Victoria Bateman
{{Short description|British economist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox academic
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| name = Victoria N. Bateman
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| birth_name = Victoria N. Powell
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1979|12|2}}{{cite web|url=https://unherd.com/2017/07/capitalists-not-socialists-killing-capitalism/|website=unherd.com|title=Capitalists – not socialists – are killing capitalism|first=Victoria|last=Bateman|date=25 July 2017|accessdate=8 February 2019}}
| birth_place = Lees, Oldham, England
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| nationality = British
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| occupation = Academic, economist
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| spouse = James Bateman
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| website = {{URL|http://vnbateman.com}}
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| alma_mater = Saddleworth School
Oldham Sixth Form College
University of Cambridge (BA)
University of Oxford (MSc, DPhil)
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| discipline = economist
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| workplaces = Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
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| main_interests = British economic history, macroeconomics, feminism
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Victoria N. Bateman (née Powell, born 1979) is a British feminist economist and academic, specialising in economic history. She is a fellow in economics at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.{{cite web|title=Dr Victoria N Bateman|url=https://www.cai.cam.ac.uk/people/victoria-bateman|website=Gonville & Caius College|publisher=University of Cambridge|accessdate=13 October 2017}} She is Director of Studies for the Economics Tripos at Gonville and Caius College.
Brought up in Lees, Oldham, Victoria Bateman attended Saddleworth School, Uppermill. She then studied for A-levels at Oldham Sixth Form College where she was President of the Student Union. She read economics at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge,{{cite news |last=George |first=Belle |date=19 October 2018 |title=Victoria Bateman on 'the cult of female modesty' |url=https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/16303 |newspaper=Varsity |location=Cambridge, UK |accessdate=19 March 2019}} and went on to receive master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Oxford.
Her research focuses on economic history, including the role of markets in economic development, and the role of women's rights and freedoms in stimulating economic growth.
She is well known for her public protests against Brexit and in favour of women's rights, occasionally appearing naked.
Early life
Bateman grew up with two younger sisters in Lees, Oldham. Her father worked in the sheet metal industry, installing ductwork; her mother worked for the same company in the payroll department. When both parents lost their jobs, her father started a new business of his own, which foundered when clients were unable to pay. Her mother worked several jobs, and the family struggled to pay its debts. Bateman's parents divorced when she was 14 years old, and their economic straits worsened. Her sisters dropped out of school, and one became pregnant as a teenager. Bateman attributes her interest in economics to witnessing first-hand the effects of the boom-bust cycle and economic disparity. With the encouragement of her father and a history teacher, she studied economics at Cambridge as an undergraduate, followed by master's degrees in economics and economic history and a doctoral degree in economics at Oxford.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.com/interactives/20190516-bateman|title=Are Women Invisible to Economists? One Scholar Is Stripping Down to Make Them Look|last=Kafka|first=Alexander C.|date=2019-05-17|website=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=2019-05-22}}
Research
Bateman's academic research focuses on economic history. Her 2019 book The Sex Factor: How Women Made the West Rich argues that women's rights and freedoms were a key factor enabling the industrial and economic development of the West, by boosting wages, skills, saving and entrepreneurial spirit, and helping to produce a democratic and capable state.{{Cite web|url=http://vnbateman.com/the-sex-factor.html|title=The Sex Factor|website=vnbateman.com|accessdate=10 April 2019}}
Her earlier work focused on the role of markets in economic development in Europe. Her paper The evolution of markets in early modern Europe, 1350–1800: a study of wheat prices {{Cite journal|last=Bateman|first=Victoria N.|date=1 May 2011|title=The evolution of markets in early modern Europe, 1350–1800: a study of wheat prices1|journal=The Economic History Review|volume=64|issue=2|pages=447–471|doi=10.1111/j.1468-0289.2010.00540.x|s2cid=153827318|issn=1468-0289}} uses data on European wheat prices to study trends in market development from the early medieval period to the industrial revolution, demonstrating that markets were as well-integrated across Europe in the early 16th century as they were in the late 19th century. Her book Markets and growth in early modern Europe builds on this research, examining several aspects of the relationship between market integration and economic development.{{cite web|url=http://eh.net/book_reviews/markets-and-growth-in-early-modern-europe/|title=Markets and Growth in Early Modern Europe|website=eh.net|accessdate=10 April 2019}}
