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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social

@nataliethomlinson.bsky.social
325 followers 283 following 153 posts

Historian of gender and feminism in modern Britain; Associate Prof at the University of Reading

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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
brilliant special issue of CBH here on writing labour histories in Brexit Britain, featuring great people like @emilyrobinson.bsky.social, @diarmaidkelliher.bsky.social and @ewangibbs.bsky.social
tandfonline.com
Contemporary British History
Ordinary Working-Class People? Labour History and 'Brexit Britain'. Volume 40, Issue 3 of Contemporary British History
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Emile Chabal @emile-chabal.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I am not given to hyperbole when it comes to university industrial relations, but this feels like an existential event. The heart of the university is being torn out, with long-lasting consequences. These strikes are a last-ditch attempt to stop that. Will anyone listen?
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Daniel C. Blight @danielcblight.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
***URGENT PLEASE SHARE*** University of Brighton management have announced today that they ‘give notice of termination of all collective agreements’. This is a fundamental erasure of workers' rights. Management have announced the termination of all contractual documents, which includes:
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Leigh Jones @leighsus.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A real test now of the media's appetite for Cambridge professors and their ethics.
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Unreservedly brilliant news...turns out there is still power in a union. hoping this leads to lots of new members.
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Exeter UCU @exeterucu.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The University of Exeter has confirmed that it won’t proceed with compulsory redundancies “at this time”. This means colleagues do not need to complete the pro forma, and there will be no selection process.
NO COMPULSORY REDUNDANCIES photo of Nicole Kidman looking incredibly joyful and free after her divorce from Tom Cruise was finalised
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Ben Mechen @benmechen.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Despite letters like this one, C*fnas will ultimately prove expendable. The very well-funded network of far right intellectuals of which he was a protégé are creating spaces at Cambridge and elsewhere where this kind of work will continue to flourish and be celebrated. That’s the bigger game.
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Olivia Wyatt @oliviawyatt1999.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
My article — “Black is Beautiful”: Gender, Pigmentation, and Political Blackness in Modern Britain — is now available to read! It reinserts the politics of complexion into our narratives of the Black Power and Black Women’s movements. #BlackBritishHistory academic.oup.com/histres/adva...
academic.oup.com
‘Black is beautiful’: gender, pigmentation and political blackness in modern Britain*
Abstract. By examining political literature, ephemera and oral histories, this article investigates the politics of pigmentation within the Black Power and
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Chuffed to see my article on feminist responses to the unemployment crisis of the 1980s out in JBS:
cambridge.org
“Women, Where Are Your Jobs Going?”: Feminism and the Problem of Unemployment in Thatcher’s Britain | Journal of British Studies | Cambridge Core
“Women, Where Are Your Jobs Going?”: Feminism and the Problem of Unemployment in Thatcher’s Britain - Volume 65
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
one of doncaster's finest xx
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The Independent @the-independent.com · 20/07/2026
BREAKING | Kevin Keegan, former England manager, has died at the age of 75 Read more: trib.al/wE3bbSz
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
someone should tell Keir Starmer that repeatedly saying through gritted teeth that you're 'going with good grace' gives the exact opposite impression
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Sinead Carter @sineadcarter.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
still looking! please share with your networks ☺️
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
excited to see whether sam smiths pubs become drinkable in once again, i've been on a one-woman boycott of them for some years now
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
do not know why not all of them could do this, it's not hard to not shake the hand of somewhat being tried on 7 counts of rape
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Dr Dion Georgiou 🇨🇾❤️🇬🇾 @drdiongeorgiou.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Hakimi too.
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Lauren Dobson-Hughes @ldobsonhughes.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
These are the 30 women killed since 2020 in Northern Ireland, all by white men 21 killed in their homes by men they knew. The youngest 20, the oldest 82 21 were mothers, 4 were killed with their children in the home. Two were pregnant Nobody rioted over their murders www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
A picture of violence: The 30 women killed in more than four years
In at least 21 of the 30 deaths, the killers - or the suspects in their killings - were well-known to the women.
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Onni Gust @onnigust.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Shedding 608 academic posts but creating 75 new managerial posts. No clear answers as to what those posts are, who they will go to, and why we need them.
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
just to say that in my research on unemployment in the 70s and 80s, I had the surreal moment of seeing government officials blaming unemployment for school leavers in *1978* on the particular fecklessness of modern youth. absolutely zero sense of wider structural changes to the economy at all.
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Natalia Cecire @ncecire.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
What's so telling is that this government will never have this kind of energy for excluding a cis man from anything
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
v much looking forward to this on Monday - book here if you want! www.thesocial.com/event/no-fut...
