Ruth Fletcher
@ruthfletcher.bsky.social
Legal academic and feminist interested in reproducing life otherwise at Queen Mary University of London, and elsewhere | #Repealedthe8th | Chairperson, Abortion Support Network | Branch committee, QMUCU | Leverhulme Research Fellow
Pinned
Ruth Fletcher
@ruthfletcher.bsky.social
· Jul 27
British MPs recently decriminalised abortion-seekers. But this success occurred in a Bill that threatens to criminalise poverty and restrict protest rights.
RUTH FLETCHER explains on what a holistic legal approach to reproductive freedom ought to look like.
verfassungsblog.de/decriminalis...
RUTH FLETCHER explains on what a holistic legal approach to reproductive freedom ought to look like.
verfassungsblog.de/decriminalis...
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Listen: bit.ly/4pWOOnX
On November 12th, Claire will be at @LivUni for the official launch of Women's Troubles. Find out more and get your ticket on the events page of the MUP website.
On November 12th, Claire will be at @LivUni for the official launch of Women's Troubles. Find out more and get your ticket on the events page of the MUP website.
October 20, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Listen: bit.ly/4pWOOnX
On November 12th, Claire will be at @LivUni for the official launch of Women's Troubles. Find out more and get your ticket on the events page of the MUP website.
On November 12th, Claire will be at @LivUni for the official launch of Women's Troubles. Find out more and get your ticket on the events page of the MUP website.
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
How do feminist movements develop and organise in ethno-nationally divided societies? How does this challenge our understandings of fourth wave feminism?
🎧 Claire Pierson discusses feminism, Northern Ireland, and her book Women's Troubles with @NewBooksNetwork👇
🎧 Claire Pierson discusses feminism, Northern Ireland, and her book Women's Troubles with @NewBooksNetwork👇
October 20, 2025 at 9:30 AM
How do feminist movements develop and organise in ethno-nationally divided societies? How does this challenge our understandings of fourth wave feminism?
🎧 Claire Pierson discusses feminism, Northern Ireland, and her book Women's Troubles with @NewBooksNetwork👇
🎧 Claire Pierson discusses feminism, Northern Ireland, and her book Women's Troubles with @NewBooksNetwork👇
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Fantastic weekend taking about abortion, creative methods and making our own embroideries and prints. First time I've been drawn on a panel!
November 8, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Fantastic weekend taking about abortion, creative methods and making our own embroideries and prints. First time I've been drawn on a panel!
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
To “marginally increase taxes on [those] who have benefitted most from the massive value generated by the human system that is New York..to use those revenues to fund programs that will benefit the humans in New York that generated the value” makes him “a dangerous radical” to some. Hero to most.
Today I wrote about Zohran Mamdani's historic win, the energizing power of holding to shared principles of decency, and a taxonomy of the endlessly intertwined relationship between shame and vision. www.the-reframe.com/the-extraord...
The Extraordinary Power of Standing For Something
Winning by creating vision in the positive space of shared standards, and expertly negotiating the negative space of shame.
www.the-reframe.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
To “marginally increase taxes on [those] who have benefitted most from the massive value generated by the human system that is New York..to use those revenues to fund programs that will benefit the humans in New York that generated the value” makes him “a dangerous radical” to some. Hero to most.
Tomorrow!
What does it mean to speak of joyful passions in an era of reactionary politics? 'in conversation' w/ leading feminist & reproductive justice scholars on messy, magical, political feminist activism in Latin America. 10th Nov, 1830-1930 GMT: www.outsavvy.com/event/31065/... @kings-sga.bsky.social
In Conversation: Feminist Joys, Magic Pills, and Decolonial Praxis in Latin America. Tickets - London - OutSavvy
What does it mean to speak of joyful passions in an era when reactionary politics thrive on resentment? How do feminist movements across Latin America navigate these tensions while fighting for reprod...
www.outsavvy.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Tomorrow!
