Dr Gillian Jack
@drgillhistory.bsky.social
Historian of women in late medieval/early mod Italy. Writing a book on a monastery for repentant prostitutes. Open University. Feminist. Strong words; weak tea. UCU rep. She/her.
Pinned
Sex Workers and Salvation in the Renaissance
www.historytoday.com
Extremely excited to see my article in @historytoday.com this morning! EXTREMELY excited.
www.historytoday.com/archive/feat...
www.historytoday.com/archive/feat...
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Well, this stinks.
November 30, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Well, this stinks.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Oops sorry we ruined the country and everything we voted for was a lie. Our total bad. Anyway, how about those bloody migrants eh??
November 30, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Oops sorry we ruined the country and everything we voted for was a lie. Our total bad. Anyway, how about those bloody migrants eh??
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Universities are assembling larger and larger teams to deal with academic integrity issues--mostly focused on AI--while simultaneously holding AI "writing" contests, AI-themed events, "hey, come play with these fun tools!" The messages are so mixed, it's criminal. Because AI is bloated with money.
November 28, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Universities are assembling larger and larger teams to deal with academic integrity issues--mostly focused on AI--while simultaneously holding AI "writing" contests, AI-themed events, "hey, come play with these fun tools!" The messages are so mixed, it's criminal. Because AI is bloated with money.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
"[G]ender-affirming care saves lives."
"Suicidality scores among the [study's] patients who provided responses dropped by over 67 percent."
"[O]f the hundreds of patients who started hormone therapy, only seven discontinued their treatment."
#USA #Healthcare #Suicide
"Suicidality scores among the [study's] patients who provided responses dropped by over 67 percent."
"[O]f the hundreds of patients who started hormone therapy, only seven discontinued their treatment."
#USA #Healthcare #Suicide
New Study: Gender-Affirming Care Dramatically Lowers Suicide Risk for Trans Kids
Twenty-seven states in the US ban gender-affirming treatments for trans youth, including hormone therapy.
truthout.org
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"[G]ender-affirming care saves lives."
"Suicidality scores among the [study's] patients who provided responses dropped by over 67 percent."
"[O]f the hundreds of patients who started hormone therapy, only seven discontinued their treatment."
#USA #Healthcare #Suicide
"Suicidality scores among the [study's] patients who provided responses dropped by over 67 percent."
"[O]f the hundreds of patients who started hormone therapy, only seven discontinued their treatment."
#USA #Healthcare #Suicide
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
I had a sneaking suspicion that they'd bottle it. Turns out my sneaking suspicion was right.
we reported after Rayner's departure that employment rights bill would be watered down, and ministers denied it over and over again:
here is the first new major compromise:
www.ft.com/content/3391...
here is the first new major compromise:
www.ft.com/content/3391...
Labour retreats on ‘day one’ rights for workers
Government has softened its package of measures to boost employment rights
www.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I had a sneaking suspicion that they'd bottle it. Turns out my sneaking suspicion was right.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Exciting news! We have transitioned off Substack and Wordpress and onto Ghost for both our website and newsletter. We're delighted to be on an open platform for our newsletter, which comes out every other Wednesday. You can check out our shiny new site via the same URL: ucucommons.org
UCU Commons
Thoughts, stories and ideas.
ucucommons.org
November 28, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Exciting news! We have transitioned off Substack and Wordpress and onto Ghost for both our website and newsletter. We're delighted to be on an open platform for our newsletter, which comes out every other Wednesday. You can check out our shiny new site via the same URL: ucucommons.org
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Interviewer: “What do you say to trans kids who are starting their transition?”
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
November 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Interviewer: “What do you say to trans kids who are starting their transition?”
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
Zohran Mamdani: "We're gonna make this a city that doesn't just protect trans kids, but also celebrates and cherishes them."
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Literally all of society hates this abominable scam homunculus and the weird little death cult bubble of vampiric losers who spewed it forth upon the world. Take a break from bragging about how gullible you are and give yourself a swirlie and stuff yourself in a locker and sort yourself out.
November 26, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Literally all of society hates this abominable scam homunculus and the weird little death cult bubble of vampiric losers who spewed it forth upon the world. Take a break from bragging about how gullible you are and give yourself a swirlie and stuff yourself in a locker and sort yourself out.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Dave watched this government Education Committee meeting so you didn’t have to. But you do have to read his summary (if you have any interest in the future of HE)
"A system built on specialisation, efficiency", that right there is the death knell for the current university system in the UK, if (big if) government pushes it through. They actively don't want HE to grow, they will intervene, apparently, to help it shrink.
per this morning's education committee.
per this morning's education committee.
