Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

@beckierutherford.bsky.social

1.5K followers 510 following 36 posts

Historian of disability, gender and sexuality in modern Britain | Editor at History Workshop | @historyworkshop.org.uk |

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

I've just re-read every piece in Reimagining Disability to help develop ideas for an article I'm writing on public #DisHist

I feel very lucky to have worked with such an amazing range of authors - helping them develop their pieces for this @historyworkshop.org.uk series has been truly inspiring!

Reimagining Disability

How can we reimagine disability as something more than just a medical identity? Beckie Rutherford introduces a new History Workshop series.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

Julia Laite @julialaite.bsky.social · 9d

I feel this so deeply, for myself and for so many others. The cumulative effect on this nation and its communities is staggering and completely unaccounted for by anyone in power.

Rose Schmits @roseschmits.bsky.social · 9d

It really is just relentless the constant dehumanisation in this country. Prove you deserve to be here. Prove you deserve to be cared for. Prove your gender. Prove you deserve to have human rights. Prove you deserve to stay after a whole decade. It just chisels away at your humanity

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 9d

Just fuck off with this. How about start the conversation by highlighting how much immigrants contribute to the UK - not least by propping up the NHS and social care system!

Also - forced volunteering is not volunteering, it's unpaid labour.

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

Claire Langhamer @clairelanghamer.bsky.social · 16d

Very much this. The IHR really is open to everyone and this includes our common room and our library as well as our wonderful seminars. All free, all welcome!

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 16d

History curious? You don't need to be in London (or the UK) to attend many Institute of Historical Research seminars, although if you're in Bloomsbury you'll enjoy doing so. Most are hybrid (online/in person). They're free, usually fortnightly and open to the public.

Starting this week:

Stay up to date with the upcoming events organised or hosted by the Institute of Historical Research

www.history.ac.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · 13d

If you read one more article this week I would urge it to be this one!

Thank you @echomikeromeo.bsky.social for writing such an important and insightful piece.

History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · 15d

How can trans history facilitate knowledge and solidarity beyond the 'existence' of trans people?

Sam Rutherford @echomikeromeo argues for trans history as a tool of political education, through the history of access to healthcare:

Imagining Trans Futures

Sam Rutherford reflects on how trans histories and historians can work towards building power in the trans community.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

Voices of Motherhood @voicesofmotherhood.bsky.social · 14d

We're pleased to share this call for papers for our upcoming conference!

📍Online via Zoom
🗓️Thursday 5 - Friday 6 February 2026
⏱️Abstract deadline Saturday 1 November 2025

See our website for full details 👇

voicesofmotherhood.wp.worc.ac.uk/index.php/news-and-resources/updates-from-the-project

The Politics of Motherhood: Maternalism, Maternity and Mothering.

Thursday 5 and Friday 6 February 2026, Online Conference.

Ruth Davidson, Anna Muggeridge, Eve Pennington and Beckie Rutherford.

Keynote address by Dr Sarah Crook, Swansea University: ‘Cradles of Discontent: Motherhood as a pathway to activism in modern Britain’.

This conference is supported by a UKRI Future Leaders’ Fellowship ‘Voices of Motherhood’ Project reference MR/Y018184/1 and the University of Worcester.

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

Vivien Chan @inoutofpractice.bsky.social · 22d

It's a huge honour for this piece by Lola and Agnes to be the final addition to the From Place to Place series. As my HW Fellowship draws to a close, I can't think of a more helpful reminder to keep finding new intimacies and continue feeling through my practice. I hope you've enjoyed the series!

History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · 22d

What if history could be 'weightless'?

Lola Olufemi and Agnes Cameron expand on their collaboration, This is a Temporal Landscape You Will Find No Direction Here, a digital assemblage for reimagining our relationship to the radical histories before us:
www.historyworkshop.org.uk/practice-his...

YOU WILL FIND NO DIRECTION HERE

Lola Olufemi and Agnes Cameron revive resistance in the concepts of 'history' and 'technology', through digitally reassembling the archive.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Sep 2

An article that I wrote years ago for the @britishlibrary.bsky.social was sadly lost in the 2023 cyber attack but I've just stumbled across the beautiful illustration that was commissioned for the piece!

Illustration for the British Library, on Feminism and Disability Rights

I was commissioned by the British Library to create a website banner for an article about disabled women's rights activists. Disabled women have long been a force in feminism and disability activism. ...

www.hireillo.com

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

Maayan Aner @maayana.bsky.social · Aug 26

Can anyone recommend readings on *premodern* disability and sexuality, and/or disability and queerness? #disabilitystudies #history #queerhistory #lgbthistory #earlymodern

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · Aug 26

“What would it mean to disabled women if they could read about others navigating the same things they were? What would it feel like if those experiences weren’t hidden but celebrated?”

For September’s British Vogue, I wrote about my new book, health and body image. www.vogue.co.uk/article/vogu...

When Will Fashion Stop Failing Disabled People?

“Existing as a Disabled woman in the world can feel like straddling a constantly moving line: we must prove that we are ‘normal’ while somehow not feeling shame that we are different,” Frances Ryan wr...

www.vogue.co.uk

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · Aug 25

Today is the last day of carnival weekend in Notting Hill!

What can this radical tradition of costume and performance tell us about decolonised approaches to teaching history?

Ife Thompson explores in this piece from the HW archive.

The History of Radical Mas Bands at Notting Hill Carnival

What can the radical tradition of costume & performance at Notting Hill Carnival tell us about a decolonised approach to the teaching of history? Ife Thompson on the People's War Carnival Band

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

Two days left to apply for these roles!