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
interesting @podsavetheuk.crooked.com epon abortion in the UK- Lisa was great!- but I’d suggest that perhaps imaginations/knowledges of fighting back is actually from non-US contexts like Argentina, or y’know, Ireland! The most radical abortion work is not happening in the US. 😕
November 9, 2025 at 1:51 PM
interesting @podsavetheuk.crooked.com epon abortion in the UK- Lisa was great!- but I’d suggest that perhaps imaginations/knowledges of fighting back is actually from non-US contexts like Argentina, or y’know, Ireland! The most radical abortion work is not happening in the US. 😕
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Does the Renters Rights’ Act go far enough?
Watch the full conversation with housing journalist Vicky Spratt - on YouTube now!
#PodSaveTheUK #Politics #UK #News #NishKumar
Watch the full conversation with housing journalist Vicky Spratt - on YouTube now!
#PodSaveTheUK #Politics #UK #News #NishKumar
November 3, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Does the Renters Rights’ Act go far enough?
Watch the full conversation with housing journalist Vicky Spratt - on YouTube now!
#PodSaveTheUK #Politics #UK #News #NishKumar
Watch the full conversation with housing journalist Vicky Spratt - on YouTube now!
#PodSaveTheUK #Politics #UK #News #NishKumar
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
What does it mean to speak of joyful passions in an era of reactionary politics? 'in conversation' w/ leading feminist & reproductive justice scholars on messy, magical, political feminist activism in Latin America. 10th Nov, 1830-1930 GMT: www.outsavvy.com/event/31065/... @kings-sga.bsky.social
In Conversation: Feminist Joys, Magic Pills, and Decolonial Praxis in Latin America. Tickets - London - OutSavvy
What does it mean to speak of joyful passions in an era when reactionary politics thrive on resentment? How do feminist movements across Latin America navigate these tensions while fighting for reprod...
www.outsavvy.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:21 AM
What does it mean to speak of joyful passions in an era of reactionary politics? 'in conversation' w/ leading feminist & reproductive justice scholars on messy, magical, political feminist activism in Latin America. 10th Nov, 1830-1930 GMT: www.outsavvy.com/event/31065/... @kings-sga.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
📊 NEW REPORT: Explore how abortion law & policy compares across 49 European countries:
🗺️ Abortion on request
🗺️ Bans
🗺️ Criminalisation
🗺️ Waiting periods
🗺️ Counselling requirements
🗺️ Time limits
🗺️ Coverage & affordability
See the full set of maps & analysis ⬇️
🗺️ Abortion on request
🗺️ Bans
🗺️ Criminalisation
🗺️ Waiting periods
🗺️ Counselling requirements
🗺️ Time limits
🗺️ Coverage & affordability
See the full set of maps & analysis ⬇️
Abortion Laws in Europe - Center for Reproductive Rights
In the global struggle for reproductive rights, the landscape in Europe offers reason for both optimism and continued vigilance.
reproductiverights.org
October 13, 2025 at 11:54 AM
📊 NEW REPORT: Explore how abortion law & policy compares across 49 European countries:
🗺️ Abortion on request
🗺️ Bans
🗺️ Criminalisation
🗺️ Waiting periods
🗺️ Counselling requirements
🗺️ Time limits
🗺️ Coverage & affordability
See the full set of maps & analysis ⬇️
🗺️ Abortion on request
🗺️ Bans
🗺️ Criminalisation
🗺️ Waiting periods
🗺️ Counselling requirements
🗺️ Time limits
🗺️ Coverage & affordability
See the full set of maps & analysis ⬇️
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
From 2027, all pregnancy-related care, including #abortions in the first 12 weeks, will become fully free of charge in Switzerland. The Swiss Parliament has adopted a historic reform that removes insurance deductibles and co-payments for all care throughout pregnancy.
How Switzerland became liberal on abortion – without noticing
From 2027 Swiss health insurers will cover the full cost of abortions. The change passed through parliament almost unnoticed.
www.swissinfo.ch
October 31, 2025 at 9:31 AM
From 2027, all pregnancy-related care, including #abortions in the first 12 weeks, will become fully free of charge in Switzerland. The Swiss Parliament has adopted a historic reform that removes insurance deductibles and co-payments for all care throughout pregnancy.
