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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu? Don't want to include anyone but women

118 replies

Getthatwindowclosed · 17/01/2025 18:47

I recently took up a position at a university and will be undertaking research as part of this.

I had to propose the topic to three senior colleagues and my topic is women in my field - don't want to out myself too much here.

I was able to get almost to the end of my pitch and one of my colleagues cut me off when I said 'women' and stated that surely I meant to include non-binary and transwomen too. Felt like I was under pressure to say yes. So I did.

My field is notoriously difficult for women and I wanted to focus on this. I like to think that I'm open-minded but I just don't know how to handle this, as my colleagues seem very set on being as inclusive as possible.

Am I being unreasonable by fighting to keep my research purely about women?

OP posts:
Original poster
Getthatwindowclosed · 17/01/2025 19:06

Titasaducksarse · 17/01/2025 18:53

Oh gosh. Does there need to be a differentiation? Or is the thing that a transwoman before they transitioned would have found it easier to go into your field than after transition thus this could skew your research. If post transition does it matter?

Edited

Post transition probably wouldn't matter. However, it would skew the research if not.

OP posts:
uhOhOP · 17/01/2025 19:05

CraftyOP · 17/01/2025 18:54

I'm sure the field is just as notoriously difficult for transwomen and you might not get any participants anyway. The university is paying you to pursue the research so you'll need to support their processes and equality is often a key aspect of that. While we're on the topic a lot of women focused work is really focussed on white women so I'd hope you're also trying to engage women from a range of diverse backgrounds

Transwomen are men. If they find it difficult to work in a particular field because they are trans, they should participate in research about the difficulties men face when they decide they will parade around pretending to be women. OP's research is about women.

Sissix · 17/01/2025 19:02

mediummumma · 17/01/2025 19:01

Include ‘trans’ by including trans men (biological women) but do not include men in your research. To do so would be absurd if it’s really about women! Push back because it’s this type of lunacy that has led to this mess (see a PP asking if there’s a difference!) 😞

You could do that.

Theunamedcat · 17/01/2025 19:01

So a male could easily get into your field then transition that would skew the data your focus should be women who were women at the time they came into the field

mediummumma · 17/01/2025 19:01

Include ‘trans’ by including trans men (biological women) but do not include men in your research. To do so would be absurd if it’s really about women! Push back because it’s this type of lunacy that has led to this mess (see a PP asking if there’s a difference!) 😞

Snowmanscarf · 17/01/2025 18:59

Can you do two parts to the study - 1) women, 2) trans etc

giggly · 17/01/2025 18:59

Titasaducksarse · 17/01/2025 18:53

Oh gosh. Does there need to be a differentiation? Or is the thing that a transwoman before they transitioned would have found it easier to go into your field than after transition thus this could skew your research. If post transition does it matter?

Edited

Yes because they are still biologically male.

bridgetreilly · 17/01/2025 18:58

You need to explain why, which shouldn’t be hard. “This study focuses on difficulties faced by cis women, to avoid confusion with complicating factors that may create different issues for non-binary and trans women.” Helps if you are going to look at things like maternity/menopause issues, for example.

Notgivenuphope · 17/01/2025 18:58

You are totally correct OP. No need to justify.

2025willbemytime · 17/01/2025 18:56

YANBU but you need to be able to stand firm and not give in to pressure. Again.

myplace · 17/01/2025 18:56

Can you describe it as an initial study focussing only on women to keep the methodology clear, but hopefully not leading to further studies?

CraftyOP · 17/01/2025 18:54

I'm sure the field is just as notoriously difficult for transwomen and you might not get any participants anyway. The university is paying you to pursue the research so you'll need to support their processes and equality is often a key aspect of that. While we're on the topic a lot of women focused work is really focussed on white women so I'd hope you're also trying to engage women from a range of diverse backgrounds

DaDaDoDaiDa · 17/01/2025 18:54

Are there many transwomen/non-binary biological women in your field?

Chuchoter · 17/01/2025 18:54

It gets more ridiculous every day!

Why should pretend women be included in research about women?

Catza · 17/01/2025 18:53

I don't know about your field but in mine, inclusion criteria is established with very clear parameters before any project is undertaken and, providing, I can justify inclusion and exclusion criteria it's not being questioned. Do you have a firm reasoning for only including women? If so, then say that. Nobody can really pressure you into changing your inclusion criteria if there is reasonable justification for it.

Titasaducksarse · 17/01/2025 18:53

Oh gosh. Does there need to be a differentiation? Or is the thing that a transwoman before they transitioned would have found it easier to go into your field than after transition thus this could skew your research. If post transition does it matter?

BobbyBiscuits · 17/01/2025 18:51

I don't think there's anything wrong with you just focussing on women. I guess plenty of nb people are bio women though. Surely it's up to you who you interview or report on.

zerogrey · 17/01/2025 18:50

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