Should I email my Uni Lecturer about this?

I'm a lecturer and I love it when students challenge me, it's what we are here for! And this year is so demoralising (cameras off, little interaction) that any student reaching out for a debate is fantastic.

Magpie, bear in mind that your lecturer is probably terrified of the trans lobby, who have even more power in universities than outside. They rule student unions and have lost dissident staff and researchers their jobs.

We're cheering you on @Magpiemavis !!

As a lecturer I can also say, although you may feel alone - you really are not. At least in my classes, which also have a gender, humanities tilt there are plenty of women students who are really interested in women's issues and who simply aren't interested or actively opposed to gender identity. Obviously, we don't sit around articulating these thoughts in the classroom, but there certainly are other students that feel like you - or at least there are in my uni (though I think it helps that we're not an elite institution and the students have bigger things on their plate than their gendered identity, like having got up at silly-o'clock to get an early shift in at wherever they work before getting to campus ...)

@frouby - the tongue-biting is very real. I teach a class where we look at Victorian medicine and at how ideas about women and madness (rooting mental illness in the disordered female body, especially reproductive system) led to actual surgeries on female bodies - to remove ovaries, clitoris and uterus etc. I've always taught this as the ideas come first (women's bodies are dominated by their reproductive system which is a cause of sickness and ill health); then come the actions... Obviously, the students are all pretty appalled and think this was bad medicine.

The parallel with today's situations is so striking. First the ideas about male/female brains, being born 'in the wrong body', the 'trans child' etc - then actual surgeries to slice off various female reproductive parts. It's eerily similar, but of course - I don't make this comparison to the students.

As a lecturer scared to raise my head above the parapet I'd love it if a representative from our student body challenged this

I generally feel that there is too much going to people's bosses, but I thought this was a good point:
"But actually, there are plenty of heads who don't think JKR is transphobic, and a student email can be enormously useful to them in helping to foster an academic environment that works for both trans allies and GC feminists."

I agree that it would be good to ask for a working definition of transphobia. The woke response is that we should listen to minorities & accept their assertion that something is 'phobic if they say it is. The problem is obviously members of the same minority will disagree on this. So, it would definitely be interesting to know what she thinks it is, to be able to say that JKR is it.

I wouldn’t. I’ve had bad experiences with some stubborn “woke” professors. Emailing them on something like this could create bias against you when the mark your work. They could also spread bad rumours about you to other teachers. I’d keep my mouth shut and head down. In the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter what a professor thinks about the author of children’s books.

and@Frouby, I really don't think it is difficult to argue that Rowling has been slandered by the mainstream press and repeatedly on social media.

Hi @Magpiemavis I think it is essential really because education is about understanding and not about parrotting a received view. I would ask where the evidence lies, as other posters have said, politely and rationally of course. There is support here if you are fobbed off. It might be the lecturer expects to be challenged and would welcome it. If you can't ask questions, the degree is not worth doing in my opinion.

It's such a difficult subject to broach. I'm currently preparing a presentation on something which would link really nicely to the sex/gender/trans debates but darent include it for fear of causing offence (also a lit student). It's difficult, have tw on my course and also someone who identifies non binary. Both are really vocal about the issues they face, both recieve a fuckton of sympathy and support. I stay fairly quiet because I know my views are vastly different to what everyone else is saying.

I'd definitely ask for clarification. I wouldn't personally as an UG as for sources as I would expect those to come as a matter of course. And I would also make sure you are 100% sure of what the university policy is on trans issues. Because as much as it would piss me off I wouldn't want to break some woke rulez and end up sanctioned.

I would phrase it as an enquiring 'I'm just a bit confused', 'please could you help me understand' way. Send a link to the essay.

You'll probably get told that while it's not obviously transohobic, there are lots of dog whistles in the essay, ie it uses coded language.

Is that the femanisn?

Not everything that says 'feminism' on the tin is actually advancing women's interests. You'll probably encounter a lot of bullsh*t feminism in your degree.

It's great that you have a critical mind - keep up the good work!

If you are made to feel uncomfortable (read: unsafe in modern parlance) then I’d complain. I’m just getting too long in the tooth to tolerate bullying - and students are treated more like ‘customers’ these days aren’t they (you are paying £££ after all).

Let us know how you get on. I’m a lecturer and I’m always v careful not to assert my ‘political opinion’. Making an unsubstantiated (and false) claim is completely unacceptable.

The student body is wonderfully diverse and you never know who is sat in your audience.

Yes, I'd email (you'll probably get a long list of links to random articles on medium in return), but I'd also ask for a working definition of 'transphobia'. If the reply does not satisfy you, do raise it with your Head of Department, not to snitch but to make the Head aware that lecturers are bringing their personal politics to work.

It's fine to bring up issues that are in the public eye but the professional way to signal that something is 'problematic', is to say 'controversial views' or 'views that have been described as transphobic' because otherwise you're shutting down debate.

True that (guilts as charged). I just assume women have more brains...

I always work they other way around - I always assume it'll be a woman pushing this stuff as (sadly) I see far more women declaring their pronouns than I do men - I'd say at least five to one, may be even ten to one.

Also - it always feel so much more painful coming from women. I can see why men buy into it - lack of thought, nothing to lose etc. But when I see one of my sisters doing it, really - a little part of me dies inside.

Is there a ‘rate my lecturer’ site in the U.K.?

As someone else at uni at the moment I'm terrified of this. There are people on my course who identify as trans and the subject clearly terrifies lecturers. It feels grossly unfair they're allowed to engage in their activism but I suspect any questions or gentle pushback would be deemed 'unsafe' to these people and therefore verboten.

Any academic worth their salt should be willing to engage in academic debate about an issue. If you make your case clearly and respectfully then you are perfectly within your rights to challenge him/her. I wish more students would do so!

Yes, do. Hopefully they will welcome the discussion with you.

I'd steer clear of the term "brand"... bit Daily Mail!
Do it in the spirit of wanting to understand (and also out of concern for same-sex attracted individuals)

That's so appalling!! Yes - you should email them! It's always in your rights to email any lecturer for further clarification anyway. In this case - why not email the piece and ask him/her to point out the bit that is actually transphobic? You can always play a bit innocent if you don't want to come across as a trouble-maker - just say you can't see it yourself and if they could just point out the actual transphobic bit (clue: they never can!) that would be so helpful - blah blah.

Also - don't forget that your lecturer has a line-manager, the head of department. Of course, I know lots of (esp female) undergrads don't want to make trouble and wouldn't dream of ever emailing the Head - but actually, the Head's inbox is always full of student emails querying/complaining about various things, and it's completely in your rights to do so. Maybe see what response you get from the lecturer, and if you're concerned, raise your concerns with the Head. It might be worth checking them on Twitter/checking their email signature - if they've got their pronouns there, you can pretty much rule out getting a helpful response. But actually, there are plenty of heads who don't think JKR is transphobic, and a student email can be enormously useful to them in helping to foster an academic environment that works for both trans allies and GC feminists.

Good luck and always feel free to come back to us. There are plenty of academics here and we're happy to support and advise as best we can!