Sarah Behan

Background

About Sarah Behan

I hold a 2.1 MA in Children's and Young Adult Literature from Dublin City University (DCU), where my academic work focuses on gender and social issues within children's literature. My Master's dissertation examined image-based sexual abuse in Louise O'Neill's 'Asking For It', which combined my love for YA literature and passion for sexual violence prevention. In my undergraduate degree, a BA in Arts Joint Honours (English and Philosophy), my research included diverse topics such as a dissertation in body image in Contemporary Irish Young Adult Fiction, a dissertation in self-exploration in Caribbean Poetry, and a philosophical thesis on the existence of God under Sartre's existentialism. I have extensive professional experience as a bookseller and am currently a Children's and Young Adult Bookseller at Dubray Books. In this role, I combine my passion for literature and customer engagement to inspire a love of reading among young people of all ages. Previously, I served as Vice President for Welfare at the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), where I focused on sexual violence and consent, as well as mental health, drug harm reduction, and sexual health policy. I am deeply committed to addressing gender-based and sexual violence and advocate for enhanced educational resources to foster greater understanding of these critical issues among younger generations.