“Wearing Me Place on Me Face”: Scousebrows, Placemaking and Everyday Creativity

Abstract

This paper emerges from a multidisciplinary research project called “Brews and Brows: Shaping Stories from Eyebrows to Scousebrows” that entailed gathering stories about eyebrow grooming from women and men from the city of Liverpool, UK, and creating a new taxonomy of the eyebrow where none currently exists. The point of departure for this paper is to challenge the negative commentary on the Scousebrow in the press and social media by engaging people in discussions surrounding the personal significance of eyebrow shaping and styling. In challenging this denigration, this paper uses data from in-depth interviews with eyebrow artists and clients and ethnographic interviews at a four-day event held in Liverpool. This paper argues that the everyday (little c) creative practice of eyebrow grooming is not only an important part of crafting and performing identity, particularly for Scouse women, but also an example of bottom-up placemaking in the city of Liverpool.

Keywords:

• creativity
• eyebrows
• Liverpool
• placemaking
• Scousebrow

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Notes

1 The project was led by Niamh Thornton, University of Liverpool, also involving other researchers: Liz Greene, Caroline Wilkinson, Sarah Shrimpton, and Jacqui McAssey, Liverpool John Moores University.

2 Adorn the pubic area (of a woman) with crystals, glitter, or other decoration.

3 An acronym used to refer to Wives and Girlfriends of high-profile sportspersons.

4 The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

5 Rapunzel is a German fairy tale in the collection assembled by the Brothers Grimm, and first published in 1812 as part of Children’s and Household Tales.

6 Samson was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible (chapters 13 to 16).

7 See Footnote 1.

8 An accolade given to those who are not born in Liverpool but who have been welcomed and accepted there.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Catherine Wilkinson

Dr. Catherine Wilkinson is a Senior Lecturer in Education at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. Prior to this she was a Lecturer in Children, Young People and Families at Edge Hill University, UK. Catherine has a BA (Hons) in Fashion Brand Management, an MSc in Marketing Management, and a PhD in Environmental Sciences. Catherine completed her PhD at University of Liverpool, UK, funded by an ESRC CASE award. Catherine works at the intersection of a range of qualitative methodologies and methods, including ethnography, participatory research, interviews, focus groups, and diaries. Catherine’s main research interests center on young people and identity. [email protected]

Samantha Wilkinson

Dr. Samantha Wilkinson is a Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Youth Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; prior to this, she was a Lecturer in Human Geography at the same institution. Samantha holds a PhD in Human Geography, an MSc in Environmental Governance, and a BA (Hons) in Human Geography, all from The University of Manchester, UK. Her research expertise includes utilizing a combination of conventional and innovative qualitative methods to conduct research on a range of themes, including: hair and identity; Airbnb; young people and alcohol consumption; and home care for people with dementia.

Holly Saron

Holly Saron is a third-year PhD student and Graduate Teaching Assistant at Edge Hill University, UK. Her research explores the communication that occurs during a child’s X-ray procedure and children and parent’s perceptions of the interaction and procedure. She is experienced in non-participant observation and has also designed and utilized participatory arts-based methods to promote inclusion of participants in research. Prior to undertaking her PhD in Health, Holly has a Geography and Demography and Health background with a BSc (Hons) from the University of Dundee, UK, and an MSc from the University of Liverpool, UK.