I am taking private HE institute BIMM Ltd to tribunal for unfair dismissal and discrimination
Essentially, I have been fired for doing my job, and for doing what management asked (not discussing trans issues in lectures). Having a focus on women in a lecture on sex and gender was deemed trans exclusionary and sparked a campaign against me by a small cohort of students.
I have also twice raised issues of sexism to staff; once around popular culture, once about a member of staff and a safeguarding concern.
Who even is this woman?
I am a woman, a mother, and a feminist, and until recently I taught cultural studies to music students. I care deeply about women’s rights, and believe that we cannot fight for our sex based rights if we cannot acknowledge that biological sex exists. This view is protected in law.
I don't think people should
be constrained by gendered expectations. Girls can play football (go Lionesses!), boys can play with dolls. I also empathise with those who feel that they don't fit in with society’s restrictive gender rules, as this is something I experience and would have likely identified as non-binary if I were a teenager today.
I am now 43 years old, a lesbian, proudly female, and the mother of beautiful sons (I am the only one who likes football).
OK, what did she do?
The job of a cultural studies lecturer is to encourage students to think. We present them with ideas, theories, and try to equip them with the skills to challenge these theories in an academically sound way. We ask them to critically evaluate what we loftily term ‘cultural texts’ (mainly music in this case, but also social media phenomena, hairstyles, fashion, mainstream media, etc.) in light of these theories, and - crucially - to create their own arguments, challenge these from various perspectives to form their own ideas, standpoints, and opinions. So far so standard academic practice right?
It is also important to define the terms we use. To this end I define the terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’. I state that sex is biological, it is immutable, and that gender is the set of expectations associated with each sex (Harvard referenced of course). These expectations and norms change through time and place. I state this for clarity, as the words are often used interchangeably. I remind students throughout the year that any theoretical or potentially ambiguous terms they use in their essays should be clearly defined, and used consistently.
This had me branded transphobic. Students trawled through my Facebook, looking for fuel for the fire, and found a post in which I had said that I did not think it was fair that a biological male could compete in women’s weightlifting, but that women of colour were not allowed to use swimming caps designed for Afro hair. I did not call Hubbard a man, but a ‘biological male’, which is accurate.
Management had asked me to not discuss transgender issues with students, which I had not. In fact, it was not talking about this, but focussing on women, that led to the student campaign. Both the course leader and Principal said that our students were not intellectually equipped to deal with gender issues critically. I find that insulting to the students. Crowdfunders for students’ double mastectomies are endorsed by BIMM, yet those in charge do not believe that they are critically equipped to consider whether this is a good idea. Where is the duty of care, particularly as more and more detransitioners are coming forward, angry at having been let down by adults who should have been watching out for them?
Why is this important? I believe students should be able to think, and that limiting discussion is limiting them. Blocking critical thought is anti-education and a disservice to young people.
Another part of cultural studies is to pose questions. Towards the end of a session on sex and gender, the week after a lecture on race and racism, I asked students to consider blackface and drag. Why was one deemed as acceptable and one very much not? Students were invited to consider this, and other topics raised in the lecture, to discuss in seminars. There was not a great deal of interest, but some thought drag was sexist, one trans student said that drag was seen as transphobic, most did not have strong opinions either way. At the time I had not made my own mind up about it.
This, along with saying in the staff room a year later that I found drag sexist (not proselytising, I was asked about a drag show), was presented to me as part of my ‘perceived trans-exclusionary views’, when the Principal told me about the campaign in which a small group of students was ‘out to get’ me. He brought up the case of Kathleen Stock, who had suffered years of bullying and harassment, including death and rape threats. He stated clearly that if that happened to me, he and the organisation would not support me.
He refused to discuss what I had said, or explain why it was seen as trans exclusionary. The students waging the campaign were invited to talk to me so that I could hear their side, as was the staff member who complained. Nobody did, so I was in the Kafka-esque position of being told I had done something wrong and had to change, but with a refusal to tell me what or why.
Anything else?
Sadly yes. A student came to me who felt she could not access student support as the male member of staff allocated to support her was sharing naked videos and photos of himself on social media where he is linked to students. I made the deputy safeguarding lead aware of this, as I felt it was the right thing to do. I have been sacked, the student has been expelled. As far as I am aware, the man is still uploading sexual images, and still in post.
I do not have union support so have no choice but to crowdfund to pay my legal fees. BIMM’s treatment of me contravenes their own policies on bullying, harassment and victimisation, as well as academic freedom, freedom of speech and my protected beliefs under the Equality Act 2010.