Sara Chatfield
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poliscisara.bsky.social
Sara Chatfield
@poliscisara.bsky.social
9.2K followers 3.7K following 1.6K posts
Polisci prof at U of Denver. She/her. American politics and law, American political development, gender & politics, state politics. Opinions represent myself only.

Check out my work: https://du.digication.com/sara-chatfield/home
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poliscisara.bsky.social
Loving the banned books display at our local library. Especially TOO GAY!!
Several books wrapped in white paper with red “Banned” stickers and hand-written notes like “Too Gay!!” and “Profane!”
October 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Our department has the wonderful tradition that when someone publishes a book, @smotus.bsky.social bakes a cake in its honor. He really went above and beyond on this one!

Link to the book: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
A child, woman, and man stand in a classroom holding a cake decorated to look like a toilet. A cake decorated to look like a toilet
September 26, 2025 at 11:54 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Denver friends - come check out my research and grab a drink at Lectures & Libations at The Pearl on September 9!
Pale green background with gold accents advertising an upcoming event: Lectures & Libations at the Pearl introducing a monthly series to help make higher education more accessible for queer folks - featuring pertinent lectures from Denver University professors Tuesday September 9th, 6:00-7:00pm The Pearl: 2199 California St. Denver CO Bathrooms, Citizenship, & Social Justice In this lecture, Dr. Chatfield will explore the connections between bathrooms, citizenship, and social justice. When you don't have the ability to use a safe, accessible bathroom, you can't go out in public (or to a job, or to school) for longer than you can "hold it." Historicall and in contemporary politics, our government has defined who is a full member of the community and who is excluded from society. This control has intersected with multiple identities, including race, gender, gender ID, and disability. Dr. Chatfield will share research from her recent book, The Politics of Bathroom Access and Exclusion in the United States. CM: These lectures will feature topics and materials that may not be suitable for sensitive groups. 18+ Free Entry first tuesday of every month Future dates include October 7th, November 4th, and December 2nd producted by Queer Renaissance Woman Productions
August 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Without downloading any new images, where are you mentally?
A rabbit asks a raccoon how it is doing and the raccoon replies “I want to bite people.”
August 27, 2025 at 1:22 AM
poliscisara.bsky.social
A blue bird drawn on a hot pink paper. The bird is fat and cute and has a heart for an eye. It is viewed from the side.
August 17, 2025 at 11:09 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
#KidLit recommendations for #FridayReads. All of these were greatly enjoyed by both my daughter and adults who were reading aloud. See thread for links.

#BookSky
Four picture book covers: Mr. Watson’s Chickens featuring two men and several chickens playing instruments Kittybunkport featuring two cats with very large eyes Bearsuit Turtle featuring a turtle in a bear costume Little Witch Hazel featuring a little girl with a pointy red had surrounded by flowers and mushrooms
August 1, 2025 at 6:06 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
I do love the random little things that show up unexpectedly when you have a child. Today: this tiny wooden toilet on my bookshelf. 😂
A tiny wooden toilet sits on a wooden bookshelf in front of two stacks of books.
July 4, 2025 at 1:33 AM
poliscisara.bsky.social
My cat last night (she loves her boxes!)
Brown cardboard box with crumpled brown packing paper. A black cat hides inside.
June 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Air fryer salmon and Moroccan couscous salad

#PoliSkyCooks
White dish on grey table with slats. Dish contains a confetti couscous salad topped with flaked salmon.
May 26, 2025 at 1:13 AM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Today’s #FridayReads a day late: Where the Axe is Buried by Ray Naylor.

#BookSky

bookshop.org/p/books/wher...
Cover of a book with a Denver Public Library label. Book is titled Where the Axe is Buried. Purple and orange color scheme with a futuristic city floating over pine trees. When Nikolai had protested that the people would understand what had been done, when one leader spoke and acted so much like the last, Krotov had told him the state was not interested in whether people believed its lies. The state was not looking for plausible deniability. A good lie could always be punctured, with enough work. No, Krotov had said -all they needed was implausible deniability. A lie the population would see through immediately but would have to pretend they believed. Even to themselves. Making themselves believe the bad lie made them com-plicit. And no one would dare speak the truth. Few would dare even think it.
May 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Fantastic @lawandsociety.bsky.social swag this year!

