Recovery Histories
@recovery-histories.bsky.social
Recovery Histories is a project that investigates the histories of child sexual abuse, trauma and recovery in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales (1950s to present day). It is co-produced with survivors and practitioners and funded by Wellcome.
Pinned
Why does a medical model of recovery dominate medical, psychiatric and public discourses of healing after child sexual abuse?
Why does history matter to current child protection practice?
In this blog @katekatewilson.bsky.social reflects on first meeting of the new AOCPP Special Interest Group (SIG), History & Practice, which was hosted by Caring Communities and the Recovery History projects.
In this blog @katekatewilson.bsky.social reflects on first meeting of the new AOCPP Special Interest Group (SIG), History & Practice, which was hosted by Caring Communities and the Recovery History projects.
November 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Why does history matter to current child protection practice?
In this blog @katekatewilson.bsky.social reflects on first meeting of the new AOCPP Special Interest Group (SIG), History & Practice, which was hosted by Caring Communities and the Recovery History projects.
In this blog @katekatewilson.bsky.social reflects on first meeting of the new AOCPP Special Interest Group (SIG), History & Practice, which was hosted by Caring Communities and the Recovery History projects.
One of our advisory board members, Sameena Mulla, has published a new paper!
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Anthropology of Gender-Based Violence: Beyond the Binaries of Intervention
The organization of gender-based violence by the urgent need for intervention results in an emphasis on binaries, namely a distinction between domestic violence and sexual assault. It also produces an...
www.annualreviews.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:16 PM
One of our advisory board members, Sameena Mulla, has published a new paper!
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...
Child sexual abuse also functions as a mechanism for enforcing settler colonialism.
As activists, survivors, and researchers have long observed, the taboo surrounding child sexual abuse concerns the act of speaking about CSA rather than the abuse itself.
As activists, survivors, and researchers have long observed, the taboo surrounding child sexual abuse concerns the act of speaking about CSA rather than the abuse itself.
October 14, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Child sexual abuse also functions as a mechanism for enforcing settler colonialism.
As activists, survivors, and researchers have long observed, the taboo surrounding child sexual abuse concerns the act of speaking about CSA rather than the abuse itself.
As activists, survivors, and researchers have long observed, the taboo surrounding child sexual abuse concerns the act of speaking about CSA rather than the abuse itself.
Survivors in Transition are re-running their 2015 survey about disclosure and support for people who were sexually abused in childhood. Nearly 400 people took part last time and the report helped improve services for survivors. Have things changed? RT pls www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/FocusOnSur...
October 10, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Survivors in Transition are re-running their 2015 survey about disclosure and support for people who were sexually abused in childhood. Nearly 400 people took part last time and the report helped improve services for survivors. Have things changed? RT pls www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/FocusOnSur...
Find out what these two Intrepid Ethnographers are up to by joining our Recovery Histories mailing list. Click the nasty code-y link below. After you join, you will get a bureaucratic type message about GDPR which we cannot change BUT we welcome you in advance.....
my.bbk.ac.uk/ords/f?p=209...
my.bbk.ac.uk/ords/f?p=209...
October 7, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Find out what these two Intrepid Ethnographers are up to by joining our Recovery Histories mailing list. Click the nasty code-y link below. After you join, you will get a bureaucratic type message about GDPR which we cannot change BUT we welcome you in advance.....
my.bbk.ac.uk/ords/f?p=209...
my.bbk.ac.uk/ords/f?p=209...
Today, we attended a workshop co-delivered by activist, author, and our partner Sophie Olson, together with poet Jacky Power. The workshop formed part of the events organised by A Disorder 4 Everyone.
September 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Today, we attended a workshop co-delivered by activist, author, and our partner Sophie Olson, together with poet Jacky Power. The workshop formed part of the events organised by A Disorder 4 Everyone.
We are excited that tomorrow our project about recovering the histories of #CSASurvivors will be discussed at the first History & Practice Special Interest Group of the Association of Child Protection Professionals. FREE EVENT, DO REGISTER & COME ALONG....
