If you want a steadfast love in your life, find yourself a woman. From my mother, friends, mentors, and circles of women who hold me in the light and sustain me, it is always the women who stayed. My faith grew much stronger during the pandemic but my belief in the church has taken a […]
Tag Archives: Women
August
03
Prima Facie
posted by plasticdollheads
***Trigger warning- this post discusses sexual violence and trauma *** Last night I finally saw National Theatre Live ‘Prima Facie’ starring the amazing Jodie Comer. Written by Suzie Miller, directed by Justin Martin and presented by Empire Street productions, the play is a monologue of criminal barrrister Tessa (played by Comer). The play is described […]
July
09
Full circle
posted by plasticdollheads
Winning Lecturer of the Year (2022) at the University of Liverpool is my life going full circle. Thank you to my friends and colleagues Alex and Tan who accompanied me on the night. It was wonderful to see friends from across the university and I enjoyed celebrating your successes. Twenty years ago I first came […]
March
13
Rigoletto
posted by plasticdollheads
Today I saw my first opera. It was screened into the cinema which works well for me as a) there are subtitles and b) it is much cheaper (I have an Infinity membership so ‘events’ such as ballet, opera and National Theatre Live cost me less than ten pounds). Therefore this is a much cheaper […]
March
04
Lucy McKenzie Tate Liverpool
posted by plasticdollheads
The University of Liverpool and Tate Liverpool run a programme called Tate Exchange. I was lucky enough to be one of the four academics selected this year to take part to deliver workshops. I would like to thank Hannah Schumann, Research Partnerships Marketing Manager, Professor Fiona Beveridge, (and all at UOL who made this happen) […]
October
29
Cite the strippers
posted by plasticdollheads
“Our struggles can have meaning and our privileges- however precarious under patriarchy- can be justified only if they help to change the lives of women whose gifts- and whose very being, continue to be thwarted and silenced” (Adrienne Rich, 1979, p.38). On my modules I have always encouraged and promoted radical citation practices. Alongside peer-reviewed […]
June
02
SOCI103 Social Change in Contemporary Society resources
posted by plasticdollheads
This is a first year core module that has 270 registered students. Learners are provided with a detailed reading list and a module guide with additional readings. The module is split into 3 blocks: Race, Class and Gender. Week 1: What is ‘Race’, what is ‘Ethnicity’? Race and Ethnicity Explained What is race and what […]
March
24
Plasticdollhead- The single
posted by plasticdollheads
One of my brilliant former students Annie has a band called Shoplifter, and their debut single is named after this very blog: Plastic doll head! The biggest honour of my life. Check out their music page here. The single launches on Friday 26th March 2021. Gemma x
January
19
Pole Dance Pedagogy
posted by plasticdollheads
I am currently writing a chapter centered on these experiences and was inspired to share a little here (read procrastinate). Twitter and my blog have been invaluable tools for me to develop my ideas and receive feedback, and I wish to thank all of those people who read this blog and offer comments. Marking essays […]
November
08
Criminologist or Criminal? Liminal spaces and trauma
posted by plasticdollheads
[**trigger warning- this post contains depictions of extreme violence that you may find causes distress**]. A recent incident by a journalist has left me reeling in terms of mental heath. I have decided to share this writing here and welcome contact from fellow survivors. I will not be debating abolitionism or having to justify or […]
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