Catherine Medici, PhD
@catherinemedici.bsky.social
Historian and women’s and gender studies scholar. Women’s networks, gender and medicine, chronic illness and disability studies. Medical and public humanities advocate.
All views my own.
All views my own.
Since providing this historical background in 2018 I experienced pregnancy and maternal care as a person who needs medications to survive AND given birth to a baby with her own complex medical issues. slate.com/technology/2...
September 23, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Since providing this historical background in 2018 I experienced pregnancy and maternal care as a person who needs medications to survive AND given birth to a baby with her own complex medical issues. slate.com/technology/2...
Yesterday I used my experience to explain the horror of current reproductive law in America to a baffled international student. I had a c-section at 25 weeks because my organs had started to fail. Women are being denied care for the same thing if it happens any sooner because it’s before viability.
May 29, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Yesterday I used my experience to explain the horror of current reproductive law in America to a baffled international student. I had a c-section at 25 weeks because my organs had started to fail. Women are being denied care for the same thing if it happens any sooner because it’s before viability.
Today we celebrated my daughter’s 4th birthday. She was born at just 25 weeks and barely over a pound. Today she’s full of personality and a kid who insists on having both a special “night-night” bow for her hair and taking her toy cars to bed.
May 29, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Today we celebrated my daughter’s 4th birthday. She was born at just 25 weeks and barely over a pound. Today she’s full of personality and a kid who insists on having both a special “night-night” bow for her hair and taking her toy cars to bed.
It’s exciting that Omaha/Nebraska is finally making national news for a good reason. Let this be the beginning.
The people of Omaha have elected John Ewing Jr. to be the city’s first Black mayor—a surprising defeat for Jean Stothert, the city’s three-term Republican mayor, who had outraised Ewing by nearly double.
The Trump Effect Is Here: Democrats Sweep to Victory in Historic Upset
Omaha just elected its first Black mayor.
newrepublic.com
May 14, 2025 at 11:53 PM
It’s exciting that Omaha/Nebraska is finally making national news for a good reason. Let this be the beginning.
City elections were today and my polling place is a Chevy dealership. For the first time they had at least a dozen disclaimers that “signs posted are due to the election and do not represent the beliefs of our organization.” It’s a bad sign when explicitly neutral voting information requires this.
May 14, 2025 at 12:20 AM
City elections were today and my polling place is a Chevy dealership. For the first time they had at least a dozen disclaimers that “signs posted are due to the election and do not represent the beliefs of our organization.” It’s a bad sign when explicitly neutral voting information requires this.
What sources or guides are folks using to share with students (especially international) as we hit the end of semester and summer travel season in the US?
May 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
What sources or guides are folks using to share with students (especially international) as we hit the end of semester and summer travel season in the US?
Good to know my Italian is still good enough to follow the address of the new Pope without subtitles/translation.
May 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Good to know my Italian is still good enough to follow the address of the new Pope without subtitles/translation.
One of the first things I asked when I came to my institution was “what are we doing to ensure Title IX protections for pregnancy?” Turns out no one knew they needed to do this. As we have made efforts for change the biggest barrier is still making people aware. www.chronicle.com/blogs/letter...
Letter | Cultures of Care for Pregnant Students
As a recent essay notes, it’s not just policies that matter.
www.chronicle.com
May 8, 2025 at 1:40 PM
One of the first things I asked when I came to my institution was “what are we doing to ensure Title IX protections for pregnancy?” Turns out no one knew they needed to do this. As we have made efforts for change the biggest barrier is still making people aware. www.chronicle.com/blogs/letter...
Did not realize we scheduled the discussion about critically thinking about where you get your news on Pulitzer Day, but I do love a theme so I’m glad the universe did it for me.
May 6, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Did not realize we scheduled the discussion about critically thinking about where you get your news on Pulitzer Day, but I do love a theme so I’m glad the universe did it for me.
Reposted by Catherine Medici, PhD
So humbled that our project, "The Life of the Mother," has won the Pulitzer Prize for public service. Thank you Mayron Hollis and the families of Amber Thurman, Candi Miller, Josseli Barnica, Nevaeh Crain and Porsha Ngumezi for trusting us to tell their stories. www.propublica.org/article/prop...
ProPublica Wins Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
The award, for exposing the fatal consequences of abortion bans, marks ProPublica’s 8th Pulitzer; investigation into mental health care access is named a Pulitzer finalist.
www.propublica.org
May 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM
So humbled that our project, "The Life of the Mother," has won the Pulitzer Prize for public service. Thank you Mayron Hollis and the families of Amber Thurman, Candi Miller, Josseli Barnica, Nevaeh Crain and Porsha Ngumezi for trusting us to tell their stories. www.propublica.org/article/prop...
Reposted by Catherine Medici, PhD
That’s my thing. All I have heard about my entire life is men’s many problems. Whomst among us has ever had the freedom to ignore men’s problems?!!
All nonsense. Men need socialism and a nap.
All nonsense. Men need socialism and a nap.
May 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
That’s my thing. All I have heard about my entire life is men’s many problems. Whomst among us has ever had the freedom to ignore men’s problems?!!
All nonsense. Men need socialism and a nap.
All nonsense. Men need socialism and a nap.
Reposted by Catherine Medici, PhD
“I asked ChatGPT” well I asked the three Fates and the one with the scissors got very agitated when I told her you were using your one precious life thread talking to that cursed thing
May 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
“I asked ChatGPT” well I asked the three Fates and the one with the scissors got very agitated when I told her you were using your one precious life thread talking to that cursed thing
Reposted by Catherine Medici, PhD
For centuries, a “gossip” was a woman who attended another woman's delivery. The word was a corruption of “god-sib” or “god-sibling,” meaning “sister in the Lord.” The gossips offered support to mother and midwife. Only later did the term take on a derogatory meaning.