LAUNCH EVENT: Special Interest Group - History and Practice | Your History Counts – Why we should preserve the memories of child protection practitioners through co-producing oral history life narrati...
www.childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk
September 29, 2025 at 10:39 AM
We are excited that tomorrow our project about recovering the histories of #CSASurvivors will be discussed at the first History & Practice Special Interest Group of the Association of Child Protection Professionals. FREE EVENT, DO REGISTER & COME ALONG....
Earlier this year, the Recovery Histories Project hosted its first in-person network events at Birkbeck!
Check out our new blog post where you can find out more about the event programmes and key takeaways that are shaping our work moving forward.
👉 Read it here: shra.bbk.ac.uk/blog/recover...
Check out our new blog post where you can find out more about the event programmes and key takeaways that are shaping our work moving forward.
👉 Read it here: shra.bbk.ac.uk/blog/recover...
Recovery History - Network Events – Sexual Harms Research Alliance
On May 1–2, 2025, the Recovery Histories Project held its first in-person network events at Birkbeck, University of London, bringing together survivors, researchers, academics, and partner organisatio...
shra.bbk.ac.uk
September 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Earlier this year, the Recovery Histories Project hosted its first in-person network events at Birkbeck!
Check out our new blog post where you can find out more about the event programmes and key takeaways that are shaping our work moving forward.
👉 Read it here: shra.bbk.ac.uk/blog/recover...
Check out our new blog post where you can find out more about the event programmes and key takeaways that are shaping our work moving forward.
👉 Read it here: shra.bbk.ac.uk/blog/recover...
Fantastic article exploring the complexities of remembering sexual violence during apartheid by Emily Bridger. Based on oral histories conducted with older Black South African women. Open access, y'all.
doi.org/10.1093/past...
doi.org/10.1093/past...
(Un)Remembering Sexual Violence in South African History*
Abstract. South Africa is a country known for its high rates of gender-based and sexual violence. Historical research demonstrates that such issues are not
doi.org
September 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Fantastic article exploring the complexities of remembering sexual violence during apartheid by Emily Bridger. Based on oral histories conducted with older Black South African women. Open access, y'all.
doi.org/10.1093/past...
doi.org/10.1093/past...
rounded in nearly 20-years of research, Jessica Ringrose and Kaitlyn Regehr, centre of voices of young people in their new book, Teens, Social Media and Image-Based Abuse.
September 17, 2025 at 10:43 AM
rounded in nearly 20-years of research, Jessica Ringrose and Kaitlyn Regehr, centre of voices of young people in their new book, Teens, Social Media and Image-Based Abuse.
📢 We’re live! Excited to announce that the first Recovery Histories newsletter launched last week! 📢
👉 If you are new to our page and our project, why not sign up to our mailing list to get the next issue straight to your inbox: my.bbk.ac.uk/ords/f?p=209...
👉 If you are new to our page and our project, why not sign up to our mailing list to get the next issue straight to your inbox: my.bbk.ac.uk/ords/f?p=209...
Register your interest - CSA Recovery Project - Birkbeck, University of London
my.bbk.ac.uk
September 11, 2025 at 2:23 PM
📢 We’re live! Excited to announce that the first Recovery Histories newsletter launched last week! 📢
👉 If you are new to our page and our project, why not sign up to our mailing list to get the next issue straight to your inbox: my.bbk.ac.uk/ords/f?p=209...
👉 If you are new to our page and our project, why not sign up to our mailing list to get the next issue straight to your inbox: my.bbk.ac.uk/ords/f?p=209...
In this influential article Nick Haslam introduces the concept of 'concept creep'. Haslam presents six key concepts in psychology: abuse, bullying, trauma, mental disorder, addiction, and prejudice.
September 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
In this influential article Nick Haslam introduces the concept of 'concept creep'. Haslam presents six key concepts in psychology: abuse, bullying, trauma, mental disorder, addiction, and prejudice.
“Women’s recovery experiences reveal the implicit workings of power that shaped their emotional lives and recovery narratives through the negotiation of gender demands that affected their emotional capacity, material wellbeing and were plainly unjust.”
