“Embodied liberated female sexuality”? This mentions Beauvoir’s “analysis” of Bardot, but not its claim that she was “an export product as important as Renault automobiles”, “a resolutely modern version of ‘the eternal feminine’”—the old myth of Woman that keeps growing new heads, like the Hydra.

Merry Christmas to all who are looking forward to sitting down with new books (and to everyone else too)!

Save the date (25 March 2026) for a workshop at Warwick on 'When knowledge isn't power', with an amazing line of speakers: Heather Widdows, Fiona MacCallum @fimaccallum.bsky.social, Kate Kirkpatrick @philosofemme.bsky.social, Kathleen Murphy-Hollies @kmurphyhollies.bsky.social, and Quassim Cassam.

“Tell all the truth but tell it slant — Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth's superb surprise”

Cyclist in streetlight, Saint Sulpice

This week I hosted some wonderful scholars for an interdisciplinary workshop on r*pe in law and culture. Thanks to @manongarcia.bsky.social @veragraf.bsky.social @claremcglynn.bsky.social and all the participants for making it such an enriching and encouraging exchange.

Last leaves in first light

“When faced with greed, envy, calumny, perfidy, or lies, people […] say indulgently, ‘That's human!’ With an excuse like that, they clearly show that they are renouncing any expectations of generosity or greatness from man.” —Simone de Beauvoir In this new 🐧 📕 ed. @jonathanwebber.bsky.social 👏 👇

Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.

Disturbing analysis from SkyNews on how X is strongly biased in favour of rightwing content, and also in favour of posts with extremist statements. Musk bought X to have political influence - the obvious explanation, but now we get some of the data to support it. news.sky.com/story/the-x-...

Just one of those emails would bring down any politician in any democratic country.

“The real conspiracy theory around Trump and Epstein is that multiple apparently unconnected women lied, and continue to lie, about Trump’s behavior. This with nothing to gain, and much to lose, by speaking out about his misdeeds.”

Luminous limestone

Upcoming Philosophy in the Bookshop dates with @philosophybites.bsky.social (and guest chaired by Mette Hoeg and @philosofemme.bsky.social ) Featuring @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social Clare Carlisle @manongarcia.bsky.social and @anthonygottlieb.bsky.social Book now @blackwells.bsky.social

Out this month (for those of you interested in Kierkegaard and French philosophy) TOC below 👇

“France joins a number of countries that had updated their rape laws in light of the #MeToo movement in 2016, according to a 2024 study of rape laws in Europe. Since 2016, at least a dozen OECD member countries […] adopted consent-based rape laws.” time.com/7330026/gise...

Good morning, America, from Europe. There have been some rough mornings for a European to wake up to news from across the Atlantic. But today, the message you’ve sent – the crowds, the energy, the hope – feels deeply uplifting and hopeful #NoKings

This is what democracy looks like. #NoKings

This video is as described and so disgusting that obviously you shouldn’t watch it, but you should know that he really did post it

I wrote something about analytic Philospphy, and Christoph Schuringa’s book for the Ideas Letter @stefanschubert.bsky.social @lbenardo.bsky.social www.theideasletter.org/essay/bloodl...

Cloudy night

Zoe Williams interviews feminist philosopher @manongarcia.bsky.social - the English translation of her book about the Pelicot trial was published last week

Magdalen Tower from the Thames Path

Morning light on the first day of term @regentsox.bsky.social

JOB: Associate Professor or Professor in the Faculty of Philosophy, in association with a Tutorial Fellowship at Merton College. AoS Ethics and/or Political Philosophy, with at least an AoC in Feminist Philosophy. #PhilJobs www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOW474/a...

A memorial for my sister Helen De Cruz will take place on 19 October, both online (hosted by Blake Hereth) and in Brussels (Royal Library of Belgium). tally.so/r/3yLRJd

Hard copy of this arrived! ⬇️ Including a new paper by me on Beauvoir and love, available open access, ICYMI. ⬇️

Oxford was full of people graduating today, which reminded me that it has been 15 years since I started my postgraduate studies—and became a mother. (Photo posted with permission from this now-not-so-small-one.)

