Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
@hbowescatton.bsky.social
Academic researching 1) inclusion in doctoral education and 2) LGBTQIA+ identities and politics.
Northern, working class, queer, cis feminist. Lifts heavy things for fun. Views mine.
Northern, working class, queer, cis feminist. Lifts heavy things for fun. Views mine.
Just what I needed to read this morning!
Great post by @katherinefirth.bsky.social about "minimum viable writing". Serendipitous that it comes out so soon after I updated You Need A Writing Practice.
This is the kind of thinking that goes into a consistent practice.
researchinsiders.blog/2026/01/29/t...
This is the kind of thinking that goes into a consistent practice.
researchinsiders.blog/2026/01/29/t...
A writing tip from the Minimum Viable Run project
How Shut Up and Write (surprisingly) helped me find a way to sustainably fit running into my life long term through the Minimum Viable Run project
researchinsiders.blog
January 29, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Just what I needed to read this morning!
The light is definitely returning (I can see how dirty the windows are!) and the birds are starting to sing in the mornings...
January 28, 2026 at 3:49 PM
The light is definitely returning (I can see how dirty the windows are!) and the birds are starting to sing in the mornings...
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Re-upping this article in the Guardian Oz, about my research into the extreme harm being caused by Wes Streeting's puberty-blocker ban.
UK mainstream media has collectively ignored my research (as I expected) but not the Guardian Australia.
Needless the UK and US Guardian's didn't share it.
UK mainstream media has collectively ignored my research (as I expected) but not the Guardian Australia.
Needless the UK and US Guardian's didn't share it.
Puberty blocker bans in Queensland and NZ risk extreme harm to trans youth, UK expert warns
Sociologist who surveyed effect of 2024 UK ban says denial of gender-affirming care has left trans and non-binary children in ‘abject misery and severe distress’
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Re-upping this article in the Guardian Oz, about my research into the extreme harm being caused by Wes Streeting's puberty-blocker ban.
UK mainstream media has collectively ignored my research (as I expected) but not the Guardian Australia.
Needless the UK and US Guardian's didn't share it.
UK mainstream media has collectively ignored my research (as I expected) but not the Guardian Australia.
Needless the UK and US Guardian's didn't share it.
Really interesting evidence café discussions about priorities for research skills training over the next five years. #RCHlaunch
January 27, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Really interesting evidence café discussions about priorities for research skills training over the next five years. #RCHlaunch
PVC Mark Brandon @iceymark.bsky.social introducing the day #RCHlaunch
January 27, 2026 at 10:14 AM
PVC Mark Brandon @iceymark.bsky.social introducing the day #RCHlaunch
100+ orgs represented today at #RCHlaunch! Looking forward to lots of interesting social science conversations!
January 27, 2026 at 10:11 AM
100+ orgs represented today at #RCHlaunch! Looking forward to lots of interesting social science conversations!
Excited to be on campus @openuniversity.bsky.social for the launch of the national Research Capability Hub #RCHlaunch
January 27, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Excited to be on campus @openuniversity.bsky.social for the launch of the national Research Capability Hub #RCHlaunch
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
“Operating independently”
You mean like when Liz Truss parachuted in a ‘gender critical’ transphobes to EHRC Chair & board roles?
Or when Bridget Phillipson did the same, against the Women & Equalities Committee & Human Rights Committee advice? 🤔
You mean like when Liz Truss parachuted in a ‘gender critical’ transphobes to EHRC Chair & board roles?
Or when Bridget Phillipson did the same, against the Women & Equalities Committee & Human Rights Committee advice? 🤔
January 27, 2026 at 9:24 AM
“Operating independently”
You mean like when Liz Truss parachuted in a ‘gender critical’ transphobes to EHRC Chair & board roles?
Or when Bridget Phillipson did the same, against the Women & Equalities Committee & Human Rights Committee advice? 🤔
You mean like when Liz Truss parachuted in a ‘gender critical’ transphobes to EHRC Chair & board roles?
