Joanna Bourke
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joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke
@joannabourke.bsky.social
1.2K followers 780 following 74 posts

Historian curious about violence, the emotions, and what it means to be human. Currently writing a book on Women and Wine! See joannabourke.com

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Joanna Bourke is a British historian and academic. She is professor of history at Birkbeck, University of London.

Source: Wikipedia
Political science 32%
History 28%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

chanda.blacksky.app
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 7d
Amazing

www.them.us/story/1000-y...
The 1,000 Year History of the Strap-On
From medieval Europe to Zanzibar, the strap-on dildo has deep lore.
www.them.us

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

jacasiegel.bsky.social
Jaclyn A. Siegel, PhD @jacasiegel.bsky.social · 7d
Quick read this weekend: “Sex is a Spectrum” by Augustín Fuentes. Fuentes expertly draws from biological research on non-human animals and human anthropology to reveal the inadequacy of the sex binary for understanding human and non-human biological sex. The book is pretty dense, but a great read.
Holding the book “Sex is a Spectrum”

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Joanna Bourke, Robert Wolfe , and 5 more

pbump.com
Philip Bump @pbump.com · 7d
Good front-paging.

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

jowolff.bsky.social
Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 8d
Rule of thumb. If someone says:

"Look, that's just the way things are"

Chances are they are benefitting from an injustice they don't want to talk about.

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

ctimmermann.bsky.social
Carsten Timmermann @ctimmermann.bsky.social · 10d
Useful reminder here from historian of medicine Fay Bound-Alberti that assumptions that the human body can be repaired like a machine as long as spare parts can be sourced, are misguided.

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Face transplants promised hope. Patients were put through the unthinkable
Twenty years after the first face transplant, patients are dying, data is missing, and the experimental procedure’s future hangs in the balance
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

workingclasshistory.com
Working Class History @workingclasshistory.com · 12d
If you enjoy our social media posts, make sure to subscribe to our flagship podcast, Working Class History! You can join us on Goodpods here:
go.goodpods.com/urAYmN
Working Class History - | Listen on GoodPods™
go.goodpods.com

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

felicitycallard.bsky.social
Felicity Callard @felicitycallard.bsky.social · 18d
Each of these sentences is devastating to read. Worlds upon worlds being destroyed
voicesbend.bsky.social Julie Beth Napolin @voicesbend.bsky.social · 18d
The New School is now a place where students cannot major in History, Anthropology, Sociology, Global Policy & International Affairs, Global Studies, Urban Studies, or Environmental Studies. And more pauses, closures, and mergers coming down the pike this week. The future is uncertain.

Reposted by Joanna Bourke, Juan Cole, Felicity Callard , and 4 more

voicesbend.bsky.social
Julie Beth Napolin @voicesbend.bsky.social · 18d
The New School is now a place where students cannot major in History, Anthropology, Sociology, Global Policy & International Affairs, Global Studies, Urban Studies, or Environmental Studies. And more pauses, closures, and mergers coming down the pike this week. The future is uncertain.

Reposted by Joanna Bourke, Margot C. Finn, Dolly Jørgensen

animalhistories.bsky.social
Animal History Group @animalhistories.bsky.social · 19d
For those who couldn't attend last week, here is @s-pooley.bsky.social's excellent talk on their new book DISCOVERING THE OKAPI.
Out now with Johns Hopkins University Press! 📗🦒
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx1Z...

Reposted by Joanna Bourke, Carmen M. Mangion

heikebauer.bsky.social
Heike Bauer @heikebauer.bsky.social · 20d
This week Wednesday at Birkbeck, right in the heart of Bloomsbury: join us for thought-provoking talk by the brilliant Julia Laite on the history of Newfoundland, home of one of the British Empire’s most remote settlements where one of its most complete genocides took place. Free but pls register
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Annual Graduate Lecture 2025 - Stories at the Edge of Empire: Newfoundland, 1763-1829
Join us for an exploration of ways of mapping and knowing Newfoundland in the 18th & 19th centuries delivered by Julia Laite
www.bbk.ac.uk

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

jowolff.bsky.social
Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 21d
Trouble is, the buck doesn’t stop any more.

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · 22d
Someone who follows me reminded me of a piece I wrote on Niki de Saint Phalle's disturbing 1973 film "Daddy": I have posted it. This is "Joanna-in-a-very-rare-psychoanalytic mood"!
www.joannabourke.com/blog @cultsochistory.bsky.social @crispp.bsky.social @bho.bsky.social @modernistudies.bsky.social

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · 24d
Take a look at the elegant 'Recovery Histories' website for how ideas about trauma and recovery from child sexual abuse have developed over the 2nd half of the C20th: shra.bbk.ac.uk/projects/rec... @wellcometrust.bsky.social @sshmedicine.bsky.social @crispp.bsky.social @cultsochistory.bsky.social
Recovery Histories – Sexual Harms Research Alliance
shra.bbk.ac.uk

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

maryfissell.bsky.social
Mary Fissell @maryfissell.bsky.social · 29d
Delighted to hear that Pushback is on the shelf @ www.staygoldbooks.com! If you are in Pittsburgh, be sure to catch this lovely indy bookshop in Regent Square. Not in Pgh? bit.ly/4iwTsoL
Cover of Pushback on a bookshelf

Reposted by Joanna Bourke, Lesley A. Hall

sarahebull.bsky.social
Sarah Bull @sarahebull.bsky.social · 29d
Really like this article on the circulation of the Marquis de Sade's works in C19 England, looking at everything from adaptation/imitation/influence to two-penny serial parts of Nouvelle Justine.

