Kate Gilchrist

Dr Kate Gilchrist is a Lecturer (Teaching) in Media at University College London's Institute of Education, Department of Culture, Communication and Media, where she has been employed since February 2022. A feminist researcher, she investigates intersections between intimate life, gendered subjectivity, and cultural representation with expertise in singlehood studies and menopause in media discourse. Her work bridges academic theory and contemporary cultural analysis across US-UK contexts.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics (2021)
• MSc in Gender Studies from the London School of Economics (2014)
• BA in English Literature and History from the University of Sheffield (2001)
• Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP Law School (2005)
• PGCert in Higher Education

Her research centers on feminist theory and cultural studies, critically examining how cultural narratives shape women's experiences of singledom and menopause. Using psychosocial and postfeminist frameworks, she analyzes the cultural imaginary of single femininity and embodied experiences in neoliberal contexts. Key contributions include theorizing single women as 'illegible' subjects and examining 'menopause rage' in media, revealing how fantasy structures gendered subjectivity through popular culture and lived experience.

Analysis of her publication record (2021-2025) shows an evolution from foundational singlehood studies to contemporary menopause/media analysis. Early work established frameworks for understanding single women as 'failed' subjects in popular culture, while recent publications extend this to workplace embodiment and media discourse. Across all work, she consistently applies intersectional methodologies to dissect power structures in digital platforms, television, and public discourse, with growing emphasis on embodiment and emotion.

Her notable recognition includes:

• Journal of Gender Studies Janet Blackman Prize for feminist scholarship (2025) for 'The menopausal subject at work'

She has supervised MA dissertations at King's College London and likely at UCL, with research supported by significant grants:

• ESRC funding for her PhD research
• Leverhulme Trust funding for postdoctoral work on menopause in UK public discourse

Though not affiliated with a specific named lab, her collaborative projects with Professor Catherine Rottenberg and Professor Shani Orgad demonstrate active participation in interdisciplinary feminist research networks focused on gender, media, and embodiment across UCL, Goldsmiths, and LSE.