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
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
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Argonaut Books needs your help 📣
Waterstones are set to open a store less than 100m from the indie bookshop's front door.
Full info on @argonautbooks.bsky.social's Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DRMULI1jCI...
Waterstones are set to open a store less than 100m from the indie bookshop's front door.
Full info on @argonautbooks.bsky.social's Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DRMULI1jCI...
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Argonaut Books needs your help 📣
Waterstones are set to open a store less than 100m from the indie bookshop's front door.
Full info on @argonautbooks.bsky.social's Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DRMULI1jCI...
Waterstones are set to open a store less than 100m from the indie bookshop's front door.
Full info on @argonautbooks.bsky.social's Insta: www.instagram.com/p/DRMULI1jCI...
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Our amazing migrant members’ standing committee chair, @vthuppil.bsky.social, has been relentless on this too!
November 18, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Our amazing migrant members’ standing committee chair, @vthuppil.bsky.social, has been relentless on this too!
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Twenty-two years ago today Section 28 was repealed.
But we're seeing history repeat itself as some in the media and in politics spread bigotry and misinformation about trans people.
1/8🧵
But we're seeing history repeat itself as some in the media and in politics spread bigotry and misinformation about trans people.
1/8🧵
November 18, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Twenty-two years ago today Section 28 was repealed.
But we're seeing history repeat itself as some in the media and in politics spread bigotry and misinformation about trans people.
1/8🧵
But we're seeing history repeat itself as some in the media and in politics spread bigotry and misinformation about trans people.
1/8🧵
Pleased to see @ucu.org.uk continue to oppose the horrendous anti-immigration rhetoric and policy of the UK government.
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1379...
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1379...
UCU statement on Prime Minister's anti-immigration turn
UCU statement following Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer's anti-immigration turn.
www.ucu.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Pleased to see @ucu.org.uk continue to oppose the horrendous anti-immigration rhetoric and policy of the UK government.
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1379...
www.ucu.org.uk/article/1379...
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Been a while since the pink beanie came out. Sheffield pickets here we come.
Our message to management is simple: No redundancies. Stop the incessant restructures. Listen to your staff. There is no University of Sheffield without us.
Our message to management is simple: No redundancies. Stop the incessant restructures. Listen to your staff. There is no University of Sheffield without us.
November 17, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Been a while since the pink beanie came out. Sheffield pickets here we come.
Our message to management is simple: No redundancies. Stop the incessant restructures. Listen to your staff. There is no University of Sheffield without us.
Our message to management is simple: No redundancies. Stop the incessant restructures. Listen to your staff. There is no University of Sheffield without us.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
theres a whole bunch of cultures that don't do rings to mark marriage but do do necklaces for the purpose, so do only Christians get to keep wedding jewelry or
Ministers now appear to be confirming in broadcast interviews that they would audit and could confiscate assets (including jewellery) excepting wedding rings from the jewellery that they could confiscate.
November 17, 2025 at 12:01 PM
theres a whole bunch of cultures that don't do rings to mark marriage but do do necklaces for the purpose, so do only Christians get to keep wedding jewelry or
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Today we have called a "Lobby Day".
UoE's ongoing cuts could lead to up to 1800 compulsory redundancies in addition to the damage already being done. Our political representatives should be addressing this crisis.
Flood MSPs' offices with calls!
More here: ucuedinburgh.org.uk/lobby-your-msp
UoE's ongoing cuts could lead to up to 1800 compulsory redundancies in addition to the damage already being done. Our political representatives should be addressing this crisis.
Flood MSPs' offices with calls!
More here: ucuedinburgh.org.uk/lobby-your-msp
November 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Today we have called a "Lobby Day".
UoE's ongoing cuts could lead to up to 1800 compulsory redundancies in addition to the damage already being done. Our political representatives should be addressing this crisis.
Flood MSPs' offices with calls!
More here: ucuedinburgh.org.uk/lobby-your-msp
UoE's ongoing cuts could lead to up to 1800 compulsory redundancies in addition to the damage already being done. Our political representatives should be addressing this crisis.
Flood MSPs' offices with calls!
More here: ucuedinburgh.org.uk/lobby-your-msp
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Join us on Wednesday, 19 November at 4pm GMT to hear Prof Merry Wiesner-Hanks discuss her fantastic monograph, 'Women and the Reformations', and how she came to write it. Sign-up link can be found here: womenshistorynetwork.org/sign-up-now-...
Sign up now for Prof Merry Wiesner-Hanks’s paper: ‘Reflections on Women and the Reformations: A Global History’
Wednesday, 19 November 2025, at 4pm GMT Sign-up now for our online-only zoom webinar here. Reflections on Women and the Reformations: A Global History The Reformations, both Protestant and Catholic…
womenshistorynetwork.org
November 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Join us on Wednesday, 19 November at 4pm GMT to hear Prof Merry Wiesner-Hanks discuss her fantastic monograph, 'Women and the Reformations', and how she came to write it. Sign-up link can be found here: womenshistorynetwork.org/sign-up-now-...
