Jo Phoenix

She has held academic posts as Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Middlesex from 1998 - 2000, at University of Bath until 2000 Bath and a variety of posts at University of Durham until 2013 (Reader in Criminology, made Professor in 2010, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health, Dean of Queens Campus) and Head of Department at University of Leicester.[3]

Her research areas include sex, gender, sexualities, prostitution policy and the experience of women in the penal system.[4][5][3][6][7]

Phoenix is a trustee of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies.[3]

She is one of the two academic speakers (along with Rosa Freedman) who received an apology from University of Essex in 2021 after their invitation to speak was withdrawn at short notice.[8][9][10]

In November 2021, Phoenix welcomed legal action against the University of Essex, claiming its policies breach free speech legislation. The Free Speech Union, led by Toby Young, took the action.[11]

In 2021 she began a process of suing the Open University (her employer) for not protecting her against harassment in the workplace.[12] She left the Open University to take up a role at University of Reading. [13]

In June 2021, Phoenix and Jon Pike co-convened the Gender Critical Research Network at the Open University.[14] The network described itself as "bring[ing] together a range of academics and scholars, all of which share a common interest in exploring how sexed bodies come to matter in their respective research fields and a common commitment to ensuring that a space within academia is kept open for those explorations".[15] Philosopher Kathleen Stock is an affiliate member.[15]

The network was criticised in an open letter signed by 380 people, which called on the Open University to withhold support and funding.[16] The letter said the network was "hostile to the rights of trans people" and said that academic freedom should not be "at the expense of marginalised groups".[17]