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Dr. Joe Whelan

Assistant Professor (Social Studies)
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Joe Whelan

Assistant Professor (Social Studies)

 jwhelan9@tcd.ie

 


Dr Joe Whelan is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin. He previously worked as a College Lecturer in the School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork. Joe is an active social researcher with a track record of publishing in international, peer-reviewed, scholarly journals. Joe's main areas of research include the exploring the intersections of poverty, work and welfare, exploring and understanding lived experiences in the context of welfare recipiency with a focus on the processes and effects of welfare conditionality, critical social theory and sustainable social policy. Joe is a member of the Editorial Collective for the distinguished scholarly journal, Critical Social Policy and is the chairperson of the Sociological Association of Ireland's Work, Welfare and Markets study group. As an educator, Joe's teaching philosophy is couched in a Freirean ethos of critical social pedagogy. By starting with the goal of diminishing hierarchy, Joe aims to be open and approachable and to build a good rapport with students. He feels this is important because it can empower students to find their voices and to participate in learning more actively. In general, his ambition for learners taking any of the modules on which he teaches is that they would take what is introduced in the classroom and pursue it further in a self-directed way. He therefore tries to foster passion, interest, excitement and curiosity. As an educator Joe also believes that there are many ways to connect students with learning that go beyond the traditional lecture format. In this respect, he uses music, literature, poetry and art in his teaching to help make visceral that which can seem abstract. He also incorporates the use of different technologies in his teaching in a way that promotes and fosters active learning and interaction.
  Alienation   Applied Sociology   Comparative Sociology   Ethnography   POLICIES   POLICY   POLICY ANALYSIS   Political Economics/Economy   POLITICAL ECONOMY   Politics of the welfare state   POVERTY   Poverty & Social Exclusion   Poverty and the Poor   SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR   Social Change   SOCIAL CLASS   SOCIAL CONTEXT   SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES   SOCIAL EXCLUSION   SOCIAL HOUSING   Social Measurement and Indicators   Social Movements   Social Organization   SOCIAL POLICY   SOCIAL PROGRAMS   Social Services   Social Services Delivery   Social Services Planning/Policy   SOCIAL SKILLS   Social Stratification/Mobility   Social Structure   SOCIAL SUPPORT   Social Welfare   Social Welfare Planning/Policy   Social Welfare Studies--Developing Countries   Social Work   Social work in Ireland, history, education, poverty and social work   SOCIAL WORKERS   SOCIAL-CLASS   SOCIAL-INTERACTION   SOCIALIZATION   SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS   SOCIAL-MOBILITY   SOCIAL-WORK   SOCIETIES   SOCIETY   SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS   SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHICS   SOCIOECONOMIC   SOCIOECONOMIC BASED SURVEY   SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS   SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS   SOCIO-ECONOMIC FEATURES   SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES   SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS   Socioeconomics   SOCIO-ECONOMICS   SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS   Sociological Theory   Sociology   Sociology of Science   Surveys & Survey Research   SUSTAINABILITY   SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES   SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT   Welfare Reform   Welfare State
Project Title
 Hygiene Poverty in Ireland
From
May 2023
To
November 2023
Summary
This research seeks to understand the relevance and effects of hygiene poverty in Ireland. Key objectives . To understand the factors that lead to hygiene poverty . To explore the impact of hygiene poverty . To share our findings on hygiene poverty to increase awareness . To share findings and recommendations with key stakeholders.
Funding Agency
The Hygiene Hub
Project Type
Funded research
Project Title
 The flats are coming down! Yup the Flats: A sociological exploration of life in the Dolphin House flat complex using arts based creative methods.
From
January 2025
To
January 2026
Summary
Dolphin House and Park is a strong, neighborly and proud community in Dublin's South Inner City. Built in 1957, the complex is made up of 392 flats in 6 blocks. It remains Dublin's largest public housing flat complex while also remaining one of Dublin's most deprived areas. Generations of families live there and now, through the slow process of regeneration, people are being 'de-tenanted' and the flats are coming down. While Dolphin House yet remains standing, this project will seek to understand how regeneration is being experienced and to document life in the flats using arts based creative techniques.
