Maggie Wykes

Maggie Wykes is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Sheffield, specializing in criminology with particular focus on gender, violence, and media representation. She joined the Law School in 2001 after previously working at Sheffield University's School of Journalism, Media and Communication, and served as Director of Teaching and Learning for the School of Law from Autumn 2009 until February 2013.

Her educational background includes a BA Hons Communication Studies (1st Class) from Sheffield Hallam University in 1987 and a PhD in Law from the Centre for Criminological Studies at the University of Sheffield in 1995, with her thesis titled 'Accounting for intimate killing: the press, violence and gender'.

Wykes' research bridges interdisciplinary boundaries, examining the complex relationships between represented crime and real crime, particularly focusing on gender dynamics in violence portrayal across media, law, and policy. Her work on internet crime has been particularly influential, exploring how digital spaces facilitate new forms of criminal behavior while reshaping traditional understandings of victimization and regulation. She has published extensively on media representations of violence, with notable books including 'Violence, gender and justice' (2008) and 'The Media and Body Image' (2005).

Her publication record shows consistent scholarly output from 1989 through 2019, with recent work demonstrating continued engagement with contemporary issues in sexual violence, cybercrime, and media representation. The research demonstrates a clear trajectory from early work on mining communities through media representations of crime to contemporary concerns about digital spaces and violence.

Wykes has successfully secured multiple research grants including a British Academy Knowledge Partnership 'Prosecuting Sexual Violence' (2011-2014, £28,000) and two White Rose Doctoral Studentships on 'Men and Violence' and 'Counter-terror' (both £42,000). Her international collaboration with the University of Cape Town has enriched both her research and teaching, bringing global perspectives to Sheffield students.

As an educator, she convenes undergraduate modules on Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice and Internet Crime, emphasizing critical thinking, research methods, and interdisciplinary approaches. Her professional activities include serving as a book referee for major academic publishers, grant application reviewer, ESRC Trustee, and external examiner at multiple levels. Her voluntary work with Sheffield Women's Refuge has directly informed both her research and teaching on gender-based violence.