November 25, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Dave watched this government Education Committee meeting so you didn’t have to. But you do have to read his summary (if you have any interest in the future of HE)
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
7 x 3000+ students + 17 smaller institutions must mean 30,000+ affected students. That’s about the same size as Sheffield uni, which employs 8000ish staff. Why is the government tolerating the impending collapse of up to 24 related employers and 8000+ more lost jobs? Where is the sense of crisis?
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:57 AM
7 x 3000+ students + 17 smaller institutions must mean 30,000+ affected students. That’s about the same size as Sheffield uni, which employs 8000ish staff. Why is the government tolerating the impending collapse of up to 24 related employers and 8000+ more lost jobs? Where is the sense of crisis?
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
🚨 Day 2 of 4: Staff strike at Imperial.
UCU & Unite are on the picket lines Tues–Fri, followed by two weeks of UCU teaching-targeted action until the end of term.
What began as a pay dispute has become a serious governance crisis.
🧵(1/)
UCU & Unite are on the picket lines Tues–Fri, followed by two weeks of UCU teaching-targeted action until the end of term.
What began as a pay dispute has become a serious governance crisis.
🧵(1/)
November 26, 2025 at 8:12 AM
🚨 Day 2 of 4: Staff strike at Imperial.
UCU & Unite are on the picket lines Tues–Fri, followed by two weeks of UCU teaching-targeted action until the end of term.
What began as a pay dispute has become a serious governance crisis.
🧵(1/)
UCU & Unite are on the picket lines Tues–Fri, followed by two weeks of UCU teaching-targeted action until the end of term.
What began as a pay dispute has become a serious governance crisis.
🧵(1/)
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
As I recall Roy and Hayley were seen as pretty iconic national treasures.
November 26, 2025 at 9:06 AM
As I recall Roy and Hayley were seen as pretty iconic national treasures.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
No way I’m sharing Stock’s UnHerd article. But I am going to point to this bit which amply demonstrates the anti-trans=>anti-women’s rights pipeline. “Abortions should only be done for a highly restricted set of reasons. They should not be just nodded through for any reason a pregnant woman likes.”
November 21, 2025 at 10:55 AM
No way I’m sharing Stock’s UnHerd article. But I am going to point to this bit which amply demonstrates the anti-trans=>anti-women’s rights pipeline. “Abortions should only be done for a highly restricted set of reasons. They should not be just nodded through for any reason a pregnant woman likes.”
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
@argonautbooks.bsky.social has put together a letter to Waterstones, which you can read and sign here:
c.org/BW7b88mRSw
c.org/BW7b88mRSw
Sign the Petition
An Open Letter to Waterstones Regarding a Sixth Edinburgh Branch in Leith
c.org
November 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
@argonautbooks.bsky.social has put together a letter to Waterstones, which you can read and sign here:
c.org/BW7b88mRSw
c.org/BW7b88mRSw
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Last night Suzi from FE told us how they won their ballot - personal contact.
In the final week they:
• organised every day
• tracked turnout daily
• went door-to-door in departments
• messaged every member
• kept energy high in every building
That is how we win. Keep going, everyone!
In the final week they:
• organised every day
• tracked turnout daily
• went door-to-door in departments
• messaged every member
• kept energy high in every building
That is how we win. Keep going, everyone!
November 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Last night Suzi from FE told us how they won their ballot - personal contact.
In the final week they:
• organised every day
• tracked turnout daily
• went door-to-door in departments
• messaged every member
• kept energy high in every building
That is how we win. Keep going, everyone!
In the final week they:
• organised every day
• tracked turnout daily
• went door-to-door in departments
• messaged every member
• kept energy high in every building
That is how we win. Keep going, everyone!
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Vileness. Get ready for being dragged back to the 1950's... If you're not traditionally feminine presenting and wearing an ankle length floral dress you're not coming in 🤮
Encouraging the policing of public spaces based on appearance and gender stereotypes is no way for a human rights regulator to behave.
The EHRC’s proposed Code of Practice is a misogynist’s charter, and the government must reject it.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
The EHRC’s proposed Code of Practice is a misogynist’s charter, and the government must reject it.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Transgender guidance dubbed ‘misogynist’s charter’
Places such as hospital wards, gyms and leisure centres will reportedly be able to question transgender women over whether they should be using single-sex services based on how they look, their behavi...
www.independent.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Vileness. Get ready for being dragged back to the 1950's... If you're not traditionally feminine presenting and wearing an ankle length floral dress you're not coming in 🤮
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Today is Trans+ Day of Remembrance.