Funding Agency
Research Ireland
Programme
New Foundations
Project Type
Funded community based research
Project Title
 Walking, thinking and talking: An exploration of the lived experiences and hidden geographies of poverty using walking as a participatory arts methodology.
From
December 2022
To
September 2023
Summary
In Ireland, research that dwells on lived experiences in the context of poverty has been absent in recent years. The research proposed here aims to address this in creative ways. In the first instance, the research will be fully participative, with input from participants invited at all stages. With respect to capturing lived experiences as a form of knowledge, the research will employ walking as a participatory arts methodology - using photographs, sound files, video/film, drawing/mapping to capture meaning. The aim for this research is to connect with lived experiences of poverty in ways that are tangible, visceral and visible.
Funding Agency
Irish Research Council
Programme
New Foundations
Project Type
Original Research
Person Months
9
Project Title
 In transit? Documenting the lived experiences of welfare, working and caring for one parent families claiming Jobseeker's Transitional Payment.
From
2022
To
2022
Summary
In recent years, in Ireland, activation measures that aim to promote (re)entry into formal paid employment have become a prominent feature of the policy landscape. One specific feature of this turn toward activation is the necessity for those receiving the One Parent Family Payment (OPFP) to transition onto Jobseekers Transitional Payment (JST) once their youngest child has turned seven. This has been in place since 2013. However, little is known about the experiences of those receiving the payment. This research aims to address this knowledge deficit in a way that will benefit new entrants to the scheme.
Funding Agency
Irish Research Council
Programme
New Foundations
Project Title
 Greening the welfare state: How can we do welfare more sustainably? A foundational literature and policy review.
From
2022
To
2022
Summary
As the environmental crisis deepens and the effects begin to emerge in the form of destructive climate events, more and more nation states have committed to carbon net zero by 2050. Achieving this target will require a reconstitution of economies and societies. This reconstitution will need to occur most forcibly and rapidly in the developed economies of the global north. However, recent geopolitical summits, such as COP 26, have arguably resulted in lacklustre and vague commitments rather than any serious attempts at creating agreement on how to reconstitute the economies of the global north. Research in the context welfare and welfare states in the global north is abundant and diverse. However, research which looks at how the doing of welfare may have to change to become more sustainable remains disparate Aim: To review and synthesise the existing domestic and international literature and policy in this area. Objectives: 1) To develop a comprehensive overview of existing literature and policy 2) To develop a research agenda which will move the project beyond the initial review and toward qualitative fieldwork with key stakeholders. Central research question: What does existing literature and policy say about doing welfare sustainably and what gaps are apparent? Methodology: The methodology for this project will be desk-based and will devolve upon conducting a scoping review and synthesis of key literatures and policy. The purpose of this is to develop a scholarly foundation upon which further purposive qualitative research will be based. Literature will be reviewed using adapted systematic review techniques meaning that a thorough, objective and reproducible search of a range of sources to identify as many relevant scholarly articles as possible will be conducted. This literature will then be synthesized in order to draw out the main conclusions and identify existing gaps. Policy will be examined using a framework developed by Bacchi (2009): 'What's the problem represented to be?' (WPR). This approach, inspired by theoretical insights and research tools first developed by Foucault, works on two propositions: firstly, that it is possible to work backwards from a specific policy proposal(s) to identify what a problem is understood to be, and secondly that the resulting problematisations are key to understanding how these areas of policy are governed. As such, policy documents are not treated as reactive but as productive. This approach to the review of policy documents is useful as it has the potential to unveil how policies which go across both welfare and sustainability define the context in which they are developed and thus unveil their strengths and limitations. Literature and policy published since 2010 will be considered. The reason for this limitation is firstly to make sure that the review is manageable and secondly to capture publications that constitute the most up-to-date evidence.
Funding Agency
TCD Benefaction Fund
Project Type
Research/literature review