Feminism and protest
Bateman identifies as a feminist, and writes: "I believe passionately in freedom for women, and whilst many battles have been won in the past century, there is still a long way for society to move until women enjoy the levels of freedom that they should be able to. I am not afraid to use my body as well as my brain to deliver important messages."{{cite web|url=http://vnbateman.com/protest.html|title=Protest|website=vnbateman.com|accessdate=10 April 2019}}
In 2014, Bateman commissioned and posed nude for a life-size portrait by Anthony Connolly, which subsequently appeared in the Mall Galleries.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/12007112/The-Naked-Don-The-truth-about-women-inscience.html|title=The naked truth about women in science|first=Victoria|last=Bateman|date=21 November 2015|accessdate=4 December 2017|work=The Telegraph}} Bateman said that the purpose of the painting was to ask questions about the sexualisation of women in modern society.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/may/18/cambridge-nude-painting-scandal-society-attitudes|title=Why such a scandal over a nude painting of a Cambridge academic?|website=TheGuardian.com |date=18 May 2014|accessdate=11 February 2019}} In June 2018, Bateman attended the Gonville and Caius College end of term supervisor dinner wearing a see through body suit, with the words "my body my choice" written on her body.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecollegefix.com/female-lecturer-bares-all-to-promote-abortion-prostitution-at-faculty-dinner/|title=Female lecturer bares all to promote abortion, prostitution at faculty dinner|date=20 June 2018|accessdate=11 February 2019}} Bateman is an advocate of the recognition by economists of the economic value of the sex trade and the right of women to earn their living by prostitution.{{cite news|first=May|last=Bulman |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cambridge-university-economist-name-women-sex-work-earn-money-prostitution-a7659401.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220817/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cambridge-university-economist-name-women-sex-work-earn-money-prostitution-a7659401.html |archive-date=17 August 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Female sex workers should be thought of in same way as male soldiers and boxers, Cambridge academic says |work=The Independent |date=31 March 2017 |accessdate=2 April 2017}}{{cite news|first=Nicola|last=Woolcock|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/society/article/why-shouldn-t-women-make-a-living-from-sex-academic-asks-5f7b0f066 |title=Why shouldn't women make a living from sex, academic asks |work=The Times |date=31 March 2017 |access-date=2 April 2017}}{{subscription required}} In July 2018, Bateman posted a video on Twitter in which she appeared naked and discussed inequality in economics.{{cite web|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/victoria-bateman-naked-cambridge-university-14948651|title=Naked Cambridge University don says stripper jokes won't stop me|date=25 July 2018|accessdate=11 February 2019}}
Brexit and protest
Bateman is a frequent critic of Brexit, arguing that "Brexit leaves Britain naked",{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/07/01/naked-don-a-cambridge-academics-protest-against-brexit/|title='Brexit leaves Britain naked': Cambridge academic stages nude protest against outcome of EU referendum|last=Espinoza|first=Javier|date=1 July 2016|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=10 April 2019|issn=0307-1235}} and that leaving the EU would hurt low-income families,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2016-06-09/exit-from-eu-would-hit-poor-u-k-families-hard|title=Exit from EU would hit poor UK families|last=Bateman|first=Victoria|website=Bloomberg News }} damage British scientific research,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2016-03-03/boris-johnson-s-brother-is-right-brexit-will-hurt-u-k-science|title=Brexit will hurt UK Science|last=Bateman|first=Victoria|date=3 March 2016|website=www.bloomberg.com|accessdate=10 April 2019}} would reduce trade and investment, and would place freedom for the nation state ahead of freedom for the individual.{{cite web|url=http://vnbateman.com/brexit.html|title=Brexit|website=vnbateman.com|accessdate=10 April 2019}}
