Jo Phoenix
Jo Phoenix is a sociologist turned criminologist. She has held Chairs in Criminology at Durham University, Leicester University, The Open University. She has published extensively on prostitution, prostitution policy reform, child sexual exploitation, sex and social control and gender, crime and justice as well as youth justice and academic freedom. She has given invited lectures in Australia, Sweden, Portugal, Canada, USA, Austria, Singapore, Malayasia, Hong Kong and New Zealand. She has been: a peer reviewer for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, a Commissioner for the Howard League’s Commission on Sex in Prion, a research consultant for the MacDonald-Laurier Institute in Canada as well as for the Women’s Rights Network. She has sat on the editorial boards of: The British Journal of Criminology, International Journal of Crime and Justice, Howard Journal of Crime and Justice, Youth Justice.
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Order one of the first 100 paperback copies and receive a personally signed, numbered edition — signed by both Jo Phoenix and Pat Carlen.
Written by two well-known sociologists, SEX: One Woman’s War tells the story of Jo Phoenix, who, in 2022, took her employer, The Open University, to an Employment Tribunal claiming, amongst other things, constructive dismissal. In 2024 her claim was upheld; but not before she had suffered much abuse at work, online and in person for her gender-critical view that biological sex is immutable.
Yet Jo was an accidental campaigner. Her own life experiences had ill-prepared her either for vilification as a campaigner against sexual freedom, or, subsequently, for celebration as a champion of science and common sense, academic freedom and workplace justice.
This book combines memoir and sociology to not only demonstrate how, for one woman, the very, very personal transitioned into the very, very political. It also vividly documents one woman’s extraordinary experiences in one of the several culture wars which have become a defining feature of the early twenty-first century and along the way explores the changing meanings of sex, gender, gender identity and justice.
For the digital book, click here
Part memoir and part manifesto, Sex: One Woman's War is a unique book about a unique life. Phoenix and Carlen's prose exposes universal truths from Jo's individual experience whilst never proselytising or preaching. A remarkable and singular work that deserve to be read by anyone who want to understand the reasons why feminism is essential.
Peter Daly, Partner, Doyle Clayton
A brave and uncompromising memoir that draws on personal experience to provide insight into political and intellectual change... Written with clarity, compassion and a complete absence of self-pity, this book tells the story of what it means to be a woman who stands her ground.
Prof Alice Sullivan, UCL Social Research Institute
A devastating, inspiring account of becoming a woman and discovering what it is to be a woman.
Akua Reindorf, KC
A fascinating, fast-paced and surprisingly funny account of one woman's courageous stand for her own rights and those of other women.
Maya Forstater, CEO Sex Matters
An extremely moving and personal account... I defy any woman reading this not to feel angry, compassionate and more determined than ever to keep fighting for our fundamental rights.
Rosie Duffield MP
This is the digital version of SEX: One Woman’s War. View the paperback version
Written by two well-known sociologists, SEX: One Woman’s War tells the story of Jo Phoenix, who, in 2022, took her employer, The Open University, to an Employment Tribunal claiming, amongst other things, constructive dismissal. In 2024 her claim was upheld; but not before she had suffered much abuse at work, online and in person for her gender-critical view that biological sex is immutable.
Yet Jo was an accidental campaigner. Her own life experiences had ill-prepared her either for vilification as a campaigner against sexual freedom, or, subsequently, for celebration as a champion of science and common sense, academic freedom and workplace justice.
This book combines memoir and sociology to not only demonstrate how, for one woman, the very, very personal transitioned into the very, very political. It also vividly documents one woman’s extraordinary experiences in one of the several culture wars which have become a defining feature of the early twenty-first century and along the way explores the changing meanings of sex, gender, gender identity and justice.
Part memoir and part manifesto, Sex: One Woman's War is a unique book about a unique life. Phoenix and Carlen's prose exposes universal truths from Jo's individual experience whilst never proselytising or preaching. A remarkable and singular work that deserve to be read by anyone who want to understand the reasons why feminism is essential.
Peter Daly, Partner, Doyle Clayton
A brave and uncompromising memoir that draws on personal experience to provide insight into political and intellectual change... Written with clarity, compassion and a complete absence of self-pity, this book tells the story of what it means to be a woman who stands her ground.
Prof Alice Sullivan, UCL Social Research Institute
A devastating, inspiring account of becoming a woman and discovering what it is to be a woman.
Akua Reindorf, KC
A fascinating, fast-paced and surprisingly funny account of one woman's courageous stand for her own rights and those of other women.
Maya Forstater, CEO Sex Matters
An extremely moving and personal account... I defy any woman reading this not to feel angry, compassionate and more determined than ever to keep fighting for our fundamental rights.
Rosie Duffield MP