Page 1 of 2
Details Date
Academic consultant/advisor for All-Together in Dignity, Ireland (voluntary capacity). Ongoing
External examiner in social policy for the South East Technological University. Ongoing
Programme Approval Panel Member for Applied Social Studies, University College Cork. Ongoing
Member of the All-Island Social Security Network Ongoing
Reviewer for Poverty and Social Justice Ongoing
Research advisor for the Work Package 3 (Peer Led Transition) of the 3set research project. 2021-2022
Book proposal reviewer for Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Ongoing
Grant Reviewer for the ERC Consolidator Grants 2022 2022
Book proposal reviewer for Routledge Ongoing
Book proposal reviewer for De Gruyter Ongoing
Book proposal reviewer for Policy Press Ongoing
Member of the International Advisory Board of the newly introduced Journal, Discover Global Society. Ongoing
Member of the Editorial Collective of the high impact journal, Critical Social Policy. Ongoing
Reviewer for Oxford University Press Ongoing
Reviewer for the Journal of Social Work Practice Ongoing
Reviewer for Sociological Research Online. Ongoing
Reviewer for Social Policy and Society Ongoing
Reviewer for the Journal of Social Policy Ongoing
Chair of the Sociological Association of Ireland's Work, Markets and Welfare group. Ongoing
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
Details Date From Date To
International Scholarly Journal: Discover Global Society (editorial board member). 2023 Ongoing
Social Policy Association (UK) 2022 Ongoing
Critical Social Policy (International Scholarly Journal): Editorial Collective Member. 2021 Ongoing
Work, Markets and Welfare Study Group: A study group convened under the Sociological Association of Ireland (Chairperson). 2021 Ongoing
All-Island Social Security Network: An expert group exploring the possibility of a shared island welfare state (founding member). 2019 Ongoing
CORU (register of professional social workers). 2017 Ongoing
Sociological Association of Ireland 2016 Ongoing
Irish Social Policy Association 2016 Ongoing
Irish Association of Social Workers 2014 Ongoing
Critical and Intersectional Approaches in Social Policy: Uses for Social Work in, editor(s)Bernard, C., Firmin, C. and Keating, F. , Handbook on Intersectionality and Social Work, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar, 2026, [Joe Whelan], Notes: [Accepted, forthcoming 2026.], Book Chapter, ACCEPTED
Joe Whelan; Ruby Stein and the Residents and Community of Dolphin House, 'Life in Dolphin House: A Community Artefact based on a sociological exploration of life in the Dolphin House flat complex using arts based creative methods', The flats are coming down! Yup the Flats: A sociological exploration of life in the Dolphin House flat complex using arts based creative methods., Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, 2026, -, Notes: [Part of a broader study funded by Research Ireland.], Visual art production, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Joe Whelan, Critical Theory for Social Work: A simple introduction., 1st, UK, Policy Press, 2025, 1 - 160pp, Book, PUBLISHED
Pierre Bourdieu and social work in, Critical Theory for Social Work: A simple introduction, Bristol, Policy Press, 2025, pp79-92 , [Whelan, Joe], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI
Introduction to theory: theorising social work in, editor(s)Joe Whelan , Critical Theory for Social Work: A simple introduction, Bristol, Policy Press, 2025, pp1-6 , [Whelan, Joe], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI
Ways of knowing: traditional modernity and postmodernity in, Critical Theory for Social Work: A simple introduction, Bristol, Policy Press, 2025, pp7-24 , [Whelan, Joe], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI
Karl Marx and social work in, Critical Theory for Social Work: A simple introduction, Bristol, Policy Press, 2025, pp25-36 , [Whelan, Joe], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI
W.E.B. Du Bois and social work in, Critical Theory for Social Work: A simple introduction, Bristol, Policy Press, 2025, pp37-52 , [Whelan, Joe], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI
Jürgen Habermas and social work in, Critical Theory for Social Work: A simple introduction, Bristol, Policy Press, 2025, pp53-66 , [Whelan, Joe], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI
Axel Honneth and social work in, Critical Theory for Social Work: A simple introduction, Bristol, Policy Press, 2025, pp67-78 , [Whelan, Joe], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

