Gender Critical academics a tiny minority

We find ourselves in this position because we were lazy in our thinking and went along with things we thought were actually a bit stupid. I am full of mea culpa these days.

There are lots of GC academics. They communicate in code and avoid putting things in writing. When someone makes jokes about gulags out of the blue you kind of know where you are.

Its like something out of Alone in Berlin. How do we find ourselves in this position in 20-bloody-19? Unbelievable.

Agree about Priyamvada Gopal. Twitter outrage robot with not much else to do.

Didn't like it when she mocked Mary Beard for being upset about something that she said, using the words 'white tears'. Wasn't impressed when she labelled International Women's Day a 't**f free-for-all'. But I suppose that's the point. And in some ways it's also a part of academic freedom.

There are lots of GC academics. They communicate in code and avoid putting things in writing. When someone makes jokes about gulags out of the blue you kind of know where you are.

But like GCAcademic said on another thread: Career, innit?

A GC lesbian friend told me today that the LGBT staff network at her academic institution is pushing LGBT staff to sign a letter in opposition this Times article. They were asked to reply to an email stating whether they were in favour or not

Thats a pretty intrusive demand. One of the signatories works at my place (I don't know her but must make contact to check she's OK), and the response on Twitter from others at my institution was pretty extreme and hateful.

I do find it odd that in a western European institution of higher learning, where nothing should be off-limits for discussion, a letter expressing concern at the closing down of debate is causing so much extremism in reaction.

I find the argument that any discussion of transactivist ideology (not transpeople themselves) is erasing transpeople very odd.

Although it does smack of a kind of masculinist/MRA entitlement. We women are so used to having our existences debated, I suspect we just don't notice it too much:

• What we wear
• What we do with our bodies
• Whether we should be pregnant
• Whether we should be PMPs when we're pregnant
• Whether we should be paid the same as men
• Whether we can be leaders

I was once on a quality review at another place. The paperwork all went out using titles and initials, so I was listed as Prof. B. Rice. When we all met in the first meeting (of two long days), another member of the committee looked at me and said, "Oh I didn't realise women could be professors." (I kid you not, this was 2008)

He was a wheelchair user, and a BBC employee. I said "Oh I didn't realise wheelchair users could make television programmes."

To do him justice, he laughed.

But you know ... situation normal, really.

TRAs have no idea what women deal with in terms of erasure, or questioning our right to exist as fully human, Every.Single.Day.

Lol, thanks for that crsacre!

Most are too scared to speak out.

Nobody wants student pissing against their doors.

I note that the second letter was signed by "anyone" who has ever worked in ANY CAPACITY for a university. Dinner lady, janitor, etc.

Priyamvada Gopal is one of the most insufferable narcissists ever to have woked in academia.

(Fixed typos for you, GCacademic!)

Also think that's inappropriate in the workplace. You shouldn't be forced to share your political views with other staff.

A GC lesbian friend told me today that the LGBT staff network at her academic institution is pushing LGBT staff to sign a letter in opposition this Times article. They were asked to reply to an email stating whether they were in favour or not. No option to object anonymously; no recognition that to openly object in such a manner might be hugely problematic for GCs.

I imagine that's deliberate, to intimidate people. I think I'd pretend not to have received the email or "accidentally" delete it.

Oh, I spelt her name wrong. Never mind.

Primamvada Gopal is one of the most insufferable narcissists ever to have worked in academia. And it’s not like there isn’t hefty competition.

A GC lesbian friend told me today that the LGBT staff network at her academic institution is pushing LGBT staff to sign a letter in opposition this Times article. They were asked to reply to an email stating whether they were in favour or not. No option to object anonymously; no recognition that to openly object in such a manner might be hugely problematic for GCs.

@2BthatUnnoticed So academics believe people should be treated socially as their chosen gender? Does that mean use of pronouns? Like the woman who was ordered to call her rapist "she" by a judge? Gender reinforces the subordination of women, so why would academics be in support of a member of the oppressor class play acting female subordination?

The responses to this tweet made me laugh:

twitter.com/PriyamvadaGopal/status/1140907703323254785

They just won’t sign a letter like the Times one because they are scared of the pitchforks

The disciplinaries
The doxxing
The attempts to get us sacked
Not to mention the kind of violent abuse women like Professor Stock receive.

Let’s not forget that UCU has got squarely behind the TWAW line and recently voted down a motion on academic freedom of speech (). I expect many GC academics do not have confidence that their union would have their back in a disciplinary case or tribunal. It stinks.

Yes, I am friends with a number of female academics. All GC but afraid to show this at work for fear of retribution - both in terms of their job and also more frightening forms of intimidation such as happened to Rosa Freedman (pissing against her door and threats of physical violence IIRC) . What a lovely work environment where the women are afraid to voice their honestly held opinions that biology matters.

I personally know two GC academics (in Gender studies formally Women's studies field) who are too intimidated to speak out for fear of losing their jobs. They tell me it is a few ideologues forcing compliance and virtually all their colleagues are GC but want a quiet life.

It's not just academics that are afraid. It's a pervasive atmosphere throughout universities from support staff on through.
But then a transgender barrister might have an agenda with attempting to minimize the number of GC academics.

Agree with 2B though I know plenty of senior/tenured academics who are GC. Most are too frightened to take a public stand, but they are there, resisting in various ways.

Conversation with a friend a few weeks ago. I think she was testing the reactions of a few non work friends. (She's an academic)
She'd been part of a conversation with colleagues, someone had said something GC and the other colleague had shut down all conversation and silenced any dissent. As an intelligent, senior woman I think she was deeply shocked to find herself afraid to say anything more.
Afraid...
I'm quite openly GC in conversation so we chatted. Amongst my friends and colleagues, GC is the norm, not the exception. There are a few who just don't want to talk about this (I think they are deeply conflicted) and a few who go along with TWAW. But we can talk about specific issues fairly amicably.
I get the impression a lot of female academics are GC but are silenced by the university atmosphere.
I think many are very surprised to find themselves in this position.

You can believe that:

(A) trans people are valid, authentic, should have the same rights as everyone else and should be treated socially as their chosen gender; and

(B) women and girls need sex-based protections.

All the academics I know believe the above. But they are junior or on short-term contracts. If they said it publicly they would lose their jobs and possibly their careers.

I very much doubt the majority of academics believe people can actually change sex despite what Penis News says. I imagine most keep quiet for self preservation.

Well, I'm very glad not to give Pink News clicks. And thanks to the imperious but lazy plopping visitor, I dont have to because they haven't made it clicky.

What a terrible shame. Oh well.