Following the pro-Brexit referendum of 23 June 2016, Bateman attended a Cambridge University Faculty of Economics meeting naked, as a protest against Brexit.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/07/01/naked-don-a-cambridge-academics-protest-against-brexit/|title='Brexit leaves Britain naked': Cambridge academic stages nude protest against outcome of EU referendum|last=Espinoza|first=Javier|date=1 July 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2 April 2017}} She had the words "Brexit leaves Britain naked" written across her torso.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nude-naked-brexit-protest-woman-cambridge-university-professor-victoria-bateman-30-economists-a7115341.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220817/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nude-naked-brexit-protest-woman-cambridge-university-professor-victoria-bateman-30-economists-a7115341.html |archive-date=17 August 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Cambridge academic stages nude protest over Brexit in front of 30 economists during faculty meeting|last=Bulman|first=May|date=2 July 2016|work=The Independent|accessdate=2 April 2017}} On 14 January 2019, Bateman delivered an hour-long lecture against Brexit at the Cambridge Junction while naked,{{Cite web|url=http://vnbateman.com/brexit.html|title=Brexit|website=vnbateman.com|accessdate=21 January 2019}} then asked the audience to sign her body as a petition.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/dr-victoria-bateman-gets-naked-against-brexit/|title=Dr Victoria Bateman Gets Naked Against Brexit|last=Hallam|first=Luke|date=15 January 2019|work=The Cambridge Student|accessdate=15 January 2019}} She was subsequently invited to appear on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, in which she also stripped naked.{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/08/professor-brexit-radio-interview-completely-nude-8480138/|title=Professor does Brexit radio interview completely in the nude|date=8 February 2019|accessdate=11 February 2019}} This led to a naked appearance on Good Morning Britain, although her body was pixelated before broadcast.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/dr-victoria-bateman-naked-brexit-protester-strips-off-for-live-interview-on-good-morning-britian-a4064031.html|title=Dr Victoria Bateman on GMB: Naked protester branded 'embarrassing' as she strips off for live interview|date=12 February 2019|accessdate=12 February 2019}} She similarly appeared naked at the March 2018 meeting of the Royal Economic Society.{{cite journal|last=Kafka|first=Alexander C.|title=Victoria Bateman's Self Revelations: an economist strips down to make a point|journal=Chronicle of Higher Education|date=June 21, 2019|page=B17-19}}
Media
Bateman has written regular economics commentary for Unherd,{{Cite web|url=https://unherd.com/author/victoria-bateman/|title=Victoria Bateman, Author at UnHerd|website=UnHerd|accessdate=10 April 2019}} Bloomberg View{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/authors/ASo9b28KKGs/victoria-bateman|title=Bloomberg Author: Victoria Bateman|website=Bloomberg News }} and CapX,{{Cite web|url=https://capx.co/author/victoriabateman/|title=Victoria Bateman, Author at CapX|website=CapX|accessdate=10 April 2019}} has contributed articles to The Guardian, Times Higher Education, The Conversation and The Telegraph and has appeared on a number of BBC Radio 4 programmes.{{cite web|url=http://vnbateman.com/radio.html|title=Radio|website=vnbateman.com|accessdate=10 April 2019}}
Personal life
Bateman is married to James Bateman, who works for an asset management company. They met at Cambridge University.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/what-makes-victoria-bateman-strip-the-naked-brexit-protester-reveals-all-7dq0ztwhw|title=What makes Victoria Bateman strip? The naked Brexit protester reveals all|last=Billen|first=Andrew|date=2019-03-28|work=The Times|access-date=2019-05-22|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}
Books
- Bateman, Victoria (2023) Naked Feminism: Breaking the Cult of Female Modesty, Wiley. {{Cite news |last=Clarence-Smith |first=Louisa |date=2023-03-21 |title=The feminism book banned from Amazon Ads over 'sexually suggestive' cover |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/21/feminism-book-banned-amazon-ads-sexually-suggestive-cover/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |issn=0307-1235}}
- {{cite book|title=The Sex Factor: How Women Made the West Rich|first=Victoria|last=Bateman|year=2019|publisher=Polity}}{{cite web | last=Williams | first=Zoe | title=The Sex Factor by Victoria Bateman review – punching feminism into economics | website=the Guardian | date=30 March 2019 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/30/the-sex-factor-victoria-bateman-review | accessdate=30 March 2019}}
- Bateman, Victoria (2016). Markets and Growth in Early Modern Europe. Routledge{{Cite web|url=http://www.econ.cam.ac.uk/people/cto/vb295|title=Dr Victoria Bateman|last=Administrator|date=10 February 2017|website=www.econ.cam.ac.uk|accessdate=10 April 2019}}
References
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Category:Fellows of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford
Category:British women economists
Category:Alumni of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Category:British economic historians