#LSA2025
A grey bag with the text Law and Society Association Chicago 2025, then a series of graphic icons, then Politics of the Body at the Crossroads. icons are: top of courthouse column, bird, disability pride flag, eye, lock, chained hand, Pride flag, uterus, butterfly.
May 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Polenta with fresh corn, sautéed garlic and lemon chard, fried egg, feta, mint. Yum!

#PoliSkyCooks
Teal dish on a picnic table, contains egg, greens, crumbly white cheese.
May 16, 2025 at 1:20 AM
poliscisara.bsky.social
If you see this, post the most recent photo of yourself from your camera roll. - No cheating!
Woman in sweater at night, with red lighting
May 7, 2025 at 2:05 AM
poliscisara.bsky.social
This week’s #FridayReads is this delightful Japanese murder mystery: The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo.

pushkinpress.com/book/the-hon...
Cover of The Honjin Murders with a Denver Public Library sticker. Knife stabbing a white circle on a red background.
April 19, 2025 at 2:37 AM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Tostadas! #RanchoGordo refried midnight black beans, corn and zucchini sauté, and green sauce (cilantro, scallions, lemon juice, yogurt, mayo).

PoliSciCooks
Tostada on an aqua plate. Layers of beans, veggies, and a bright green sauce.
April 17, 2025 at 1:20 AM
poliscisara.bsky.social
An excellent spring dinner with salmon on the side.

smittenkitchen.com/2011/05/spri...

PoliSciCooks
A pale green bowl with cooked salmon on the right side and potato salad with asparagus and herbs on the other side.
April 10, 2025 at 11:42 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
The most impactful book I’ve read in a long time.

www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777485...
There is an impulse in moments like this to appeal to self. interest. To say: These horrors you are allowing to happen, they will come to your doorstep one day; to repeat the famous phrase about who they came for hrst and who they'll come for next. But this appeal cannot, in matter of fact, work. If the people well served by a system that condones such butchery ever truly believed the same butchery could one day be inflicted on them, they'd tear the system down tomorrow. And anyway, by the time such a thing happens, the rest of us will already be dead. No, there is no terrible thing coming for you in some distant future, but know that a terrible thing is happening to you now. You are being asked to kill off a part of you that would otherwise scream in opposition to injustice. You are being asked to dismantle the machinery of a functioning conscience. Who cares if diplomatic expediency prefers you shrug away the sight of dismembered children? Who cares if great distance from the bloodstained middle allows obliviousness. Forget pity, forget even the dead if you must, but at least fight against the theft of your soul.
April 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Long cat in the window
A black cat sits in the window. Outside are plants and to the other side of the cat is a grey pattern curtain.
March 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Our local library has a maker space where kids (or anyone) can use a 3D printer! My daughter made a Hello Kitty figurine today. So cool and fun! Libraries are truly the best.
3D printed Hello Kitty figurine on a black mat. The supports are still attached to the figure.
March 12, 2025 at 1:10 AM
poliscisara.bsky.social
At the @standupforscience.bsky.social rally with my daughter!

#DidThisToday
Woman in green coat holds sign reading “Vaccines Save Lives”. Next to her is a child with an emoji covering their face with a sign that reads “Future Astronomer!” They stand in front of a large white building, trees, and other people.
March 7, 2025 at 11:42 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Two more great kids books for #BlackHistoryMonth! Descriptions and links in the thread below.

#BookSky #KitLit
Covers of two children’s books: Fearless Mary and Bunheads
February 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Down at the state Capitol today to lobby for education funding and worker’s rights with Coloradans for the Common Good. (And I must admit it didn’t fully register before today that lobbying happens in the LOBBY.)

#DidThisToday
The Colorado state Capitol with a bright blue sky behind.
February 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
A lot cheaper than real eggs!
Grocery shelf with chocolate marshmallow eggs on sale for $1.49 a dozen
February 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Dropped off more snacks and hand warmers for striking workers at King Soopers. Colorado folks: don’t cross the picket line, honk to support, and drop off some goodies if you can! ✊

#DidThisToday
Two women stand next to each other. One is holding a sign protesting unfair labor practices by King Soopers.
February 13, 2025 at 9:23 PM
poliscisara.bsky.social
Some #BlackHistoryMonth reads I’ve been enjoying with my daughter. Links and short descriptions in the thread below.
Four picture books laid out on a table: Justice Rising, Faith Ringgold, Sweet Justice, and Overground Railroad
February 13, 2025 at 1:31 AM