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
happy monday, taps sign⬇️
happy sunday, remember that you are completely expendable to your employer and that when you die they will forget you ever existed within weeks and easily replace you
November 17, 2025 at 12:42 PM
happy monday, taps sign⬇️
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
none of these people are "hard" they're the softest losers around who like to posture by going after the targets least able to defend themselves, this is literally the schoolyard bully who wanted to be considered a badass because he spent the lunch break torturing butterflies
Your regular reminder that there is absolutely nothing "hard" or "tough" about targeting the poorest, most vulnerable, and least able to defend themselves groups of people on the entire planet
November 17, 2025 at 12:16 PM
none of these people are "hard" they're the softest losers around who like to posture by going after the targets least able to defend themselves, this is literally the schoolyard bully who wanted to be considered a badass because he spent the lunch break torturing butterflies
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
If the government really intends to seize jewellery and other valuables from refugees,
either
- it is staggeringly ignorant of the historical precedents
or
- it's aware of the precedents, and thinks, yeah, we'll have some of that.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
either
- it is staggeringly ignorant of the historical precedents
or
- it's aware of the precedents, and thinks, yeah, we'll have some of that.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
No 10 tells Labour MPs it expects support for tough new asylum policies
Some backbenchers already opposing planned immigration crackdown seen as ‘economically and culturally illiterate’
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:41 AM
If the government really intends to seize jewellery and other valuables from refugees,
either
- it is staggeringly ignorant of the historical precedents
or
- it's aware of the precedents, and thinks, yeah, we'll have some of that.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
either
- it is staggeringly ignorant of the historical precedents
or
- it's aware of the precedents, and thinks, yeah, we'll have some of that.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
#UCUWomensConference + delighted to meet some colleagues in person for the first time, + happily fed them my signature #BlueberryBranLoaf
Incredibly proud how hard staff + members of @ucu work to maintain our trans-inclusive policies.
A spasming back knocked me out hence hot water bottle at home
Incredibly proud how hard staff + members of @ucu work to maintain our trans-inclusive policies.
A spasming back knocked me out hence hot water bottle at home
November 14, 2025 at 9:40 PM
#UCUWomensConference + delighted to meet some colleagues in person for the first time, + happily fed them my signature #BlueberryBranLoaf
Incredibly proud how hard staff + members of @ucu work to maintain our trans-inclusive policies.
A spasming back knocked me out hence hot water bottle at home
Incredibly proud how hard staff + members of @ucu work to maintain our trans-inclusive policies.
A spasming back knocked me out hence hot water bottle at home
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Going home after a brilliant UCU women's conference. Amazing participation from delegates in the workshops and debates 🙌🏼 Thank you to our incredible committee for organising and facilitating the conference and for the hard work of UCU staff setting up and supporting.
#UCU
#UCUWomen
#equalities
#UCU
#UCUWomen
#equalities
November 14, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Going home after a brilliant UCU women's conference. Amazing participation from delegates in the workshops and debates 🙌🏼 Thank you to our incredible committee for organising and facilitating the conference and for the hard work of UCU staff setting up and supporting.
#UCU
#UCUWomen
#equalities
#UCU
#UCUWomen
#equalities
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
To reiterate, this is about making life immeasurably more miserable and stressful for some of the most vulnerable people, in the almost certainly vain hope of winning over the votes of racists.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Asylum in UK to be made temporary under Home Secretary’s plans
Shabana Mahmood will lay out reforms modelled on the Danish system on Monday.
www.independent.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 9:14 AM
To reiterate, this is about making life immeasurably more miserable and stressful for some of the most vulnerable people, in the almost certainly vain hope of winning over the votes of racists.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Anything more shabby and shameful is difficult to envisage.
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Help please with #palaeography - what is Andro's surname? Or what word follows?
November 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Help please with #palaeography - what is Andro's surname? Or what word follows?
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Exhausted after a brilliant day at Women’s Conference! Thanks to @suzitoole.bsky.social for amazing chairing, and the committee as a whole for organising such a great event.
Special shout out to our official Charlotte and conference maven Sue @ucu.org.uk 👌 #UCU
Special shout out to our official Charlotte and conference maven Sue @ucu.org.uk 👌 #UCU
November 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Exhausted after a brilliant day at Women’s Conference! Thanks to @suzitoole.bsky.social for amazing chairing, and the committee as a whole for organising such a great event.
Special shout out to our official Charlotte and conference maven Sue @ucu.org.uk 👌 #UCU
Special shout out to our official Charlotte and conference maven Sue @ucu.org.uk 👌 #UCU
Reposted by Dr Gillian Jack
Tomorrow: @ucu.org.uk’s Women Members’ conference - the fab @suzitoole.bsky.social’s first time in the chair! @drgillhistory.bsky.social and I are facilitating a workshop on organising in our workplaces in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling. Going to be a good day x
November 13, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Tomorrow: @ucu.org.uk’s Women Members’ conference - the fab @suzitoole.bsky.social’s first time in the chair! @drgillhistory.bsky.social and I are facilitating a workshop on organising in our workplaces in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling. Going to be a good day x