Jade Dowen

I chose to study Criminology at the University of Chester because the programme met my desire to develop an in-depth understanding of criminal and deviant behaviour, whilst incorporating elements of sociology, psychology and political science.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Chester, both the social and academic sides. My lecturers provided lots of support and guidance both academically and to develop my study skills such as time management.

My favourite module was Green Criminology, Animal Harm and Wildlife crime. I found this module very interesting because it allowed me to explore the extent of environmental, ecological and species injustices that are inflicted by those in power, and how they continue to escape liability through inadequate laws, and poor regulations.

I chose to undertake an independent research project because undertaking a dissertation was a great way to express my passion of sustainability in an academic manner. Even though the process required a lot of commitment and hard work, it was rewarding to produce my own research process and contribute my concluding results. I was happy with my dissertation and the mark I was awarded. With the support from my supervisor, I produced a strong and relevant analysis.

My dissertation focused on fast-fashion organisations infliction of mass irreversible harms on vulnerable persons, ineffective laws that support and maintain their acts of deviance, and the role of social media in promoting fastfashion. Accordingly, the dissertation highlighted the process of symbiosis of harm between YouTubers and the fast-fashion industry. My dissertation integrated two areas of research, critical literature of green harms and social media, which highlighted how mechanisms within social media facilitate harms inflicted by fast-fashion organisations.

Drawing on critical literature regarding crimes of the powerful and social media’s mechanisms of resistance, the dissertation explored the key themes of greenwashing, ignorance production, denial and manipulation of sensemaking. Through critical discourse analysis of YouTube videos the research explored constructions of fast-fashion and representations of sustainability. The dissertation argued that fast-fashion Youtubers and the fast-fashion industry collaborate to maintain the harms of fast-fashion. This process involves manipulation of an organisation’s corporate social responsibility, presenting contradictory narratives, ignorance, denial and manipulation of sensemaking, which results in a tokenistic resistance towards the sustainability of fast-fashion. Furthermore, it argued that environmental degradation, habitat destruction, further climate changes implications and the suffering of vulnerable communities can be prevented if the powerful are resisted. Thus, a utopian vision unites academics, students and passionate souls to creatively resist against these harms through raising awareness and educating society, with the long-term vision of mandatory legislative measures.