Rachel Mesch
@rmesch.bsky.social
I teach French lit sometimes in English @ Boston U. Also history, visual, popular & material culture, gender & sex at the fin de siècle, photography & mass press. Books: Before Trans; Having it All in the Belle Époque; The Hysteric’s Revenge.
Pinned
Rachel Mesch
@rmesch.bsky.social
· Dec 12
What Do We Do With Monstrous Mentors?
It’s time for a reckoning.
www.chronicle.com
I wrote a piece about a certain flavor of academic abuse. I have carried parts of this story for upwards of 25 yrs, & I’m grateful to @chronicle.com for helping me to tell it.
#AcademicSky #HigherEd #PHDchat
www.chronicle.com/article/what...
#AcademicSky #HigherEd #PHDchat
www.chronicle.com/article/what...
The International Olympic Committee ruled that an image of Toussaint Louverture, born into slavery and and leader of the Haitian Revolution, on Haiti’s uniforms violated Olympic rules barring political symbolism
Haiti's Winter Olympics team shines a positive light even as IOC removes patriot from uniforms
Haiti is making a statement at the Milan Cortina Winter Games with two athletes proudly representing the nation.
apnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
Really nuts how many men were like "Me Too went too far, and I need to email Jeffrey Epstein about it."
February 5, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Really nuts how many men were like "Me Too went too far, and I need to email Jeffrey Epstein about it."
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
Fellow chairs, what are your practical tips for not spending all day everyday batting away emails? I need some strategies to get my actual work done
January 23, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Fellow chairs, what are your practical tips for not spending all day everyday batting away emails? I need some strategies to get my actual work done
NCFS Unbound returns 1/23 with @srocher.bsky.social Susan Hiner in convo with @addressingart.bsky.social Justine De Young about her fab new book The Art of Parisian Chic 🔥
Register here!
southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Register here!
southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: NCFS Unbound 6_4 Justine De Young with Susan Hiner. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Justine De Young talks about her new book "The Art of Parisian Chic: Modern Women and Modern Artists in Impressionist Paris" with Susan Hiner (Bloomsbury, 2025)
southalabama.zoom.us
January 13, 2026 at 5:40 PM
NCFS Unbound returns 1/23 with @srocher.bsky.social Susan Hiner in convo with @addressingart.bsky.social Justine De Young about her fab new book The Art of Parisian Chic 🔥
Register here!
southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Register here!
southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
Merry Christmas! My state of the field essay on the history of sexuality in Modern France was published in open access yesterday by @frenchhistory.bsky.social. Check it out at academic.oup.com/fh/advance-a...
Review article: the history of sexuality in modern France
Sometimes, when I explain that my research expertise lies in the history of sexuality in modern France, the follow-up is some version of a question: ‘so I
academic.oup.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Merry Christmas! My state of the field essay on the history of sexuality in Modern France was published in open access yesterday by @frenchhistory.bsky.social. Check it out at academic.oup.com/fh/advance-a...
Moral dilemma alert: I want to cancel my subscription but getting the paper version of the Sunday times on Saturday is how I know I’m a real New Yorker. Pls advise!
#NYTimes
#NYTimes
November 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Moral dilemma alert: I want to cancel my subscription but getting the paper version of the Sunday times on Saturday is how I know I’m a real New Yorker. Pls advise!
#NYTimes
#NYTimes
#FrHistory #LGBTQ🏳️🌈📚🗃️
Please join us on Friday to hear @hannahfrydman.bsky.social speak with Raisa Rexer about her brilliant new book, Between the Sheets: Sexuality, Classified Advertising, and the Moral Threat to Press Freedom in France!!! 🔥🔥🔥
September 30, 2025 at 2:18 PM
#FrHistory #LGBTQ🏳️🌈📚🗃️
Please join us on Friday to hear @hannahfrydman.bsky.social speak with Raisa Rexer about her brilliant new book, Between the Sheets: Sexuality, Classified Advertising, and the Moral Threat to Press Freedom in France!!! 🔥🔥🔥
September 30, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Please join us on Friday to hear @hannahfrydman.bsky.social speak with Raisa Rexer about her brilliant new book, Between the Sheets: Sexuality, Classified Advertising, and the Moral Threat to Press Freedom in France!!! 🔥🔥🔥
I’m not on the social much these days but just need everyone to appreciate the skills of @kelliegiordano.bsky.social phd student and influenceuse ❤️ www.instagram.com/p/DN3EwoN2mF...
frenchatbu on Instagram: "🇫🇷✨ “They say Boston isn’t Paris… but maybe Paris just hasn’t seen the BU French department yet. 💌 #EmilyInBoston #BUFrench” -Em…"
🇫🇷✨ “They say Boston isn’t Paris… but maybe Paris just hasn’t seen the BU French department yet. 💌 #EmilyInBoston #BUFrench” -Emily Cooper
www.instagram.com
August 28, 2025 at 12:31 AM
I’m not on the social much these days but just need everyone to appreciate the skills of @kelliegiordano.bsky.social phd student and influenceuse ❤️ www.instagram.com/p/DN3EwoN2mF...