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
And we're SO lucky to have Dr @phoebesmartin.bsky.social chair this discussion. Dr Martin's work on art, activism, feminist politics, and reproductive justice makes her a particularly brilliant chair and facilitator for this stellar panel. www.kcl.ac.uk/people/phoeb...
Phoebe Martin | King's College London
Research Associate
www.kcl.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 9:31 AM
And we're SO lucky to have Dr @phoebesmartin.bsky.social chair this discussion. Dr Martin's work on art, activism, feminist politics, and reproductive justice makes her a particularly brilliant chair and facilitator for this stellar panel. www.kcl.ac.uk/people/phoeb...
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Dr Chaparro-Buitrago- whose book has JUST come outp- will be reflecting on the lived experiences of Indigenous women subjected to sterilisation in Peru, and the dissonances between rights discourse and embodied harm. Check out her book here: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/decolonizing...
Decolonizing Reproductive Rights in Latin America
Decolonizing Reproductive Rights in Latin America - The Cases of Forced Sterilization in Peru; Based on ethnographic fieldwork, this book examines forced sterilization through various registers, from ...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Dr Chaparro-Buitrago- whose book has JUST come outp- will be reflecting on the lived experiences of Indigenous women subjected to sterilisation in Peru, and the dissonances between rights discourse and embodied harm. Check out her book here: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/decolonizing...
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
@cordyf.bsky.social will be drawing on her new book which explores how misoprostol - a stomach ulcer drug- became a tool of reproductive justice, reshaping abortion safety, knowledge, and mobility across Latin America. Check out the book (OA) here: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/magic-misopr...
Magic Misoprostol
Magic Misoprostol - Reproductive Justice and Abortion Liberation in Latin America; This book develops three conceptual lenses around abortion access: reproductive justice, mobility politics and geogra...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 9:31 AM
@cordyf.bsky.social will be drawing on her new book which explores how misoprostol - a stomach ulcer drug- became a tool of reproductive justice, reshaping abortion safety, knowledge, and mobility across Latin America. Check out the book (OA) here: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/magic-misopr...
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Dr Vacarezza's will be discussing the “B-side” of abortion struggles: affect, creativity, and the power of joyful passions in Latin American feminist activism, based on her new book - available here (Spanish):
sigloxxieditores.com.ar/libro/las-pa...
sigloxxieditores.com.ar/libro/las-pa...
Las pasiones alegres del feminismo
Ante tantos diagnósticos de época que ponen el acento en la eficacia de las nuevas derechas para canalizar las pasiones tristes de amplios sectores sociales tomados por el resentimiento y la frustraci...
sigloxxieditores.com.ar
October 30, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Dr Vacarezza's will be discussing the “B-side” of abortion struggles: affect, creativity, and the power of joyful passions in Latin American feminist activism, based on her new book - available here (Spanish):
sigloxxieditores.com.ar/libro/las-pa...
sigloxxieditores.com.ar/libro/las-pa...
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
organised as part of the Reproduction Research Group in the Dept. of Global Health & Social Medicine @kings-sga.bsky.social, we're delighted to celebrate the work of Drs Vacarezza, @cordyf.bsky.social, Chaparro-Buitrago. Come join us in person or online! www.outsavvy.com/event/31065/...
October 30, 2025 at 9:24 AM
organised as part of the Reproduction Research Group in the Dept. of Global Health & Social Medicine @kings-sga.bsky.social, we're delighted to celebrate the work of Drs Vacarezza, @cordyf.bsky.social, Chaparro-Buitrago. Come join us in person or online! www.outsavvy.com/event/31065/...
