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Sarah Richardson

@profrichardson.bsky.social
813 followers 450 following 50 posts

Aramont Professor of the History of Science and Professor of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard University Director, Harvard GenderSci Lab More about my work at scholar.harvard.edu/srichard

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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 15h
Our new paper was just covered in CNET! Check it out here: www.cnet.com/health/cycle... & www.bmj.com/content/394/...
cnet.com
Cycle-Tracking Apps Bring Substantial Risks to Users, New Analysis Finds - CNET
This includes apps that promote the practice of cycle syncing.
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 15h
Out today! A joint statement in @bmj.com led by @resourcefulsqrl.bsky.social and the GenderSci Lab on the risks of digital menstrual tracking offers strong caution against the use of these tools to address menstrual conditions or direct fitness and nutrition behaviors. www.bmj.com/content/394/...
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Retraction Watch, one of my favorite watchdogs, wrote up an incident in which I was the victim of AI-hallucinated citations in a scholarly journal. They quote me praising the journal's response and discussing the risks to the scholarly enterprise of the careless use of AI in citation work.
retractionwatch.com
Above and beyond: An editor wanted authors to know they’d been falsely cited
Credit: tadamichi/iStock Like many college professors today, Sarah S. Richardson has seen AI-hallucinated citations in work submitted by her students. But she was surprised when an editor recently …
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Thank you, Harvard WGS alum! Our program has been decimated. We are a website and an empty office. As faculty our research, teaching, and mentoring is as in demand and urgent as ever. We need you!!
thecrimson.com
We’re Harvard WGS Alumni. Our Field Has Never Mattered More. | The Harvard Crimson
At Harvard, the single biggest threat to the study of gender and sexuality has long come from the institution itself.
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
As an additional resource, we have created an explainer published on the GSL blog to accompany the publication of this paper www.genderscilab.org/blog/using-g...
genderscilab.org
Using gender/sex information to make clinical decisions: How, why, and with what consequences? — GenderSci Lab
In a peer-reviewed paper recently published in Health Affairs , members of the GenderSci Lab collaborated with colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Law S...
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Just out in the journal Health Affairs, the first analysis of how sex/gender inputs are used in more than 600 commonly used clinical algorithms, contributing to growing research on to the importance of accurately specifying inputs within clinical algorithms. Blog explainer and paper linked below.
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
"Any time that we’re building a structure of recommendations for bodily comportment and health that is not based on empirical evidence, it’s harmful." GenderSci Lab Director Sarah Richardson (@profrichardson.bsky.social) comments on the risks of hormone tracking in Dazed (@dazeddigital.com).
dazeddigital.com
Why are we all so obsessed with hormone health?
Understanding how hormones impact us can be empowering, especially for people with endocrine disorders – but there’s a risk that ascribing every passing feeling to hormones is reviving tired, sexist n...
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
UoM English, American Studies & Creative Writing Department @uomenglish.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
🔬Next up: @profrichardson.bsky.social's plenary lecture, 'A Sceptical Empiricist’s Guide to Sex Difference Science.' Join us Tues 26 May, 3-4:30pm at the Martin Harris Centre for a conversation on science, sex & biological discourse. Free, all welcome. buff.ly/uvCJBrV
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
New work out! "Investment Feminism & Women's Health"... part of our research streams on the financialization, femtech, and algorithmic futures in women's health.
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
New teaching video + paper out today on the role of gender in understanding sex disparities in adverse drug events! This is the third of 3 videos we created to help build understanding and dialogue across fields and communities about the importance of considering gender-related variables.
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
In this work, we use population genetic simulations to show that when sex interacts with geography or other factors, modeling individuals of the same sex as interchangeable can change common genomic signals of historical migration. Check out our explainer blog! www.genderscilab.org/blog/gsl-pap...
genderscilab.org
GSL Paper Explainer: Using simulations to demonstrate the importance of considering variation within sexes in genetics — GenderSci Lab
In a new paper in the American Journal of Human Biology by Mia Miyagi, Sarah Richardson, and Emilia Huerta-Sánchez from the Center for Computational Molecular Biology at Brown, we explore the effe...
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
New work out! How can sex contextualism help us think with more precision about sex-biased migration events and the dynamics of the XX/XY chromosomes in evolutionary history?
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
We have Olympic fever in the GenderSci Lab this week! Check out our new video on how historical gender inequalities in sport contribute to present-day gender/sex disparities in injury rates. Great for teaching and sharing with your communities. Research paper and blog explainer in the thread.