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Jo Grady @drjogrady.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Yesterday Kier Starmer announced Labour will nationalise British Steel, and save 2700 jobs. Today, the Uni of Nottingham put 2700 staff at risk of redundancy. This is just one university. Across the UK 15,000 higher education jobs need saving. Where is the rescue package for our universities?
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Generation Rent @generationrent.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Today is Cost of Rent Day. The point in the year when England’s renters have basically earned only for their landlord. In 2026, that’s until 11 May, over 4 months of wages or benefits gone on rent. High rents are driving people into poverty. Watch to find out more:
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Really looking forward to talking with @lauratisdall.bsky.social this Wednesday about her fab new book at Gower St Waterstones - book below if you fancy coming!
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
not sure how i feel about david attenborough looking more sprightly of a friday night at 100 than i do at 39
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
University of Hertfordshire closes a swathe of Humanities courses, accelerating the sweeping tide against Human-centred disciples in the UK. Because understanding humans is so yesterday today. With such happy consequences, as we see when we look around us.
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Looking forward to this tomorrow! More info below.
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Here's my take on that (other answers are also available...) www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
researchprofessionalnews.com
To save UK higher education, start talking about knowledge - Research Professional News
Until debate on universities foregrounds their core purposes, their woes will deepen, says Margot Finn
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
I am so looking forward to chatting with the brilliant @lauratisdall.bsky.social about her ace new book at the Gower St Waterstones on 13 May - book below if you fancy coming!
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Really important Big Read this on what is just straightforwardly a misselling scandal taking place in plain sight in my view:
ft.com
Business degrees are booming in the UK. Who is profiting?
Average incomes five years after graduating are less than for people who studied nursing
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Richard Carr @richardcarr.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
There are currently 6 permanent full time history jobs in the whole UK. 500+ PhDs being produced a year - not all of whom will want to pursue an academic year but likely most, and of course years will stack up onto each other. What a sector.
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
seems indicative of well, something, that none of the links to the candidates that Lambeth Labour are standing in the May election actually work on their website www.lambeth-labour.org.uk#our-track-re...
lambeth-labour.org.uk
Lambeth Labour — Local Elections 2022
Read our Manifesto for Lambeth, meet your local Labour candidate and see how we're on your side, delivering for you in Lambeth.
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Anyone got any intel on what's happening with the British Library's oral history collections post cyber-attack? The website simply points you to look at updates on its sound and vision blog, but the link it provides is broken (!) ...
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
just seen this doing the rounds, and it is absolutely brilliant on the fundamental problems underlining the UK HE model, and I wish everyone in the government and the OfS was forced to read it ten times over until the message finally sinks in
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Really looking forward to hearing Alex Mayhew speak on this this Thursday at the IHR (5:30pm, in person and online). Sign up here!
history.ac.uk
Sensemaking and Violence in Britain’s Mesopotamia Campaign during the First World War
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Doctoral & Researcher College, University of Reading @unirdg-phd.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
⏰ Less than a week to apply for this funded PhD opportunity - apply by 31 March!
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davidrlurie @davidrlurie.com · 24/03/2026
Iran sent Trump a giant horse on wheels. It is about to be wheeled into Mara Lago's grounds.
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Really looking forward to hearing Alex Mayhew speak on this this Thursday at the IHR (5:30pm, in person and online). Sign up here!
history.ac.uk
Sensemaking and Violence in Britain’s Mesopotamia Campaign during the First World War
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
looking forward to this tomorrow - book below if you fancy it
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
looking forward to talking at this in Haringey in a week's time, even more looking forward to actually meeting the activists involved, who will also be part of the panel. link to book below
eventbrite.co.uk
Campaigning for Jobs in 1980s Britain: Haringey Women's Employment Project
Talks & Discussion Panel: 'Campaigning for Jobs in 1980s Britain: the History of the Haringey Women's Employment Project'
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
This is terrible, and made worse by fact that SHU has also historically been an institution which employs a lot of teaching only staff. My dad worked there for 25 years and him and his entire department (maths) were teaching only! (That might have changed since, but was case in 2015 when he retired)
timeshighereducation.com
Sheffield Hallam restricts TPS access to REF academics only
Teaching staff at post-92 institution to be employed by subsidiary firm and lose right to access expensive pensions scheme
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Gail Marshall @gailmarshall.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Great opportunity for Samuel Beckett scholars to work on the Beckett archive at Reading samuelbeckettsociety.org/2026/03/10/c...
samuelbeckettsociety.org
Call for Applications: Visiting Research Fellowships at the Samuel Beckett Research Centre, University of Reading
The Samuel Beckett Research Centre (SBRC) at the University of Reading is pleased to announce that up to 3 SBRC Visiting Research Fellowships are now available to scholars and researchers looking t…
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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
This is a fascinating looking paper by @benjamin-bland.bsky.social, on processes of racialisation in the popular culture of late C20th Britain. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
This image shows the title and abstract for a new journal article by Benjamin Bland, published in the Journal of British Studies. 