Page 1 of 6
Joe Whelan, 'Come time travel with us: Life in Dolphin House', Yup the Flats: A sociological exploration of life in the Dolphin House flat complex using arts based creative methods, Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, 2026, -, Film production, PUBLISHED
Joe Whelan, Book Review: Environmental Justice as Social Work Practice., Review of Environmental Justice as Social Work Practice., by Christina L. Erickson , Ethics and Social Welfare, 2024, p1-2 , Notes: [ISBN: 978-0-19087-105-5. Ethics and Social Welfare, 1"2. https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2024.2349415], Review, PUBLISHED
Joe Whelan, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men [sic].": Why child poverty matters., Treoir Annual Policy Conference: Perspectives on Child Poverty., Dublin, 18/05/2023, 2023, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED
Fiona Dukelow; Joe Whelan. , In Transit: Documenting the lived experiences of welfare, working and caring for one-parent families claiming Jobseeker's Transitional Payment. , Ireland, May, 2023, Notes: [Relevant to public and social policy inn the area of social protection and poverty. ], Report, PUBLISHED
Joe Whelan; Jo Greene, An exploration of hygiene poverty in Ireland: Final report, researcher's copy, Dublin, School of Social Work & Social Policy, TCD, 2023, Report, PUBLISHED
Joe Whelan, Walking, thinking, and talking: The An exploration of the lived experiences and hidden geographies of poverty using walking as a participatory arts methodology., The North/South Social Welfare Summer School, DCU (Dublin), 15/08/2022, 2022, Department of Social Protection (Ireland) Department of Work and Pensions (UK)., Notes: [The opening lecture at the North/South Social Welfare Summer School. A prestigious annual event. ], Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
The Sociological Observer, 1, 2, (2022), 93 - 100p, Tom Boland and Ray Griffin, Journal, PUBLISHED
Robert Bolton; Joe Whelan; Fiona Dukelow, Some Useful Sources, Social Policy and Society, 2022, p1 - 2, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Joe Whelan, Narratives beyond quantification: Lived Experiences of poverty and welfare recipiency. , Irish Association of Social Workers Annual Conference, Dublin, 21/08/2022, 2022, Notes: [A key note address at the Irish Association of Social Workers Annual Conference. ], Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED
Social Justice Ireland, 'SJI Interview Series Ep29: Dr. Joe Whelan on Welfare Stigma, COVID response and the need for a paradigm shift.', Social Justice Ireland, Episode 29, (Social Justice Matters), Online, Social Justice Ireland, 2021, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED

  


Page 1 of 2
Award Date
Nominated for the 'Academics stand against poverty' book award for 'Hidden Voices; Lived Experiences in the Irish Welfare Space'. 2023
Nominated for the Richard Titmuss Book Award for the book: Hidden Voices; Lived Experiences in the Irish Welfare Space 2023
Invited to present the book 'Hidden Voices: Lived Experiences in the Irish Welfare Space' to President Michael D Higgins as a work of significant social importance. 2022
IRJ Distinguished Article Prize for the Artilce 'Work and Thrive or Claim and Skive: Experiencing the 'toxic symbiosis' of worklessness and welfare recipiency in Ireland : Awarded by the Sociological Association of Ireland for the paper adjudicated to represent the best original contribution to the journal in a given year. 13/05/2022
Quercus College Scholar (UCC). Awarded to the top performing student in a cohort. Most equivalent to TCD Gold Medal, included €1000 bursary, a parchment and enrolment in a talented student programme. 2014
Quercus College Scholar (UCC). Awarded to the top performing student in a cohort. Most equivalent to TCD Gold Medal, included €1000 bursary, a parchment and enrolment in a talented student programme. 2015
College Scholar (An outgoing award given to the top performing student in a cohort). 2016
Nominated for a Sustainability Leadership Award. March 2025