Just a reminder, for any of you kids who need to see it, good writing does not emerge seamlessly in the first draft. Feedback is the best and moving everything around is often part of the process.
File under things you can’t learn from chat GPT
File under things you can’t learn from chat GPT
July 1, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Just a reminder, for any of you kids who need to see it, good writing does not emerge seamlessly in the first draft. Feedback is the best and moving everything around is often part of the process.
File under things you can’t learn from chat GPT
File under things you can’t learn from chat GPT
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
Fascism so small it fits in your pocket?? When T-Mobile launches "T-Satellite" to the public in July, Musk could rake in billions. They don't expect anyone to make it a big deal. Oops. Sign our petition and tell them to drop Starlink #Starlinktakedown #teslatakedown actionnetwork.org/petitions/t-...
T-Mobile: Stop Funding Musk
When T-Mobile launches its “T-Satellite” program in partnership with Starlink this July, Elon Musk stands to gain billions. We’re calling on T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert and the company’s Board of Direct...
actionnetwork.org
June 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Fascism so small it fits in your pocket?? When T-Mobile launches "T-Satellite" to the public in July, Musk could rake in billions. They don't expect anyone to make it a big deal. Oops. Sign our petition and tell them to drop Starlink #Starlinktakedown #teslatakedown actionnetwork.org/petitions/t-...
Wrapping up our fifth season of NCFS Unbound with a conversation you don’t want to miss between Marlene Daut and Gregory Pierrot about MD’s new book, The First & Last King of Haiti. This Friday 2:30 EST 🗃️🎓#FrHistory
southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: NCFS Unbound 5 Episode 7: Marlene Daut with Gregory Pierrot. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Marlene Daut discusses her book The First and Last King of Haiti with Gregory Pierrot
southalabama.zoom.us
May 14, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Wrapping up our fifth season of NCFS Unbound with a conversation you don’t want to miss between Marlene Daut and Gregory Pierrot about MD’s new book, The First & Last King of Haiti. This Friday 2:30 EST 🗃️🎓#FrHistory
southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Question from a Fr editor : En quoi le port du vêtement masculin par Dieulafoy est-il dans ce cas précis l’expression d’une identification trans avant l’heure, quand cela n’est pas le cas d’autres individus portant le vêtement masculin à la fin du XIXe?
Ummmm where do I start
Ummmm where do I start
April 29, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Question from a Fr editor : En quoi le port du vêtement masculin par Dieulafoy est-il dans ce cas précis l’expression d’une identification trans avant l’heure, quand cela n’est pas le cas d’autres individus portant le vêtement masculin à la fin du XIXe?
Ummmm where do I start
Ummmm where do I start
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
The man at left separated the mother and baby at right. The mother is now in Venezuela. Baby daughter, in foster care in the US, exact location unknown.
Dad? He's in CECOT prison without trial — because he had tattoos.
Dad? He's in CECOT prison without trial — because he had tattoos.
April 29, 2025 at 8:02 PM
The man at left separated the mother and baby at right. The mother is now in Venezuela. Baby daughter, in foster care in the US, exact location unknown.
Dad? He's in CECOT prison without trial — because he had tattoos.
Dad? He's in CECOT prison without trial — because he had tattoos.
Happy to be at Harvard (our new hero??) on a beautiful spring day
Intellectual community is so precious- trying to just appreciate it and take advantage of it whenever I can #FrHistory 🗃️
Intellectual community is so precious- trying to just appreciate it and take advantage of it whenever I can #FrHistory 🗃️
April 25, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Happy to be at Harvard (our new hero??) on a beautiful spring day
Intellectual community is so precious- trying to just appreciate it and take advantage of it whenever I can #FrHistory 🗃️
Intellectual community is so precious- trying to just appreciate it and take advantage of it whenever I can #FrHistory 🗃️
Is social media part of the problem? I’m sick of electeds & leaders saying “we must stand up to this” as if by posting about it they are doing something.
besties, show, don’t tell! Like, we know it’s fascism, now lead us the way out!!
besties, show, don’t tell! Like, we know it’s fascism, now lead us the way out!!
April 17, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Is social media part of the problem? I’m sick of electeds & leaders saying “we must stand up to this” as if by posting about it they are doing something.
besties, show, don’t tell! Like, we know it’s fascism, now lead us the way out!!
besties, show, don’t tell! Like, we know it’s fascism, now lead us the way out!!
