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About us

BACKGROUND

Founded in 2008, Birkbeck Gender and Sexuality (BiGS) aims to foster and showcase interdisciplinary collaboration and exchange in gender and sexuality studies. Situated within Birkbeck Institute for Social Research (BISR), and housed in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, BiGS brings together scholars working across the college and encourages dialogue with practitioners in the creative industries as well as with non-academic constituencies.

Birkbeck has a long history of world-leading research in gender and sexuality, and BiGS strives to promote and advance that rich legacy through its activities which typically include a vibrant programme of workshops, screenings, performances, readings, lectures and seminars. We encourage dialogue with practitioners, policy makers, activists and artists and welcome suggestions for collaborations from colleagues across Birkbeck's schools and faculties.

BiGS is also the home institution for the CHASE funded Gender and Sexuality Research Network, and we will be hosting a PGR/ECR symposium in February on Gender and Sexuality Research in Times of Crisis. Contact us for more information.

Some of our most recent events include the public lecture by Dean Spade: Resistance Work and Resisting Work; a masterclass by Makan on Gender, Sexuality and Pinkwashing; and BDS and the Remains of the University, a Conversation on Resistance with Judith Butler.

Any staff or students organising events or other activities to do with gender and sexuality research are invited to contact the BiGS Director and BiGS can offer support and promote activities through our mailing lists.

  • BIGS Director and Steering Group

    BiGS Director

    • Tanya Serisier, Professor of Feminist Theory, School of Social Sciences

    Steering Committee members

    • Irene Gonzalez-Lopez, Lecturer, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    • Patrick Hanafin, Professor of Law, Birkbeck Law School
    • Wendy Hein, Senior Lecturer, Birkbeck Business School
    • Sarah Lamble, Professor of Criminology and Queer Theory, School of Social Sciences
    • Adeline Moussion, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, School of Historical Studies
    • Penn Newell, Lecturer in Creative and Critical Writing, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    • Silvia Posocco, Professor of Social Anthropology, School of Social Sciences
    • Fiona Tasker, Professor of Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences
    • Kalpana Wilson, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Science

  • BiGS affiliates

    • BiGS has an advisory group of academics and researchers based at Birkbeck, who contribute to our vibrant culture of research and events. 
    • The advisory group members are invited to an annual social and networking event where attendees share ideas and projects with colleagues, and explore ways to better showcase the world-leading research produced within the College. 
    • The group is open to all staff and students within the College.
    • If you would like to be added to our advisory group mailing list, please email the BiGS manager.

  • BiGS affiliates - Birkbeck staff

    • Rob Amos, Senior Lecturer, Law School
    • Margarita Aragon, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences
    • Heike Bauer, Professor of Modern Literature and Cultural History, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    • Alex Beauregard, Professor of Organisational Psychology, Business School
    • Ruth Beecher, Senior Research Fellow, School of Historical Studies
    • Julia Bell, Professor of New Writing, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    • Belinda Brooks-Gordon, Professor of Forensic Psychology and Public Policy, School of Psychological Sciences
    • Uracha Chatrakul Na Ayudhya, Reader in Work and Organisation, Business School
    • Jan Etienne, Lecturer, School of Social Sciences
    • Joanna Farr, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychological Sciences
    • Jasmine Gideon, Professor of Global Health and Development, School of Social Sciences
    • Grace Halden, Reader in Contemporary Literature and Medical Humanities, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    • Tingting Han, Reader in Computer Science, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences
    • Julia Laite, Professor of History, School of Historical Studies
    • Elena Loizidou, Professor of Law and Political Theory, Law School
    • Carmen Mangion, Reader in Modern British History, School of Historical Studies
    • Vicky Mills, Senior Lecturer in Victorian Literature and Culture, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    • Daniel Monk, Professor of Law, Law School
    • Ana Parejo Vadillo, Reader in Victorian Literature and Culture, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    • Mara Polgovsky Ezcurra, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Art, School of Historical Studies
    • Michael Tsang, Senior Lecturer, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    • Tahlia-Rose Virdee, Lecturer, School of Social Sciences
    • Fintan Walsh, Professor of Performing Arts and Humanities, School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication
    • Tinghua Yu, Senior Lecturer, Business School
    • Amanda Zhang, Lecturer, School of Historical Studies