Or when Bridget Phillipson did the same, against the Women & Equalities Committee & Human Rights Committee advice? 🤔
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
since Jonathan Haidt is spreading "social contagion" pseudoscience, time to re-up these two essays. "All the Evidence Against Transgender Social Contagion" links to research studies showing otherwise & how the theory was invented by anti-trans parents:
juliaserano.medium.com/all-the-evid...
juliaserano.medium.com/all-the-evid...
All the Evidence Against Transgender Social Contagion
Plus Thoughts on Why People Continue to Embrace This Zombie Theory
juliaserano.medium.com
April 1, 2024 at 3:10 PM
since Jonathan Haidt is spreading "social contagion" pseudoscience, time to re-up these two essays. "All the Evidence Against Transgender Social Contagion" links to research studies showing otherwise & how the theory was invented by anti-trans parents:
juliaserano.medium.com/all-the-evid...
juliaserano.medium.com/all-the-evid...
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Please share this widely…
The EHRC is an anti-rights group.
An Independent EHRC is one way we can fight back.
The EHRC is an anti-rights group.
An Independent EHRC is one way we can fight back.
This is an account set up by @natacha.bsky.social to facilitate setting up a new group.
I regard the existing EHRC as not independent and consequently not legitimate. So I am looking to recruit members of an independent EHRC who can fulfill its functions with genuine integrity and…
1/4
I regard the existing EHRC as not independent and consequently not legitimate. So I am looking to recruit members of an independent EHRC who can fulfill its functions with genuine integrity and…
1/4
January 17, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Please share this widely…
The EHRC is an anti-rights group.
An Independent EHRC is one way we can fight back.
The EHRC is an anti-rights group.
An Independent EHRC is one way we can fight back.
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
How much more in your face can it be?
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
January 17, 2026 at 9:16 PM
How much more in your face can it be?
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
FOI reveals that within the first week in office, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson requested a meeting with Sex Matters to discuss "mutual priorities and ways to work together going forward"
January 17, 2026 at 3:53 AM
FOI reveals that within the first week in office, Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson requested a meeting with Sex Matters to discuss "mutual priorities and ways to work together going forward"
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
There's some nice analysis here:
bsky.app/profile/tany...
bsky.app/profile/tany...
Full judgement can be found here - www.judiciary.uk/judgments/ms...
And this is my critique of it - ajustsociety.substack.com/p/when-disco...
And this is my critique of it - ajustsociety.substack.com/p/when-disco...
When Discomfort Becomes Law: The Dangerous Logic of the Darlington Nurses Case
How an employment tribunal turned prejudice into principle and left trans workers with nowhere to go
ajustsociety.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:48 PM
There's some nice analysis here:
bsky.app/profile/tany...
bsky.app/profile/tany...
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
News Stories Shape Public Perception of Trans Lives. We’re Keeping Score.
Jan 15, 2026
Introducing the 2026 Trans News Tracking Project from Assigned Media.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
Jan 15, 2026
Introducing the 2026 Trans News Tracking Project from Assigned Media.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
News Stories Shape Public Perception of Trans Lives. We’re Keeping Score. — Assigned
Our Trans News Tracking Project seeks to catalogue bias at major news organizations in the US.
www.assignedmedia.org
January 15, 2026 at 10:34 PM
News Stories Shape Public Perception of Trans Lives. We’re Keeping Score.
Jan 15, 2026
Introducing the 2026 Trans News Tracking Project from Assigned Media.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
Jan 15, 2026
Introducing the 2026 Trans News Tracking Project from Assigned Media.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Participants in Dr Horton's study described an invasive, abusive approach in NHS England's child/adolescent gender clinics (new and old), with some naming these as conversion practices.
