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Isabel Sykes

@isabel-sykes.bsky.social

130 followers 250 following 32 posts

AHRC-funded PhD student in Sociology at Brunel, University of London. Based in West Yorkshire. Current research in class, domestic labour, and social media. (She/Her)

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Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Nov 15

My article 'From 'girlboss' to #stayathomegirlfriend: the romanticisation of domestic labour on TikTok' has recently been published in the European Journal of Cultural Studies. It's open access🌶️🌟

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · 15d

Looking forward to going up to @uniofstandrews.bsky.social next week to speak at the Union Debating Society! 🫡

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · 20d

I've really enjoyed making these worksheets. The Uncommon Sense podcast is such a great resource for making sociological research accessible to the general public, and a fab teaching aid! 💡💖

The Sociological Review Foundation @thesociologicalreview.org · 21d

We are excited to announce the launch of #lessonplans tied to our #Uncommonsense #podcast. Each highlights relevant AQA & Cambridge OCR modules, and shares recommended reading. You can find all episodes listed in this news story, here. Engage! Enjoy! Share!
thesociologicalreview.org/announcement...

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Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · 28d

I had such a good time at the @meccsa2025.bsky.social conference last week! Highlights include presenting some ideas on class, domestic labour and the mental load, @nweidhase.bsky.social's fab paper on corporate queens and girlbosses, and winning the pub quiz with @meccsawomensnet.bsky.social pals!

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Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Sep 5

So lovely catching up with the Women's Network @meccsawomensnet.bsky.social at the MeCCSA conference today! Excited for some more events, workshops and networking in the new term 🥰 @meccsa.bsky.social

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Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jul 22

A tough read to stomach, but an essential one. 'Men Who Hate Women' still has me reeling so I knew I had to read this one and it's just as mindblowing.

Reposted by Isabel Sykes

Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · Jul 22

Probably about 35%+ of all university Humanities posts will be closed. Those subjects will be taught in far fewer universities. There will be a lot less modular choice within those degrees that remain. A large-scale but unannounced policy change from central govt, with far-reaching implications.

Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · Jul 22

This is why I always say a quarter to a third of HE History *posts* will go (it will likely be more than that now): you might not get sacked, but you definitely won't be replaced, so the profession will shrink radically. Baked in now. (2/2) www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-univ...

UK university job cuts put at 20,000 after full impact ‘hidden’

Number of roles affected could be almost double previous estimates when voluntary schemes and hiring freezes factored in, say researchers

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jul 9

Anyone got any reading recs about 'crunchy mums/moms' or the 'crunchy to far-right pipeline'?

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jul 1

It was so lovely to meet you too, and that's so kind of you!! Can't wait to read more of your work 🥰❣️

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 30

Absolutely, me too! 😍

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 30

Great episode!

Keir Milburn @kmilb.bsky.social · Jun 30

This month's #ACFM examines cleaning. What drives changing attitudes to cleanliness? What is dirt? Why do we spend as long on house work today as 100 years ago despite technology like washing machines? Music from X-Ray Specs, The B-52s, and more. @novaramedia.com
novaramedia.com/2025/06/29/a...

Is Cleanliness the Most Powerful Taboo? | Novara Media

Who's doing the dishes in the communist utopia? ACFM investigate the politics of cleaning and cleanliness.

novaramedia.com

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Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 30

We'll have to have a chat and I'll catch you up on all things tradwife 🤪🥰

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 30

*co-panellists! It's been a long weekend 🤣

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 30

Well you had a captive audience non-the-less! Would be great to see you at the next one 🥰

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 29

I had the pleasure of presenting my work on romanticised depictions of domestic labour on TikTok this afternoon, alongside fabulous co-pannelists @effietheant.bsky.social and @dearstefania.bsky.social. We had a great Q&A session as well, thank you both! ❣️👌

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Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 29