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
UoM English, American Studies & Creative Writing Department @uomenglish.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
📣Sexuality Summer School | 24–29 May 2026 📅 Join us in Manchester for postgraduate workshops, seminars & public events on sex, race & sexuality. Keynotes: @crileysnorton.bsky.social, @kanerace.bsky.social & @profrichardson.bsky.social. Details and sign up: sexualitysummerschool.wordpress.com
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
As explained in our short video, we found that these algorithms risk perpetuating “crude ontologies of sex and gender that undermine both scientific validity and health justice” (p. 1). www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TqL...
youtube.com
Algorithmic futures for women’s health?
YouTube video by GenderSci Lab
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
New work out on gender/sex, algorithms, and biomedicine- and check out our explainer video in the 🧵, great for teaching/sharing!
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
I'm very excited about this workshop on "Gametic Politics" that Rene Almeling and I are hosting next spring for early career scholars - Deadline approaching Dec. 1. See link below for details & FAQ. Please share widely!
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Hot off the press! See our new paper: “Three maxims for countering sex essentialism in scientific research” in the journal Biology of Sex Differences. We show how sex essentialism distorts research & propose 3 ways to avoid making these mistakes. (1/12) rdcu.be/eNcRM
rdcu.be
Three maxims for countering sex essentialism in scientific research
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
Rene Almeling @ralmeling.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
*CALL FOR PAPERS* Due Dec 1 Gametic Politics: Eggs, Sperm, and Gender/Sex in the 21st Century A Workshop for Early-Career Researchers organized by Rene Almeling & Sarah Richardson April 16-17, 2026 at Yale University Details and application form here: www.renealmeling.com/gametic-poli...
renealmeling.com
Gametic Politics Workshop
Call for papers for social science and humanities scholars studying eggs, sperm, and gender/sex in the 21st century
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
I'm quoted along w/ Martine Lappé and Marga Viceda in this piece: " We live in an era of intensive pressure around parenting and expectations that one will do whatever possible to optimize outcome. And there's very little tolerance for the idea that there are many things not under our control."
npr.org
'Long history of blaming mothers': Trump's Tylenol warning echoes past misconceptions
Medical scholars say, efforts to find a singular cause for autism has historically led to scrutinizing parents and fueling stigma about autism
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Friends tell me that now Steven Pinker, Michael Shermer and crowd are on Twitter still dragging me for the 2-page book review essay I wrote for the Lancet this summer. A few comments below.
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Reminder! Submission deadline: Dec. 1
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
Call for Papers! 🚨 Gametic Politics: Eggs, Sperm, and Gender/Sex in the 21st Century A Workshop for Early-Career Researchers organized by Rene Almeling (@ralmeling.bsky.social) and Sarah Richardson (@profrichardson.bsky.social) April 16-17, 2026; Yale University, New Haven, CT
renealmeling.com
Gametic Politics Workshop
Call for papers for social science and humanities scholars studying eggs, sperm, and gender/sex in the 21st century
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
🔗 Access the new article here: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
thelancet.com
Gender under attack
The Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health lucidly highlighted how attacks on the concept of gender, and on gender equality and women's rights more broadly, are not new. As Sarah Hawkes and her...
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
"Defending research and clinical practice in gender-related areas must be a priority in the face of perilous new attacks on science and academic freedom" - "Gender Under Attack," by GenderSci Lab director Sarah Richardson (@profrichardson.bsky.social) , in today's Lancet.
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GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
GenderSci Lab director Sarah Richardson (@profrichardson.bsky.social) has a new paper out, extending her work on "sex contextualism"! A GenderSci Lab Blog Q&A about the paper is linked below in the comments. 🔗 Access the new paper here: journals.publishing.umich.edu/ptpbio/artic...
journals.publishing.umich.edu
Sex and the Riddle of Variability
Scientific research associations, funders, and publishers have recently introduced sex inclusion mandates requiring the use of male and female specimens in preclinical research designs and the analysi...
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Q&A about my new paper, extending my work on "sex contextualism." Analyzing a debate over whether estrous cycle needs to be accounted for in sex difference research designs, the paper shows how scientists make contextual judgments about what counts as "sex itself" in laboratory rodent research.
genderscilab.org
Riddles of Sex Difference Science: Q&A with Sarah Richardson — GenderSci Lab
In a new open access article recently published in the journal Philosophy, Theory, and Practice in Biology , GenderSci Lab Director Sarah Richardson extends and develops her framework of “sex con...
