Outi Sarpila profile picture
Outi
Sarpila
Professor, Sociology

Contact

Assistentinkatu 7
20500
Turku

Areas of expertise

sociology of physical appearance
sociology of consumption;social inequality
survey research

Biography

I am currently working as a professor of sociology at the University of Turku. 

I completed my Master's degree in Economic Sociology at the Turku School of Economics in 2007. In 2013, I successfully defended my PhD thesis on consumption related to appearance at the University of Turku, Faculty of Social Sciences.

Teaching

At the Bachelor's level in Social Sciences: I teach in courses on social science theories and social inequality. Additionally, I coordinate the Finnish Society course designed for exchange students.

At the Master's level in Sociology: I am responsible for the Sociological Essay course and supervise Master's theses.

In the doctoral program: I organize PhD seminars and and supervise doctoral dissertations.

Research

I work as PI of the project "The social mechanisms behind the economic consequences of physical appearance, SOMA" funded by the Academy of Finland (2019-2023). During 2016-2018 I led research project “Finland as an appearance society” funded by Emil Aaltonen foundation. I'm also part of the consumption reference budget research team at the University of Turku.

Currently, I am working on the book "Handbook of Beauty and Inequality" together with my colleague Professor Giselinde Kuipers (KU Leuven). The book is scheduled to be published in 2024.

https://soma.utu.fi
​​​​​​​https://sites.utu.fi/viitebudjetit

Publications

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Introduction (2021)

Outi Sarpila, Iida Kukkonen, Tero Pajunen, Erica Åberg
(Vertaisarvioitu artikkeli kokoomateoksessa (A3))

Conclusion (2021)

Outi Sarpila, Iida Kukkonen, Tero Pajunen, Erica Åberg
(Vertaisarvioitu artikkeli kokoomateoksessa (A3))

Finland from inside and out (editorial) (2021)

Finnish journal of social research
Kilpi-Jakonen Elina, Kukkonen Iida, Sarpila Outi
(Kirjoitus tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (B1))

Appearance as Capital (2021)

Outi Sarpila, Iida Kukkonen, Tero Pajunen, Erica Åberg
(Toimitustyö tieteelliselle lehdelle, kokoomateokselle tai konferenssijulkaisulle (C2))