing, reflecting on diagnosis and seeking advice (Broadsheet No. 1)

Hepatitis C treatment uptake: Understanding treatment incentives and obstacles (Broadsheet No. 2)

Experiences of DAA treatment and hepatitis C cure: Treatment knowledge, interactions with health professionals and questions after cure (Broadsheet No. 3)

Life after hepatitis C treatment: Health, wellbeing and the future (Broadsheet No. 4)


Intersecting coloured circles matching the Drugs, Gender and Sexuality Project logo

Understanding performance and image-enhancing drug injecting to improve health and minimise hepatitis C transmission

2019

Findings and recommendations from a national qualitative project

Renae Fomiatti, David Moore, J. R. Latham, Suzanne Fraser, Emily Lenton, Kate Seear, Campbell Aitken and Kay Stanton

Understanding performance and image-enhancing drug injecting to improve health and minimise hepatitis C transmission (PDF, 0.8MB)


Intersecting coloured circles matching the Drugs, Gender and Sexuality Project logo

Lived experiences of stigma and discrimination among people accessing South Western Sydney Local Health District Drug Health Services

2019

Adrian Farrugia, Suzanne Fraser, Michael Edwards, Annie Madden, Stephanie Hocking

Lived experiences of stigma and discrimination among people accessing South Western Sydney Local Health District Drug Health Services (PDF, 0.6MB)