“59% of history lessons at key stage 3 did not mention women at all” and “when women were mentioned, the report found they were more often victims than protagonists, with the women murdered by Jack the Ripper more likely to be taught […] than the female code breakers at Bletchley Park”

If you're not outraged about #AI, you're not paying attention: #Philosophy in the time of techno-fascism. Book tickets for this free public lecture by Professor Alice Crary at University College Dublin: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

In case you’re in Oxford and like to plan your Valentine’s Day in September: I’ll be guest hosting Philosophy in the Bookshop with @manongarcia.bsky.social, who will discuss her new book on the Pelicot trial, Living with Men @blackwelloxford.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/philosophy...

Wind in a willow

AI medical tools downplay symptoms in women and ethnic minorities on.ft.com/46ILa9z

I have done my (overdue) part in what I hope will be a mass exodus.

I've written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, urging them to join me in condemning Elon Musk's dangerous remarks inciting violence yesterday. As leaders, we must stand together and make clear Musk will face serious consequences for these actions.

This morning in Paris a friend surprised me… by taking me to see the place The Second Sex was written!

A reminder that our 2025 Philosophy essay competition is now open. Do pass this on to anyone you think might be interested in submitting. ✍️📚 Visit royalinstitutephilosophy.org/news/bodies-... for full details. #philosophy #essay #competition #prize

It might not make you all quite as jubilant, but this news made my heart jump this week: in April 2026 Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex will be published in the prestigious Bibliothèque de la Pléiade collection—a significant recognition of the work & of feminist philosophy in the cultural canon!

Hi Bluesky, The English translation of my book on the Pelicot trial is coming out in a month! You know (or maybe you don't) how it is: preorders are crucial for the life of a book, so don't hesitate to preorder right now. a.co/d/a0qeZeh I hope the fantastic blurbs will convince you if you're not:

Listen up! Submit your abstract for the 2026 Beauvoir Society conference on "Beauvoir & Reproduction: Politics, Labour, Biology, Lived Experience"🔥 Proposal abstracts are due **September 22, 2025** Conference is May 2026 in Klagenfurt, Austria Keynotes: Sylvie Chaperon & Stella Sandford

Fellow feminists! I found this podcast with @claremcglynn.bsky.social eye-opening and inspiring—on big tech and gender inequality; the expressive value of criminal law; anticarceral feminism and kaleidoscopic justice; and how to cope as a feminist researcher working on “deeply despairing” material.

Some new-in-paperback post! A project I collaborated on with Pamela Sue Anderson and Michèle Le Dœuff, with chapters on feminist discourse, style, The Second Sex, May ‘68, dialogue and solitude, the philosophical imaginary, and more. Link below to a preview from @bloomsburyphilo.bsky.social

Call for abstracts for a very nice and feminist-friendly social philosophy conference in Canada next summer! The theme is "Joy, Care, and Resistance" Good lookin out @nassp.bsky.social 💜

Great opportunity for PhD students interested in phenomenology. The Copenhagen Winter School (29 Jan.-30 Jan. 2026) is a PhD course that offers close reading of classical work. In 2026, the selected text is Edmund Husserl’s Ideen II. Keynotes: Sara Heinämaa & Dan Zahavi. Apply before Nov. 1, 2025

🌟Our CFP is now open to all PhDs and ECRs based in and around the Midlands! So if you live or work close by and work on phenomenology, lived experience and mental health, please do submit an abstract!

Stratford swans at sundown

A black swan on the Avon

Stratford swans at sundown

We are delighted to announce that our 2026 conference will be hosted by Katja Čičigoj and will take place in Austria, May 28-29! Details and CFP online: beauvoir.weebly.com/2026-confere...