History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · Aug 12

📣We're into the FINAL WEEK for applications for two Editorial Fellowship positions 2025-27!📣

Deadline is midnight 15th August (that's this Friday!), and the fellowships are open to any early career historians. See the post below for the full details:

www.historyworkshop....

Call for Applications: Editorial Fellowships at History Workshop, 2025

History Workshop is advertising two part-time, paid Editorial Fellowships in 2025, open to early career historians.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

'Inventing Japanese Braille' by Wei Yu Wayne Tan

Inventing Japanese Braille

Our understanding of Braille is often shaped by narratives from Western Europe and the United States. Wei Yu Wayne Tan explores the significance of inventing Japanese Braille.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

'Politicising Disability Through Zines' by Richard Amm (@richamm.bsky.social)

Politicising Disability Through Zines

How can zines be used to communicate disability history through a non-medical lens?

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

'Disabled People's Activism in Victorian Britain' by David Turner (@profdavidturner.bsky.social)

Disabled People’s Activism in Victorian Britain

Long before the modern disabled people's movement, people with impairments were claiming disability as a social and political identity.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

'Forming the Chinese Deaf Community' by Shu Wan (@shuwan1.bsky.social)

Forming the Chinese Deaf Community

What happens when we challenge the Eurocentric narrative that has dominated Chinese Deaf history? Shu Wan explores.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

'The Myth of Marginality' by Simon Jarrett

The Myth of Marginality

How did people with learning disabilities live before the asylum? Simon Jarrett interrogates the assumption that this community has always been hidden from mainstream society.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

'Nothing About Us Without Us' by Kirstie Stage

Nothing About Us Without Us

Kirstie Stage considers how 'oral' history can be used to capture Deaf and disabled people's histories and experiences.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

'How do we investigate disability history and heritage?' with the UK Disability History and Heritage Hub (@ukdishisthub.bsky.social)

UK Disability History and Heritage Hub

How do we investigate disability history and heritage?

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

'Tomorrow is Yesterday: Disability in Ancient Egypt' by Alexandra F. Morris (@disabledarchaeo.bsky.social)

Tomorrow is Yesterday: Disability in Ancient Egypt

Alexandra F. Morris reflects on the presence of disability within ancient Egypt and how much can be identified by the lived expertise of disabled researchers.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 13

I've just re-read every piece in Reimagining Disability to help develop ideas for an article I'm writing on public #DisHist

I feel very lucky to have worked with such an amazing range of authors - helping them develop their pieces for this @historyworkshop.org.uk series has been truly inspiring!

Reimagining Disability

How can we reimagine disability as something more than just a medical identity? Beckie Rutherford introduces a new History Workshop series.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Aug 7

it was a pleasure to publish Maisie's brilliant research on craftivism and Greenham women!

History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · Aug 7

How did making banners help women to express themselves and support one another at Greenham Common Peace Camp?

Maisie Jepson (@girlinthewrongera.bsky.social) explores this creative process and explains why motherhood was such a prominent theme.

Motherhood and Banner-making at Greenham Women’s Peace Camp

How did making banners help women to express themselves at Greenham Common Peace Camp? Why was motherhood was such a prominent theme?

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

Glasgow Women's Library @womenslibrary.bsky.social · Jul 29

We know that Covid-19 hasn’t gone away — & we want everyone, including immunocompromised visitors, to feel safe and welcome at GWL.

That’s why every Friday we kindly ask all visitors to wear a mask & observe social distancing. Our staff & volunteers do the same (unless exempt).

Red and green text reads: On Fridays we wear a mask

Black text reads: We know that Covid-19 hasn’t gone away — & we want everyone, including immunocompromised visitors, to feel safe and welcome at GWL.

That’s why every Friday we kindly ask all visitors to wear a mask & observe social distancing. Our staff & volunteers do the same (unless exempt).
Forgot your mask? Don’t worry — we’ll have some available at the door

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Jul 30

it's really great to see that you're continuing this policy - thank you!

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

Women's History Network @womenshistnet.bsky.social · Jul 30

The Women’s History Network is offering one £250 prize for an undergraduate dissertation on any aspect of women’s or gender history (though with a strong focus on women) written during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Find out more! womenshistorynetwork.org/whn-undergra...

#GenderHist #WomensHistory

WHN Undergraduate Dissertation Prize 2024-2025

The Women’s History Network is offering one £250 prize for an undergraduate dissertation on any aspect of women’s or gender history (though with a strong focus on women) written during the 2024-202…

womenshistorynetwork.org

Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her) @beckierutherford.bsky.social · Jul 17

Applying for this job was one of the best decisions I've ever made!

Drop me a message if you're interested and want to learn more about our current team and how it all works.

History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · Jul 16

📣 call for applications 📣
Two part-time, paid Editorial Fellowships at History Workshop.

Our fellowships support early career historians to develop expertise in public, radical and digital history & to gain experience of working in an editorial team.

Please share widely!

www.historyworkshop....

Call for Applications: Editorial Fellowships at History Workshop, 2025

History Workshop is advertising two part-time, paid Editorial Fellowships in 2025, open to early career historians.

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)

Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · Jun 25

If your MP is vocal on women’s rights but less so on disability, send them today’s Guardian story. Tell them charities have warned the disability cuts will have a “devastating” impact on women and could even breach the Equality Act.

Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · Jun 24

The government’s disability cuts will have a “devastating” impact on women’s health and dignity and could breach equality law, experts warn.

The new rules won’t take into account menstruation or some women’s extra toilet requirements.

My exclusive: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Labour’s benefit cuts will have ‘devastating’ impact on disabled women, say charities

Organisations say planned four-point rule will not properly take into account menstruation and other hygiene needs

www.theguardian.com