![A young person who had attended sessions at the new gender service described it as “probably the worst thing I’ve ever experienced”. Families emphasized the quantity of inappropriate questions they were being asked, that one parent described as “a barrage of questions”. Another parent felt their parenting was being probed, looking for negative parental influence on a child’s identity:
We were there in total three hours… It was just really weird. They were there to judge me. They were there to try and find out what they could about me and how I’ve brought [adolescent] up, and whether I’ve made her be like this. I felt like it was all questions about [adolescent]’s life, like right from pregnancy right up until that current point, but it wasn’t questions about what could help them. It was all probing questions, really. I don’t like confrontation, and I was petrified being there anyway, and I should have called them out on asking questions like that… but didn’t have the confidence with all those people.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:imuudyzzfj56y3lxiy35kop2/bafkreifs3mt6zoei5hnmrvcih7ugcckwgmisltklk5wzbt3nzxdjegym6a@jpeg)
January 8, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Participants in Dr Horton's study described an invasive, abusive approach in NHS England's child/adolescent gender clinics (new and old), with some naming these as conversion practices.
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Participants in Dr Horton's study contrasted abuse under GIDS and the new Children and Young People’s Gender Service with the affirmative approach of WellBN GP practice, which provided real space for exploration and reflection.
WellBN is now under NHS investigation for providing this care.
WellBN is now under NHS investigation for providing this care.
![Interviewees reflected upon a very different approach to being questioned within affirmative services. One parent commented that “I think she probably trusted [affirmative GP] more because he was trans—That first appointment was extraordinary because [adolescent], I think, felt seen for the first time, felt heard… and I felt like he was asking questions that were pertinent”. Several parents felt that an affirmative service created a safe space where trans adolescents could speak honestly about their feelings and their worries. One parent described seeing their child open-up more in one affirmative appointment, than in 2 years in a non-affirming service:
I was just quite blown away. I was like, Wow. We sat in that office for 45 minutes. I came out like almost puzzled. I’m like years. I was almost ** angry when I left, about the Tavistock again. In f****** years. Never once has somebody sat down and talked to my daughter like that, like she’s a person and it’s not an interrogation. It’s just a holistic health approach to a trans young person. It was wonderful actually.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:imuudyzzfj56y3lxiy35kop2/bafkreicj4pu3riwh4ubicpfecwycvcu72365xqx6g5t3ujnfvkvtlhftpq@jpeg)
January 8, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Participants in Dr Horton's study contrasted abuse under GIDS and the new Children and Young People’s Gender Service with the affirmative approach of WellBN GP practice, which provided real space for exploration and reflection.
WellBN is now under NHS investigation for providing this care.
WellBN is now under NHS investigation for providing this care.
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Incredibly important new study from Cal Horton @fiercemum.bsky.social - the first to look at England's post-Cass child/adolescent gender clinics. Dr Horton found patients and families are being actively harmed, with one young person describing appointments as "the worst thing I’ve ever experienced”.
“The worst thing I’ve ever experienced” – comparing experiences of affirmative and non-affirmative healthcare provision for trans adolescents in the UK
Within trans youth healthcare two fundamentally different models of care persist, with a significant difference between affirmative and non-affirmative healthcare services. To date there has been l...
doi.org
January 8, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Incredibly important new study from Cal Horton @fiercemum.bsky.social - the first to look at England's post-Cass child/adolescent gender clinics. Dr Horton found patients and families are being actively harmed, with one young person describing appointments as "the worst thing I’ve ever experienced”.
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Yet another huge contract, awarded without any competitive bidding process, to Wes Streeting's favourite NHS supplier, the Hard Right US surveillance tech specialists Palantir, for military decision making capability.
Palantir lands biggest ever UK defense deal
The £240 million contract with the Ministry of Defence has renewed a debate about Britain’s dependence on American technology.
www.politico.eu
January 6, 2026 at 7:16 AM
Yet another huge contract, awarded without any competitive bidding process, to Wes Streeting's favourite NHS supplier, the Hard Right US surveillance tech specialists Palantir, for military decision making capability.
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
We sent a formal complaint to the BBC over its repeated misgendering of trans people and use of terms like “biological male”. We’ve also written to the Women and Equalities Committee, DCMS, and the Minister for Women and Equalities. Now we need community action.
📢We now need your help! 1/3
📢We now need your help! 1/3
We’ve today formally written to multiple public bodies about BBC reporting on transgender people.
