Save Sheila Rowbotham

Distressing news. Sheila Rowbotham has been told that her contract as a Professor of Gender and Labour History at the University of Manchester is not going to be renewed at the end of this year. The co-author of Beyond the Fragments (with Lynne Segal and Hilary Wainwright) among many other works (some of which is online) Rowbotham has been essential reading on the left for many years, and is widely regarded by those who taught them as an immense assett to the university.

The University is forcing her to retire on the grounds that they cannot afford to pay her salary (she only wants a third of her current salary to continue teaching). The University are currently paying Martin Amis £80,000 for 28 hours.....A YEAR.

If you have been taught by or influenced by Sheila in any way, please email those with whom this decision rests as soon as you can and help put pressure on them to reconsider. It doesn't matter how big or small the influence, or long or short the email, just let them know you strongly disagree with this forced retirement.

Head of Social Sciences
david.farrell@manchester.ac.uk (professor)

Dean of Humanities
alistair.ulph@manchester.ac.uk (professor)

President and Vice Chancellor
president@manchester.ac.uk (professor)

It would be a terrible loss to our education system for one of our top feminist historians to be forced out whilst odius cranks like Martin Amis are free to pollute the minds of those attempting to get an education.