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Dressed up as a safeguard, this proposal would criminalise more people trying to hold public office holders to account, because it places significant power, in the hands of people who already hold huge power, to influence the police into deciding what constitutes "harassment"
November 5, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Dressed up as a safeguard, this proposal would criminalise more people trying to hold public office holders to account, because it places significant power, in the hands of people who already hold huge power, to influence the police into deciding what constitutes "harassment"
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Remember the rule, folks – if it's outside a politician's home, it's "toxic behaviour", but if it's outside a so-called 'asylum hotel' it's a "reasonable concern" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 5, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Remember the rule, folks – if it's outside a politician's home, it's "toxic behaviour", but if it's outside a so-called 'asylum hotel' it's a "reasonable concern" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
this great article by @debtcollective.bsky.social lays out really clearly what's been on my mind all day: everybody better get real familiar with municipal finance real quick
www.inthered.org/p/zohran-won...
www.inthered.org/p/zohran-won...
Zohran Won Main Street—Now He Must Face Wall Street
Mamdani will face a looming threat to his progressive agenda: debt
www.inthered.org
November 5, 2025 at 11:24 PM
this great article by @debtcollective.bsky.social lays out really clearly what's been on my mind all day: everybody better get real familiar with municipal finance real quick
www.inthered.org/p/zohran-won...
www.inthered.org/p/zohran-won...
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
ASOS which is "work in the same way you’ve done for years" is not irresponsible. It's protecting our members until a fair & equitable hybrid policy is agreed.
UCU SMT then deducting 100% of daily pay from staff taking ASOS & undermining its own policy?
Now that’s irresponsible.
UCU SMT then deducting 100% of daily pay from staff taking ASOS & undermining its own policy?
Now that’s irresponsible.
November 3, 2025 at 9:47 AM
ASOS which is "work in the same way you’ve done for years" is not irresponsible. It's protecting our members until a fair & equitable hybrid policy is agreed.
UCU SMT then deducting 100% of daily pay from staff taking ASOS & undermining its own policy?
Now that’s irresponsible.
UCU SMT then deducting 100% of daily pay from staff taking ASOS & undermining its own policy?
Now that’s irresponsible.
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
“Mamdani shows how new constituencies are born from taking political risks and made through probing investigation and performative interaction.“
New online: Nikhil Pal Singh on Zohran Mamdani. www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
Zohran's Promise - Dissent Magazine
The Mamdani campaign extended the arena of political participation to ordinary and unseen people of every place and pursuit. The challenge going forward will be sustaining faith in the idea that the c...
www.dissentmagazine.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:59 PM
“Mamdani shows how new constituencies are born from taking political risks and made through probing investigation and performative interaction.“
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Today, Amna Akbar, @sameer-ashar.bsky.social, and @jocelynsimonson.bsky.social reflect on how legal scholars might act in solidarity with people already resisting state repression, and what they could learn from doing so.
Movement Law Under Fascism
As fascist tendencies intensify across the United States, social movements continue to organize against the forces of state repression. Legal scholars must stand with these movements…
lpeproject.org
October 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Today, Amna Akbar, @sameer-ashar.bsky.social, and @jocelynsimonson.bsky.social reflect on how legal scholars might act in solidarity with people already resisting state repression, and what they could learn from doing so.
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Mamdani: "We can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves. After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him."
November 5, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Mamdani: "We can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves. After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him."
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
Astoria is overflowing with Mamdani supporters as he clinches a historic win, read out first draft of that history at @thecity.nyc
www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/04/m...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/04/m...
November 5, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Astoria is overflowing with Mamdani supporters as he clinches a historic win, read out first draft of that history at @thecity.nyc
www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/04/m...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/04/m...
Reposted by Ruth Fletcher
I've a new paper out in the Discrimination Law Association's Briefings on the distinct Windsor Framework's rights/equality arrangements applicable to Northern Ireland law, which give ongoing significance of a broad sweep of EU protections even after Brexit:
discriminationlaw.org.uk/assets/docum...
discriminationlaw.org.uk/assets/docum...
November 4, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I've a new paper out in the Discrimination Law Association's Briefings on the distinct Windsor Framework's rights/equality arrangements applicable to Northern Ireland law, which give ongoing significance of a broad sweep of EU protections even after Brexit:
discriminationlaw.org.uk/assets/docum...
discriminationlaw.org.uk/assets/docum...