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
New sex contextualism article out in PTPBio! "Sex and the Riddle of Variability" - check it out.
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
Prof. Gillian Brown @gillianrbrown1.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Richardson (2025) @profrichardson.bsky.social: "The debate over measuring variability in preclinical science shows that operationalizing “sex as a biological variable”... requires... contextual judgements at multiple decision points". @ptpbio.bsky.social #psyscisky #neurosky 🧪 tinyurl.com/3vvah3x7
journals.publishing.umich.edu
Sex and the Riddle of Variability
Scientific research associations, funders, and publishers have recently introduced sex inclusion mandates requiring the use of male and female specimens in preclinical research designs and the analysi...
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Resharing with the update that the GenderSci Lab's NSF grant was terminated last week, leaving us with a $500K shortfall. I am seeking both small donors and partners w/ capacity to provide serious bridge funding for our work while Harvard fights for the future of US higher ed and science.
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Today I am launching a direct fundraising effort for the Harvard GenderSci Lab, which I founded in 2018. In the current political and funding climate, private contributions are essential to sustaining our vital work. Please share to help us spread the word!
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Today I am launching a direct fundraising effort for the Harvard GenderSci Lab, which I founded in 2018. In the current political and funding climate, private contributions are essential to sustaining our vital work. Please share to help us spread the word!
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
White text on teal background: "Investment feminism: 1. Highlights how financialization may intensify a feminist politics that prioritizes individualization and self-optimization (a concept known as neoliberal feminism) 2. Identifies the articulation of financial investment as a power lever for social changes 3. Predicts increased technologization and datafication at the intersection between capitalism and feminism." 
Citation: Marsella et al., "Investment Feminism and Women's Health." Signs. GenderSci Lab logo in the bottom right corner.
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
New work out! Thread at the link.
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Sex Based Medicine: Helpful or Harmful? Join The Moynihan Center on Thursday, March 13 from 2:00 to 3:30PM EDT for a panel featuring Catherine Clune-Taylor, Anais Hausvater, Sarah Richardson (@profrichardson.bsky.social), and Angela Saini. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/sex-based-...
eventbrite.com
Sex Based Medicine: Helpful or Harmful?
Join The Moynihan Center for a panel featuring Catherine Clune-Taylor, Anais Hausvater, Sarah Richardson, and Angela Saini.
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Johns Hopkins is set to be crippled by the cuts at NIH. These cuts start tomorrow. Thread below.
List of universities that will see the largest cuts from shifts in indirect funding instituted by Musk.  Johns Hopkins is at the top.
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
Excellent 🧵 on this evening's NIH announcement of a dramatic reduction in indirect rates for research institutions, which amounts to a generational restructuring of the US research and development ecosystem. These cuts are effective immediately, not just for new grants but for existing ones.
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
"This definition is likely to encounter intensive problems in enacting it in the courts and in law due to its incommensurability with medical and scientific knowledge and practice,” said Richardson. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/28/m...
bostonglobe.com
Trump executive order misstates facts about sex and gender, scientists say - The Boston Globe
Biologically, sex is not binary, biologists say.
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
I am a historian and philosopher of science who specializes in scientific constructs of sex. I am available to speak with media, community groups, and legal advocates regarding the EO "DEFENDING WOMEN FROM GENDER IDEOLOGY EXTREMISM AND RESTORING BIOLOGICAL TRUTH TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT."
scholar.harvard.edu
Sarah S. Richardson
Aramont Professor of the History of Science and Professor of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality
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Reposted by Sarah Richardson
GenderSci Lab @genderscilab.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Are women really more prone to ACL injuries than men? 🤔 Harvard Gazette reports on new GenderSci Lab research challenging the data and the biases behind it. news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
news.harvard.edu
Real reason ACL injury rate is higher for women — Harvard Gazette
Key sports science metric fails to account for unequal resources between male and female athletes, finds a new Harvard study.
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
New work out!
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Stephanie Lloyd @stephaniejeanlloyd.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Roundtable on interdisciplinary research in DOHaD: past, present & future directions of biosocial collaboration w Elizabeth Roberts, Ruth Müller, Georgia Samara, @profrichardson.bsky.social, Emily Emmott, Taylor Riley & Evangeline Tabor. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/interdisci...
eventbrite.co.uk
Interdisciplinary research in DOHaD
Interdisciplinary research in DOHaD: past, present, and future directions of biosocial collaboration
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Sarah Richardson @profrichardson.bsky.social · 08/11/2024
Follow my work over at bsky.app/profile/gend...!
bsky.app
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