May 2, 2025 at 10:14 AM
For centuries, a “gossip” was a woman who attended another woman's delivery. The word was a corruption of “god-sib” or “god-sibling,” meaning “sister in the Lord.” The gossips offered support to mother and midwife. Only later did the term take on a derogatory meaning.
My own terrible experience of pregnancy/post-partum in academia despite trying to do everything "right" made me more passionate to support our pregnant and parenting students. I'm glad to see this insightful work of @aliciaandrz.bsky.social out in the world. www.chronicle.com/article/what...
Opinion | What Is Academe’s Problem With Pregnancy?
This toxic culture has to change.
www.chronicle.com
May 2, 2025 at 3:44 PM
My own terrible experience of pregnancy/post-partum in academia despite trying to do everything "right" made me more passionate to support our pregnant and parenting students. I'm glad to see this insightful work of @aliciaandrz.bsky.social out in the world. www.chronicle.com/article/what...
I was answering my 4 year old’s questions about my Venus of Willendorf necklace and she told me that one day she wants to have a statue in a museum and that she needs to help at the museum. Great!
Also, wow is it hard to explain all the meaning in this necklace on the spot and to a small child.
Also, wow is it hard to explain all the meaning in this necklace on the spot and to a small child.
May 2, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I was answering my 4 year old’s questions about my Venus of Willendorf necklace and she told me that one day she wants to have a statue in a museum and that she needs to help at the museum. Great!
Also, wow is it hard to explain all the meaning in this necklace on the spot and to a small child.
Also, wow is it hard to explain all the meaning in this necklace on the spot and to a small child.
I had not one, but 2 public talks this week. It was a delight to talk about the influence of culture in perceptions of the past and present for Opera Omaha and the student art project Experiences in Femininity.
May 2, 2025 at 12:25 AM
I had not one, but 2 public talks this week. It was a delight to talk about the influence of culture in perceptions of the past and present for Opera Omaha and the student art project Experiences in Femininity.
Reposted by Catherine Medici, PhD
It's genuinely hard to express to sort of normal not politically plugged in non-lawyers *how* lawless the Trump administration is, and I think that's some part of the problem.
You sound like you're hyperventilating, but it's just a flat description of what is going on.
You sound like you're hyperventilating, but it's just a flat description of what is going on.
April 15, 2025 at 4:41 PM
It's genuinely hard to express to sort of normal not politically plugged in non-lawyers *how* lawless the Trump administration is, and I think that's some part of the problem.
You sound like you're hyperventilating, but it's just a flat description of what is going on.
You sound like you're hyperventilating, but it's just a flat description of what is going on.
Librarians are my people, especially when they invite Saeed Jones for their keynote. @theferocity.bsky.social
April 5, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Librarians are my people, especially when they invite Saeed Jones for their keynote. @theferocity.bsky.social
I’ve given two guest lectures this week and in both I felt like I was definitely the bearer of bad news. Oh sorry to tell you about the significant legal precedents at risk post-Dobbs, like contraceptive access.
And I wasn’t being sarcastic about programs to support women in STEM being shut.
And I wasn’t being sarcastic about programs to support women in STEM being shut.
March 29, 2025 at 12:38 AM
I’ve given two guest lectures this week and in both I felt like I was definitely the bearer of bad news. Oh sorry to tell you about the significant legal precedents at risk post-Dobbs, like contraceptive access.
And I wasn’t being sarcastic about programs to support women in STEM being shut.
And I wasn’t being sarcastic about programs to support women in STEM being shut.
If you think this kind of education and advocacy is important, you can support the chapter of this group in Nebraska. They welcome students from all programs on our campus and broadened to focus reproductive justice. www.greatergoodgivingday.org/campaigns/re...
March 27, 2025 at 12:32 AM
If you think this kind of education and advocacy is important, you can support the chapter of this group in Nebraska. They welcome students from all programs on our campus and broadened to focus reproductive justice. www.greatergoodgivingday.org/campaigns/re...
You know you’re a real nerd when you can id academics in pictures and send messages about misattributed quotes to your friends.
March 21, 2025 at 5:19 PM
You know you’re a real nerd when you can id academics in pictures and send messages about misattributed quotes to your friends.
This is pretty much the approach of a family member’s district and the result of leadership. Thankful our experience 2 miles away has been vastly different. This is why voting for school boards matters. It’s about what is valued.
March 21, 2025 at 2:50 AM
This is pretty much the approach of a family member’s district and the result of leadership. Thankful our experience 2 miles away has been vastly different. This is why voting for school boards matters. It’s about what is valued.
Decided it was a good time to intro my 3 year old to Disney’s Robin Hood. During the scene where all the animals are in jail for tax debts she said “this is so sad mom!” Yes, yes it is, always remember that kiddo.
March 19, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Decided it was a good time to intro my 3 year old to Disney’s Robin Hood. During the scene where all the animals are in jail for tax debts she said “this is so sad mom!” Yes, yes it is, always remember that kiddo.
Reposted by Catherine Medici, PhD
Another idea: my community hosts monthly science nights where a local expert, often a professor, talks about a current issue in their field at a neighborhood pub. A surprisingly large number of attendees at each.
The model would work around history, arts or other fields.
The model would work around history, arts or other fields.
March 17, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Another idea: my community hosts monthly science nights where a local expert, often a professor, talks about a current issue in their field at a neighborhood pub. A surprisingly large number of attendees at each.
The model would work around history, arts or other fields.
The model would work around history, arts or other fields.