Jo Phoenix

Jo Phoenix is a Professor at the University of Reading, specializing in sex, gender, sexualities, and justice. She has held academic positions at institutions including Middlesex University, Bath, Durham, Leicester, and The Open University, where she established research networks like the Centre for Sex, Gender, and Sexualities and The Open University Gender Critical Research Network. Her work focuses on criminological knowledge production, youth justice policy, and academic freedom.

Phoenix’s research examines the criminalization of women and youth, qualitative methodologies, and policy implementation. She has written extensively on transphobia critiques in academia, gender identity politics, and institutional ethics. Her recent publications address freedom of expression in the arts and gender belief discrimination in employment.

Phoenix’s career includes senior leadership roles such as Head of Department and Dean, and she remains committed to mentoring and fostering research environments. She advocates for academic freedom and has been a vocal critic of the erosion of free speech in universities.