Here’s who we’ve contacted and why. 1/6
Here’s who we’ve contacted and why. 1/6
January 2, 2026 at 4:34 AM
We sent a formal complaint to the BBC over its repeated misgendering of trans people and use of terms like “biological male”. We’ve also written to the Women and Equalities Committee, DCMS, and the Minister for Women and Equalities. Now we need community action.
📢We now need your help! 1/3
📢We now need your help! 1/3
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
📢 This is a call to anyone able (safeguarding is paramount).
We now need your help!
We need everyone to:
• Email your MP using our template
• Sign our open letter calling out “biological sex” framing as a slur
1/🧵
We now need your help!
We need everyone to:
• Email your MP using our template
• Sign our open letter calling out “biological sex” framing as a slur
1/🧵
January 2, 2026 at 6:28 AM
📢 This is a call to anyone able (safeguarding is paramount).
We now need your help!
We need everyone to:
• Email your MP using our template
• Sign our open letter calling out “biological sex” framing as a slur
1/🧵
We now need your help!
We need everyone to:
• Email your MP using our template
• Sign our open letter calling out “biological sex” framing as a slur
1/🧵
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Worked hard to get this into Guardian Oz & big props to @fiercemum.bsky.social for setting it up & Melissa Davey for publishing it. She will doubtless get loads of hassle from transphobes for it, but it needs to be out there.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
Puberty blocker bans in Queensland and NZ risk extreme harm to trans youth, UK expert warns
Sociologist who surveyed effect of 2024 UK ban says denial of gender-affirming care has left trans and non-binary children in ‘abject misery and severe distress’
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Worked hard to get this into Guardian Oz & big props to @fiercemum.bsky.social for setting it up & Melissa Davey for publishing it. She will doubtless get loads of hassle from transphobes for it, but it needs to be out there.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Please share this widely. There have been 13 peer-reviewed critiques of the Cass Review, to the extent that academia regards it as pseudoscience, but so far all have been subject to organised censorship by mainstream media. This is the first time one has broken through. Oz Guardian only still.
Worked hard to get this into Guardian Oz & big props to @fiercemum.bsky.social for setting it up & Melissa Davey for publishing it. She will doubtless get loads of hassle from transphobes for it, but it needs to be out there.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
Puberty blocker bans in Queensland and NZ risk extreme harm to trans youth, UK expert warns
Sociologist who surveyed effect of 2024 UK ban says denial of gender-affirming care has left trans and non-binary children in ‘abject misery and severe distress’
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Please share this widely. There have been 13 peer-reviewed critiques of the Cass Review, to the extent that academia regards it as pseudoscience, but so far all have been subject to organised censorship by mainstream media. This is the first time one has broken through. Oz Guardian only still.
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
@kevinmckenna.co.uk this needs bring up in the house. This can not be ignored any longer. @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social this should be major news on a podcast. @zackpolanski.bsky.social the greens should be screaming from the rafters about this too. You too @libdems.org.uk
Please share this widely. There have been 13 peer-reviewed critiques of the Cass Review, to the extent that academia regards it as pseudoscience, but so far all have been subject to organised censorship by mainstream media. This is the first time one has broken through. Oz Guardian only still.
Worked hard to get this into Guardian Oz & big props to @fiercemum.bsky.social for setting it up & Melissa Davey for publishing it. She will doubtless get loads of hassle from transphobes for it, but it needs to be out there.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
Puberty Blocker bans harm trans kids, no-one should pretend they don’t.
December 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM
@kevinmckenna.co.uk this needs bring up in the house. This can not be ignored any longer. @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social this should be major news on a podcast. @zackpolanski.bsky.social the greens should be screaming from the rafters about this too. You too @libdems.org.uk
Reposted by Helen Bowes-Catton (she/her)
Any attempt at centralisation without significant investment will cause serious harm to trans patients. We are also concerned that some GPs and other practioners may misuse the review as an excuse to unnecessarily withdraw longstanding care – especially bridging and shared care provision.
December 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Any attempt at centralisation without significant investment will cause serious harm to trans patients. We are also concerned that some GPs and other practioners may misuse the review as an excuse to unnecessarily withdraw longstanding care – especially bridging and shared care provision.