www.jstor.org/stable/10.56...
The Marquis de Sade in English, 1800–1850 on JSTOR
Will McMorran, The Marquis de Sade in English, 1800–1850, The Modern Language Review, Vol. 112, No. 3 (July 2017), pp. 549-566
www.jstor.org

Reposted by Joanna Bourke, Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn , and 4 more

illuminations.bsky.social
Illuminations @illuminations.bsky.social · Nov 7
WAC wrong-headedness
(that's the BBC Written Archives Centre)

I've brought together the key links for the campaign against the changes which now make independent and exploratory research at WAC impossible - and why this matters.

www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk/wac-wrong-he...
WAC wrong-headedness - Illuminations
John Wyver writes: Some of you will know that I have been very involved over the past months with attempts to reverse the wrong-headed changes to access at the BBC Written Archives Centre (above, with...
www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk

Reposted by Joanna Bourke, Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn , and 1 more

djrgrey.bsky.social
Daniel Grey @djrgrey.bsky.social · Oct 29
Critical introduction to forthcoming "Gender & Segregation" special issue of @genderandhistory.bsky.social by Lisa Hellman, @writinghelena.bsky.social, Rachel Jean-Baptiste & me is now out and #OpenAccess! Issue itself to follow shortly... 🌟

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Gender and Segregation: An Introduction
This introduction to the Special Issue explores the ways in which a gendered analysis illuminates histories of segregation. It argues three key points. First, it is essential to understand segregatio....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

cshhh.bsky.social
CSHHH @cshhh.bsky.social · Oct 27
One last reminder and then I promise I will stop but if you are anywhere near Glasgow on Wednesday do please come celebrate 20 years of the @cshhh.bsky.social with us! Talks from the fantastic Tracey Loughran and @joannabourke.bsky.social, drinks and @unistrathclyde.bsky.social's best snacks!

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · Oct 26
I'm breaking my silence with another cocktail blog as part of my 'Let's Lighten Up' series. It is for a spicy tsiporos (or grappa) cocktail. I enjoy it. Try it!
Here is the recipe: www.joannabourke.com/post/spicy-g...
Spicy Tsipouro (or Grappa) Cocktail
Confession: I am not keen on spicy cocktails, but make an exception for this one. And my Greek friends like it, so that is a good reason to shake away!  4/10 Greek tsipouro or Italian grappa4/10 pear ...
www.joannabourke.com

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · Oct 26
I'm breaking my silence with another cocktail blog as part of my 'Let's Lighten Up' series. It is for a spicy tsiporos (or grappa) cocktail. I enjoy it. Try it!

Reposted by Joanna Bourke, Keith Lilley

conorbrockbank.bsky.social
Conor Brockbank @conorbrockbank.bsky.social · Oct 22
Looking forward to this week’s @qubhistory.bsky.social seminar, co-ordinated with @publichistoryqub.bsky.social, with Dr Laura Aguiar (UU) speaking this week! Snacks and drinks provided as usual. For more information & to sign up online follow the link below below:
www.eventbrite.com/e/qub-histor...

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · Oct 22
I am thrilled to be part of this 20th anniversary of the Centre for the Social History of Health and Healthcare in Glasgow. Will be speaking about 'Violent Women, Femininity, and Medical Professionals'. Would love to see you!

Reposted by Joanna Bourke, Lesley A. Hall, Laura Kelly

sexhistorian.bsky.social
Dr Hannah J. Elizabeth @sexhistorian.bsky.social · Oct 20
Join us on Wednesday afternoon next week for the @cshhh.bsky.social 20th anniversary! We have two fantastic public lectures from Tracey Loughran & @joannabourke.bsky.social! Tell your friends, tell your students and come along! #HistSex #HistMed

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · Oct 14
Looking forward to speaking at the 20th anniversary of the Centre for the Social History of Health & Healthcare, University of Strathclyde, alongside the incredible Tracey Loughran. I speak about violent women and medical profession. Join us, 29th Oct: from 3.30pm: www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/d...

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · Oct 14
Looking forward to speaking at the 20th anniversary of the Centre for the Social History of Health & Healthcare at University of Strathclyde, alongside the incredible Tracey Loughran. I speak about violent women and medical profession. Join us, 29th Oct: from 3.30pm: www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/d...
Centre for the Social History of Health & Healthcare seminar series | University of Strathclyde
www.strath.ac.uk

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

senthorun.bsky.social
Senthorun S. Raj @senthorun.bsky.social · Oct 14
“She affirmed that our lives hold meaning and that we stand on the shoulders of giants like her, whose courageous love and relentless fight assured our right to live with dignity.”

RIP, Miss Major.
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, activist since Stonewall, has died
The LGBTQ+ community — and particularly the transgender community — has lost an iconic activist.
www.advocate.com

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · Oct 13
I will definitely join. Thanks for drawing this to my attention.

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · Oct 11
The Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia has produced a beautiful volume based on the exhibition 'Can We Stop Killing Each Other?' (showing until mid-2026). Recommend the exhibition and book: sainsburycentre.ac.uk/whats-on/can... @sainsburycentre.bsky.social @ueahistory.bsky.social

joannabourke.bsky.social
Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · Oct 8
The production, National Theatre, is incredible. I strongly recommend it. Strong cast, brilliant feminist analysis, plenty of contemporary relevance. A few jarring moments, but far outweighed by a celebration of women, wine, difference, and gods amongst the refugees. Open-mouth awe, with laughter

Reposted by Joanna Bourke

sexhistorian.bsky.social
Dr Hannah J. Elizabeth @sexhistorian.bsky.social · Oct 8
Really looking forward to the @cshhh.bsky.social 20th Anniversary later this month, with Tracey Loughran and @joannabourke.bsky.social giving public lectures to help us celebrate! #HistSex #HistRepro #HistMed