September 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
“Women’s recovery experiences reveal the implicit workings of power that shaped their emotional lives and recovery narratives through the negotiation of gender demands that affected their emotional capacity, material wellbeing and were plainly unjust.”
In this video from our team, our wonderful anthropologist Adeline Moussion Esteve talks about her PhD research, her work on our new project and why it all matters. #ethnography #VAWG #CSA
shra.bbk.ac.uk/member/ms-ad...
shra.bbk.ac.uk/member/ms-ad...
Dr Adeline Moussion Esteve – Sexual Harms Research Alliance
shra.bbk.ac.uk
September 8, 2025 at 9:09 AM
In this video from our team, our wonderful anthropologist Adeline Moussion Esteve talks about her PhD research, her work on our new project and why it all matters. #ethnography #VAWG #CSA
shra.bbk.ac.uk/member/ms-ad...
shra.bbk.ac.uk/member/ms-ad...
@ruthbeecher.bsky.social's short video explains how she and Dr Victoria Hoyle invited a group of survivor activists, academics and practitioners to come together to discuss why histories of child sexual abuse matter & led ultimately to our project. shra.bbk.ac.uk/member/dr-ru...
Dr Ruth Beecher – Sexual Harms Research Alliance
Dr Ruth Beecher is an historian of medicine, welfare and childhood in Britain, Ireland and the US and is the principal investigator of the Recovery Histories project. Her previous role was as director...
shra.bbk.ac.uk
September 4, 2025 at 12:47 PM
@ruthbeecher.bsky.social's short video explains how she and Dr Victoria Hoyle invited a group of survivor activists, academics and practitioners to come together to discuss why histories of child sexual abuse matter & led ultimately to our project. shra.bbk.ac.uk/member/dr-ru...
Today's food for thoughts and ears, Kae Tempest's new song, 'Diagnoses'.
lnkd.in/d2Srnu_J
'C-PTSD, ADHD, OCD and PMDD
Anxious attachment, TBI
But it's the world that's sick, baby, we're alright
C-PTSD, ADHD, anxiety
Bipolar, addiction, neurodivergence
I'd be more worried if we weren't disturbed'
lnkd.in/d2Srnu_J
'C-PTSD, ADHD, OCD and PMDD
Anxious attachment, TBI
But it's the world that's sick, baby, we're alright
C-PTSD, ADHD, anxiety
Bipolar, addiction, neurodivergence
I'd be more worried if we weren't disturbed'
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
June 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Today's food for thoughts and ears, Kae Tempest's new song, 'Diagnoses'.
lnkd.in/d2Srnu_J
'C-PTSD, ADHD, OCD and PMDD
Anxious attachment, TBI
But it's the world that's sick, baby, we're alright
C-PTSD, ADHD, anxiety
Bipolar, addiction, neurodivergence
I'd be more worried if we weren't disturbed'
lnkd.in/d2Srnu_J
'C-PTSD, ADHD, OCD and PMDD
Anxious attachment, TBI
But it's the world that's sick, baby, we're alright
C-PTSD, ADHD, anxiety
Bipolar, addiction, neurodivergence
I'd be more worried if we weren't disturbed'
Today is the AoCPP conference, Practising Intersectionality in Child Protection.
We look forward to learning from all the speakers!
Program and info here: www.childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk/events/pract...
We look forward to learning from all the speakers!
Program and info here: www.childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk/events/pract...
CONFERENCE - Practising Intersectionality in Child Protection: Making Sense of the lived experiences of racially minoritised children and bridging the gap between policy, research and practice - AOCPP...
www.childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk
June 18, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Today is the AoCPP conference, Practising Intersectionality in Child Protection.
We look forward to learning from all the speakers!
Program and info here: www.childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk/events/pract...
We look forward to learning from all the speakers!
Program and info here: www.childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk/events/pract...
Come listen to our very own Ruth Beecher talk about co-produced research! Along with a stellar panel of speakers, she will discuss the challenges and possibilities of co-production.
