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Original poster

University staff given list of banned 'microinsults' they cannot say to trans people

545 replies

ChristinaXYZ · 01/05/2021 12:34

From the Telegraph. the last para make you want to weep -

A Newcastle University spokesman said: "We want our campus to be a welcoming and safe place for everyone who studies, works or visits here, regardless of gender, race, class, age or disability."

But it would seem they are not bothered about making people feel welcome regardless of sex, as they don't even mention it.

OP posts:
mollythemeerkat · 01/05/2021 15:49

Theres a rich vein of humour to be mined in this, apart from the awfulness, but I imagine stand up comedians will end up being carted away to police cells if they try to include it in their material.

quiteathome · 01/05/2021 15:40

What about scholars in medical fields such as midwifery? How are they supposed to work without focusing on anatomy?

Erikrie · 01/05/2021 15:37

I'd feel the same about any man wearing what is essentially a "women, you can trust me" badge.

That would make me feel deeply uncomfortable on so many levels

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 01/05/2021 15:36

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria

Surely this is all totally counterproductive?

My behaviour towards trans people has changed because of this sort of nonsense. I don't want to say something that is clumsy, even if it is well meaning, and get accused of committing a hate crime. There is a trans person I know who is "trying out" names - so they are on about the 5th name, it is very difficult to remember which of the names are now dead names and I am cautious about getting it wrong and landing up on the receiving end of an upset rainbow.

So, I avoid that person now.

It is totally counterproductive to try and police people's behaviour and communication in this way. Adults should be able to manage people saying things which are a bit less than ideal. Christ knows I manage it every day.

But avoiding them will now be a 'micro aggression' It's almost beyond parody
blackwhiteandstripey · 01/05/2021 15:34

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Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 01/05/2021 15:34

@MissBarbary

Edinburgh University has drawn up phrases that staff cannot use, including saying "all women hate their periods" and "all people think about being the opposite gender sometimes"

In my own case both of those statements are untrue so I would not be particularly pleased at hearing them being put forward as a universal truth.

People say a lot of things I don't agree with. I don't think they should be banned from saying them though.
skodadoda · 01/05/2021 15:30

@Chrestomanci3

Other "microinsults" in Edinburgh’s guidance include saying "you’re either man or a woman", "you’re just dressing for effect" or uttering "you’re just trying to be special". Another is engaging in "avoidant behaviour" around trans people.

So, if a woman leaves the women's toilets because a trans woman has just entered and the woman feel uncomfortable, they are engaging in a microagression towards the trans woman?

Certainly looks that way 😕
Erikrie · 01/05/2021 15:29

Are there any universities challenging this wrong think?

Well it does seem to go against the free speech in universities which is underway. It sounds like it won't be legal. It's one thing to be polite to people. It's another thing to be forced to be silent about their own experiences.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 01/05/2021 15:29

Ha Ha! I thought Necessary’s name had been hijacked by the dark side!

Erikrie · 01/05/2021 15:27

Staff are already urged to wear special purple white and green lanyards as a visible sign that they are safe for women

I would not feel comfortable with someone who felt the need to actively signal that.

Ifyourefeelingsinister · 01/05/2021 15:26

God, this is depressing. I have a DC likely to go to uni next year and I hate to think of them having to accept this rubbish. Since when did lanyards keep people safe?

Are there any universities challenging this wrong think?

Erikrie · 01/05/2021 15:25

How dare they 😡 so women can't talk about their experiences about their periods, or how they may have identified as a male in childhood. (As I did for some years) I work in a university. I would not be adhering to that.

Tanith · 01/05/2021 15:25

They'll be writing "Jo and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Lanyard" before we know where we are Smile

blackwhiteandstripey · 01/05/2021 15:25

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GreyhoundG1rl · 01/05/2021 15:23

@NecessaryScene1

Looks like I forgot to put a wink emoji on that last post of mine. Wink

Excessively dry humour.

Christ Jesus, you had me going there...
Oversize · 01/05/2021 15:22

@Hazel444

"Being cisgender comes with social privilege. That's even for people who are socially disadvantaged in other ways."

What the actual fuck? Why are they trying to position trans people as worse off than those generationally affected by systemic racism/ethnic cleansing etc.? Why this incessant need for victimhood? And not just any victimhood, but the most victimy victimhood that there ever was..

Because there are people who want to be 'victims' because if you're a 'victim' everything is always someone else's fault. You don't have to adult. You never ever have to be responsible for anything and all the focus is on you.

This isn't just a TRA thing. I just know a couple of people who have this MO. They've lived their whole lives like it and in many ways it's paid off for them.

Biscuitsanddoombar · 01/05/2021 15:19

Meanwhile all the academics I follow on twitter seem to be on the edge of a breakdown with whole departments being closed, research money disappearing, grappling with on line teaching, marking, publishing papers, pastoral care

At a time when Government has made it clear it has universities in its sight over “culture wars” are they trying to make it easy for them?

NecessaryScene1 · 01/05/2021 15:19

Does go to show though, doesn't it.

Men wearing a "safe for women" badge would be terrifying.

People wearing a "safe for trans" badge makes them go "yay!"

What does that reveal?

NecessaryScene1 · 01/05/2021 15:17

Looks like I forgot to put a wink emoji on that last post of mine. Wink

Excessively dry humour.

GreyhoundG1rl · 01/05/2021 15:15

Staff are already urged to wear special purple white and green lanyards as a visible sign that they are safe for women.
Wtf?

SmokedDuck · 01/05/2021 15:13

"Displacement Virtue" is a very good phrase, OP. I think it's the same thing in the US, TBH. It isn't like they are looking at their modern connections to global capitalism, is it?

MissBarbary · 01/05/2021 15:11

Staff are already urged to wear special purple white and green lanyards as a visible sign that they are safe for women

Fgs- I've spent my entire working life assuming the people I work with are safe with women. I don't need them to signal that- they just need to be decent people.

ListeningQuietly · 01/05/2021 15:09

Staff are already urged to wear special purple white and green lanyards as a visible sign that they are safe for women.
and that will never, ever get abused, ever Hmm

MissBarbary · 01/05/2021 15:08

Presumably the whole of the Scottish Enlightenment will soon be banned?

Although possibly that has already happened.

tillytoodles1 · 01/05/2021 15:05

If a trans woman is a man who wants to be a woman, why not call her "she"?