Boston area folks, I will be speaking on Thurs 4/24 on what I call “trans orientalisms” at Harvard’s Mahindra Humanities Center
mahindrahumanities.harvard.edu/event/trans-...
mahindrahumanities.harvard.edu/event/trans-...
Trans Orientalisms: Home Theater and Cultural Cosplay at the Fin de Siècle | Mahindra Humanities Center
mahindrahumanities.harvard.edu
April 15, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Boston area folks, I will be speaking on Thurs 4/24 on what I call “trans orientalisms” at Harvard’s Mahindra Humanities Center
mahindrahumanities.harvard.edu/event/trans-...
mahindrahumanities.harvard.edu/event/trans-...
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
New — ICE will release the mother and children they shackled and unlawfully abducted from Sackets Harbor, NY in late March after relentless pressure from the town.
I write how the incredible outcome of this horrifying story should give fuel us to fight back: www.thehandbasket.co/p/sackets-ha...
I write how the incredible outcome of this horrifying story should give fuel us to fight back: www.thehandbasket.co/p/sackets-ha...
April 7, 2025 at 8:16 PM
New — ICE will release the mother and children they shackled and unlawfully abducted from Sackets Harbor, NY in late March after relentless pressure from the town.
I write how the incredible outcome of this horrifying story should give fuel us to fight back: www.thehandbasket.co/p/sackets-ha...
I write how the incredible outcome of this horrifying story should give fuel us to fight back: www.thehandbasket.co/p/sackets-ha...
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
🔥 📝 FOLKS — I'm working on a piece for Slate about the NEH cuts. If you've been affected in ANY way and would be willing to talk with me, please message me! I would love to learn more and include your story. katina [at] katinarogers [dot] com
#humanities #neh #education #highered
#humanities #neh #education #highered
April 7, 2025 at 11:05 PM
🔥 📝 FOLKS — I'm working on a piece for Slate about the NEH cuts. If you've been affected in ANY way and would be willing to talk with me, please message me! I would love to learn more and include your story. katina [at] katinarogers [dot] com
#humanities #neh #education #highered
#humanities #neh #education #highered
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
A few tips for NEH grantees:
1) if you've spent money on an awarded grant but have not yet drawn down the funds, make sure to submit the paperwork to drawn down funds ASAP.
2) the NYTimes article suggests that "DOGE" might cancel awards. If you receive an email from DOGE cancelling your NEH award,
1) if you've spent money on an awarded grant but have not yet drawn down the funds, make sure to submit the paperwork to drawn down funds ASAP.
2) the NYTimes article suggests that "DOGE" might cancel awards. If you receive an email from DOGE cancelling your NEH award,
April 2, 2025 at 10:09 PM
A few tips for NEH grantees:
1) if you've spent money on an awarded grant but have not yet drawn down the funds, make sure to submit the paperwork to drawn down funds ASAP.
2) the NYTimes article suggests that "DOGE" might cancel awards. If you receive an email from DOGE cancelling your NEH award,
1) if you've spent money on an awarded grant but have not yet drawn down the funds, make sure to submit the paperwork to drawn down funds ASAP.
2) the NYTimes article suggests that "DOGE" might cancel awards. If you receive an email from DOGE cancelling your NEH award,
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
Please do this.
I just wrote to all of my congressional representatives to plead them to support the NEH, for everyone, for public history, for scholarship, for teaching, for all of it. I used this widget: very easy, it has a template, and automatically looks up the emails of your representatives. p2a.co/DdtlGIT
URGENT: Save the NEH
p2a.co
April 3, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Please do this.
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
Some voters got mad about people listing their pronouns, so now we're sending law-abiding, legal immigrants to torture prisons and being hit with the largest middle class tax hike in at least 40 years.
April 2, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Some voters got mad about people listing their pronouns, so now we're sending law-abiding, legal immigrants to torture prisons and being hit with the largest middle class tax hike in at least 40 years.
Reposted by Rachel Mesch
30 years ago a professor explained tariffs to me as “economic sanctions a country puts on itself” and that stuck with me.
April 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
30 years ago a professor explained tariffs to me as “economic sanctions a country puts on itself” and that stuck with me.
You guys! This Friday will be an epic episode of NCFS Unbound! Ruth Iskin in conversation with Vanessa Schwartz! Register here southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: NCFS Unbound 5 Episode 6: Ruth E. Iskin with Vanessa Schwartz. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Ruth E. Iskin talks about her book Mary Cassatt between Paris & New York with Vanessa Schwartz
southalabama.zoom.us
April 2, 2025 at 9:18 PM
You guys! This Friday will be an epic episode of NCFS Unbound! Ruth Iskin in conversation with Vanessa Schwartz! Register here southalabama.zoom.us/meeting/regi...