In her book 'Before Gender', author & activist @elierlick.bsky.social shed light on the trailblazing lives of thirty trans people who will radically change everything you've been told about transgender history.
Available now from all good bookshops. #booksky
In her book 'Before Gender', author & activist @elierlick.bsky.social shed light on the trailblazing lives of thirty trans people who will radically change everything you've been told about transgender history.
Available now from all good bookshops. #booksky
November 20, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Today is Trans+ Day of Remembrance.
In her book 'Before Gender', author & activist @elierlick.bsky.social shed light on the trailblazing lives of thirty trans people who will radically change everything you've been told about transgender history.
Available now from all good bookshops. #booksky
In her book 'Before Gender', author & activist @elierlick.bsky.social shed light on the trailblazing lives of thirty trans people who will radically change everything you've been told about transgender history.
Available now from all good bookshops. #booksky
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Palaeography 🧵! Or why it can take a historian a while to confirm what they already suspected must be the case and not really get any further than they were—but this time with confidence 😂
I'm working with documents that list the incomes of medieval French lordships, so a lot of it is about grain.
I'm working with documents that list the incomes of medieval French lordships, so a lot of it is about grain.
November 19, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Palaeography 🧵! Or why it can take a historian a while to confirm what they already suspected must be the case and not really get any further than they were—but this time with confidence 😂
I'm working with documents that list the incomes of medieval French lordships, so a lot of it is about grain.
I'm working with documents that list the incomes of medieval French lordships, so a lot of it is about grain.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Anyone can be banned then. I've been mistaken for a man, a trans man and a trans woman before.
It's encumbent on all of us to make this as unworkable as possible.
It's encumbent on all of us to make this as unworkable as possible.
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Anyone can be banned then. I've been mistaken for a man, a trans man and a trans woman before.
It's encumbent on all of us to make this as unworkable as possible.
It's encumbent on all of us to make this as unworkable as possible.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
New on our Substack: newsletter #4, which includes a link to our report of #UCU NEC on 7 November. Also feat. @matthewbarnard.phd @drgillhistory.bsky.social @hagenilda.bsky.social @matildaf.bsky.social @bparsia.bsky.social @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social
ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
UCU Commons newsletter #4, 19 November 2025
Our fortnightly round-up of union and sector specific news
ucucommons.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM
New on our Substack: newsletter #4, which includes a link to our report of #UCU NEC on 7 November. Also feat. @matthewbarnard.phd @drgillhistory.bsky.social @hagenilda.bsky.social @matildaf.bsky.social @bparsia.bsky.social @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social
ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
ucucommons.substack.com/p/ucu-common...
Ever set a password that's so good you want to tell people about it?
No, no, me neither.
No, no, me neither.
November 18, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Ever set a password that's so good you want to tell people about it?
No, no, me neither.
No, no, me neither.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Back on the @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social picket line, standing with colleagues against senseless cu ts.
Cover in The National by Lucy Garcia with quotation from @drjogrady.bsky.social pictured, and in The Herald, www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562598...
#UCU #StopTheCuts
Cover in The National by Lucy Garcia with quotation from @drjogrady.bsky.social pictured, and in The Herald, www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562598...
#UCU #StopTheCuts
November 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Back on the @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social picket line, standing with colleagues against senseless cu ts.
Cover in The National by Lucy Garcia with quotation from @drjogrady.bsky.social pictured, and in The Herald, www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562598...
#UCU #StopTheCuts
Cover in The National by Lucy Garcia with quotation from @drjogrady.bsky.social pictured, and in The Herald, www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562598...
#UCU #StopTheCuts
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Don't cross the picket line!
We are on strike because of UoE's budget cuts that have and will affect students and staff.
We are striking for a better university, join us!
#StopTheCuts
We are on strike because of UoE's budget cuts that have and will affect students and staff.
We are striking for a better university, join us!
#StopTheCuts
November 18, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Don't cross the picket line!
We are on strike because of UoE's budget cuts that have and will affect students and staff.
We are striking for a better university, join us!
#StopTheCuts
We are on strike because of UoE's budget cuts that have and will affect students and staff.
We are striking for a better university, join us!
#StopTheCuts