Title: "“I Am Not Anti Black Music But …”: Popular Music, the NME, and Race in Late Twentieth-Century Britain". 

Abstract:"Popular music culture has often featured in postwar British history as a site of tolerance and inclusivity, of multicultural exchange and anti-racist activism. This article, while not denying music's intersections with progressive causes, presents a different narrative. I use the pages of Britain's most prominent weekly music paper, the New Musical Express (NME), to demonstrate the important role that music has played in perpetuating wider processes of racialization in the late twentieth century. Surveying contestations over race in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, it highlights the ways in which popular music institutions such as the NME could function as sites of racial formation, reproducing the social power of whiteness even when providing space for what was often referred to as “black music.” The article underlines the degree to which popular music could produce hegemonically white cultural spaces, despite the diversity of musical culture at large. In so doing, it indicates the significance of popular culture for understanding patterns of racialization into the latter years of the twentieth century and beyond."
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👻madeline bOoOoOoOodent👻 @oldenoughtosay.com · 19/02/2026
just to be clear there is SO MUCH precedent for arresting a senior royal. just not any precedent where it ends well for them
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Peder Clark @pederclark.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
this would be a dream PhD for one lucky individual...
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
if you missed No Future first time round ....there's 25% off here www.waterstones.com/book/no-futu...
waterstones.com
No Future Anniversary Edition by Matthew Worley, Paul Morley | Waterstones
Buy No Future Anniversary Edition by Matthew Worley, Paul Morley from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.
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nataliethomlinson.bsky.social @nataliethomlinson.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Fantastic funded PhD opportunity here in the School of Humanities at Reading - please share widely! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
findaphd.com
Young Refugees to Britain in the early Twentieth Century at University of Reading on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Young Refugees to Britain in the early Twentieth Century at University of Reading, listed on FindAPhD.com
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
On Thursday 26 March, the Royal Historical Society will be holding an online meeting for Directors of Research / REF Leads to discuss preparations by historians for the REF. Contact administration@royalhistsoc.org to participate.
Rectangular image featuring (on the left) 2 piles of leather-bound book, then the stone head of a medieval man (statue) then a vertical row of old books. In the foreground is a red carpet. To avoid REF lopping heads off historians, send a delegate to this online meeting.
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