A feminist history of Europe's largest red-light district and an examination of the lives of the women who worked there.
Tucked away in Dublin's north inner city, Monto - purported to be Europe's biggest red-light district from 1860 to 1925 with up to 1600 sex workers at any one time - made headlines for wild tales of debauchery. However, what happened to the women and girls within its brothels in life and death is less clear.
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Caroline is the author of Wrong Women: Selling Sex in Monto, Dublin's Forgotten Red Light District, a feminist exploration of one of the most legendary red light districts in the British Empire. Published by Eriu Press.
Caroline is also the host of the Glow West podcast, which explores sex, sexuality, and the body. Since 2021, Caroline has written a weekly relationship column for the Weekend Review magazine in the Irish Independent. She has previously worked as the sex and relationship expert for the Elaine Show on Virgin Media One, evoke.ie and Bumble UK and Ireland. She also has over two decades of experience working in social care, primarily with women and children, and currently works as a sexual violence prevention manager at a university.
Caroline completed her PhD at Dublin City University in 2020; this research focused on the experiences of women working in the American pornography industry. Caroline also holds an MA in Sexuality Studies, SAfEE Campaigners Stalking Awareness certificate, a Sexual Consent Promotion Skills and Practice, a Certificate in CyberPsychology, and a degree in Social Science.
Caroline is interested in the relationship between power, sex, and knowledge. She is passionate about creating spaces for calm, informed conversations about sex and works to reduce shame and stigma around sex in Ireland.
Caroline lives in Cork with her partner and the best dog in the world.
PhD in Sexuality Studies, Dublin City University. 2014 - 2020
Thesis Title: Dancing in the shadows of the outer limits: an exploration of the experiences of female pornography performers and feminist discourses on their experiences.
Master’s Degree in Sexuality Studies, Dublin City University. 2011 - 2012
Thesis Title: Researching the experiences of five sex positive heterosexual women exploring their desires in the context of modern Ireland.
Higher Diploma in Arts in Psychoanalytic Studies, Dublin Business School. 2009 - 2010
Thesis title: Riddle me this...An examination of Freud’s approach to the secrets of the dark continent of female sexuality and the responses provoked by his work.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Science (Honours) University College Dublin. 2000 - 2003
Caroline has taught on the MA in Sexuality Studies, MA in Refugee Integration, MSc in Psychotherapy, and the Graduate Certificate in Sexuality and Sexual Health Education at DCU.
She has designed, taught, and assessed undergraduate modules on Ireland, Sex and Text, Languages, Sexualities and Societies in DCU, and she has done the same for the module Psychology of Marketing for the International School of Business. Additionally, she has given guest lectures on research ethics in Sexuality Studies for undergraduates in Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She has also taught Academic Literacy Skills and Research Methods for the Open College and Research Methods for the Institute of Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (IICP).
Caroline has disseminated her research at academic conferences in Ireland, Thailand, and the USA. She frequently speaks at public talks and has presented at the Science Gallery, feminist conferences, psychoanalytical conferences, and sexual wellness events around Ireland. She is also an active consent facilitator and taught the pilot Bystander program at DCU in 2016.