9 June 2025, 18:00 — 20:00.
Birkbeck 43 Gordon Square
9 June 2025, 18:00 — 20:00.
Birkbeck 43 Gordon Square
Social Sciences Festival 2025 - Co-produced Research in the Justice System: Questions, Challenges and Opportunities
Social Sciences Festival 2025
www.bbk.ac.uk
June 4, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Come listen to our very own Ruth Beecher talk about co-produced research! Along with a stellar panel of speakers, she will discuss the challenges and possibilities of co-production.
9 June 2025, 18:00 — 20:00.
Birkbeck 43 Gordon Square
9 June 2025, 18:00 — 20:00.
Birkbeck 43 Gordon Square
‘Echoing the presumptions of trauma theory, the feminist recovery paradigm presumes an idealized pretraumatic self toward which healing can strive; even in cases where incest began in infancy or occurred within an already violent life (...)
Of Shards, Subjectivities, and the Refusal to ‘Heal’: Refi guring the
Feminist narratives of father-daughter incest have conventionally anchored
their politics in three tropes: helplessness, which attests to the child’s
www.taylorfrancis.com
May 28, 2025 at 7:40 AM
‘Echoing the presumptions of trauma theory, the feminist recovery paradigm presumes an idealized pretraumatic self toward which healing can strive; even in cases where incest began in infancy or occurred within an already violent life (...)
Research from the CSE Centre shows that services for victim-survivors of child sexual abuse are at a critical low. We know that CSA can have long-term consequences for survivors & specialist services provide vital support. Urgent investment is essential: www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/...
www.csacentre.org.uk
May 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Research from the CSE Centre shows that services for victim-survivors of child sexual abuse are at a critical low. We know that CSA can have long-term consequences for survivors & specialist services provide vital support. Urgent investment is essential: www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/...
We would love to see you at the launch of Ruth Beecher’s new book, Community Health Practitioners and Child Sexual Abuse in the Family, 1970s-2010s, exploring the different ways doctors, health visitors, and mental health practitioners responded to child sexual abuse.
May 21, 2025 at 7:20 AM
We would love to see you at the launch of Ruth Beecher’s new book, Community Health Practitioners and Child Sexual Abuse in the Family, 1970s-2010s, exploring the different ways doctors, health visitors, and mental health practitioners responded to child sexual abuse.
We started the week by attending a great talk by @jennycrane.bsky.social about her new book on gifted children. So child-centred, totally mesmerising and we can't wait to read it. It's at OUP and it's open access - hurray! #histchild #histeduc
May 19, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We started the week by attending a great talk by @jennycrane.bsky.social about her new book on gifted children. So child-centred, totally mesmerising and we can't wait to read it. It's at OUP and it's open access - hurray! #histchild #histeduc
Started the week with a viewing of 'Groomed: A National Scandal', a documentary that follows five young women who survived abuse and rape as a result of gang grooming spanning 20 years. It also exposes the failures of the police and social services.
www.channel4.com/programmes/g...
www.channel4.com/programmes/g...
Groomed: A National Scandal
Five young women who survived unimaginable abuse and rape tell their stories
www.channel4.com
May 8, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Started the week with a viewing of 'Groomed: A National Scandal', a documentary that follows five young women who survived abuse and rape as a result of gang grooming spanning 20 years. It also exposes the failures of the police and social services.
www.channel4.com/programmes/g...
www.channel4.com/programmes/g...
Last week, we held our Network Event. It was two days filled with presentations and workshops led by our partners and ourselves. @joannabourke.bsky.social has just republished the paper she shared with us on her blog.
www.joannabourke.com/post/the-pae...
www.joannabourke.com/post/the-pae...
The Paedophilia Debates: Feminism, Gay Liberation, and NAMBLA
(This is a version of a talk I gave at the Recovery Histories Network, led by Dr Ruth Beecher, at Birkbeck, University of London, in May 2025. Please note, this blog includes profanity.) This is a di...
www.joannabourke.com
May 7, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Last week, we held our Network Event. It was two days filled with presentations and workshops led by our partners and ourselves. @joannabourke.bsky.social has just republished the paper she shared with us on her blog.
www.joannabourke.com/post/the-pae...
www.joannabourke.com/post/the-pae...