So many great panels at @cp25atlanta.bsky.social this weekend but one of my favourites has to be the one this morning featuring amazing papers from @kmsweeneyromero.bsky.social , @krystenstein.bsky.social , Angel Trazo and Stephanie Pérez - Wow wow thank you all so much 💖📺

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Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 27

Just arrived at @cp25atlanta.bsky.social! Loving sunny Atlanta so far, and very excited for all the panels this weekend 😎

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 20

Technecast are now on Bluesky! I was so pleased to be part of this latest episode welcoming Viveca back to talk about her PhD on the practice of indigo dyeing🌼

Give us a listen on Spotify for more podcast eps showcasing PGR work from across the arts and humanities!

Technecast @technecast.bsky.social · Jun 20

Hello! We are an academic podcasting community run by Techne-funded PhD students. We showcase academic research, works in progress, and practice-based projects from across the arts and humanities, primarily platforming work by fellow PGRs.

Our latest episode - open.spotify.com/episode/6kC5...

Viveca Mellegård: Nature - An Apprenticeship in Indigo Dyeing

Technecast · Episode

open.spotify.com

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Jun 9

Thrilled to have my article on TikTok tradwives and stay-at-home girlfriends appear in this issue alongside some amazing scholars 🌟🥰

European Journal of Cultural Studies @ejcs-journal.bsky.social · Jun 5

Our new issue (28:3) is out now! Read it on our website.

journals.sagepub.com

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Apr 15

I'm so glad I pre-ordered @emmahcasey.bsky.social's new book! Absolutely hoovering up (pun intended) these incredibly timely insights as I write up my thesis on mediated narratives of domestic labour 👌

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Reposted by Isabel Sykes

Safety Nets @safety-nets.bsky.social · Apr 7

Are you:
✅ Living in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
✅ A parent or carer of a child under 18?
✅ Receiving at least one UK benefit (e.g. Universal Credit, PIP, Tax Credits) or asylum support?

If so – we’d love to hear from you.

safetynets.study/take-part

Safety nets — Social security for families in a devolved UK

This project will explore the extent of the devolution of social security within the UK and the realities, risks, and opportunities this poses for families with dependent children.

safetynets.study

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Reposted by Isabel Sykes

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Mar 14

What it will take to reduce child poverty in the UK?

The most effective step would be to scrap the benefit cap and the two-child limit.

@alexclegg.bsky.social explains ⤵️

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Reposted by Isabel Sykes

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Mar 14

'The role of the Arts and Humanities Research Fellow will be to conduct primary and secondary research on the impact of arts and humanities research on parliamentary scrutiny, culminating in the production of a report for policy audiences, & an academic journal article for the research community.'

Arts and Humanities Research Fellow at House of Commons

Start your UK & international job search for academic jobs, research jobs, science jobs and managerial jobs in leading universities and top...

www.jobs.ac.uk

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Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Mar 14

Please consider signing to support the #STOPtheCUTS campaign against the current decimation of HE. As a PhD student about to enter the academic job market, the horrific cuts to staff currently underway at Brunel and elsewhere make me despair. stopthecutspetition.org.uk

stopthecutspetition

stopthecutspetition.org.uk

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Mar 12

So excited that my paper 'Clean girls, tradwives, and stay-at-home girlfriends: the romanticisation of domestic labour on TikTok' has been accepted for the Console-ing Passions Conference 2025! See you in June Atlanta 🤟

fmt.gsu.edu/console-ing-...

Console-ing Passions Conference 2025 | School of Film, Media & Theatre | Georgia State University

The Console-ing Passions 2025 conference is an international conference on television, video, audio, new media, and feminism.

fmt.gsu.edu

Isabel Sykes @isabel-sykes.bsky.social · Mar 7

Link to our latest Technecast episode featuring guests studying PhDs in music from different genres and perspectives - plus some cracking song recommendations 😇
open.spotify.com/episode/3jQ1...

Women in Music Roundtable

Technecast · Episode

open.spotify.com

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