Sanna
Aaltonen
Links
Areas of expertise
Biography
I have acted as a Professor of Sociology of Education since autumn of 2025. My background is in sociology, and I hold both a master's degree (MSocSc, 1993) and a doctorate (PhD, 2007) in sociology from the University of Helsinki. After compleming my doctorate I worked at the University of Helsinki (postdoctoral researcher at the Academy of Finland 2008-2010), the Finnish Youth Research Society (senior researcher and research coordinator 2011-2018), and the University of Eastern Finland (university lecturer in sociology 2018-2025). I hold two Titles of Docent awarded by the University of Helsinki (in sociology, 2016) and by the Tampere University (in sociological youth studies, 2023).
Teaching
During the academic year 2025–2026, I will lead a graduate seminar and coordinate and teach on two courses: Education and Training as Social Phenomena and Aspects of Sociology and Politics of Education.
Research
My research lies at the intersection of sociological youth studies and sociology of education, where I am interested in young people's transitions, the meanings of gender and social class, the margins of work and education, and young people's relationship with institutions. I specialise in qualitative methods. In my current research, I am interested in young people's views on social class and inequality, and how social class is seen to be linked to language use.