Institute of Physics appoints an Inclusion and Diversity representative

Interestingly I got a survey from the IOP about inclusivity and diversity. First question was which gender do you identify with. It pleased me a lot of tick the other box and have a rant that I did not believe in gender identity.

I know it will just be dismissed but at least it is something.

*trans rights encroach those of other women”. Goodness, a little bias is peeping out from under someone’s dress there. So in the general order of things we have trans women, other women, trans men, everyone else. Have I got that right?

Is there some kind of secret handshake society that is putting these men in these positions?

Easy progressive and diversity credentials with these kinds of appointments.

Also, men in general have a tendency to be much more pushy and assertive compared to women and will apply for job roles even if they don't tick the required criteria. This risk-taking strategy can pay off especially if the recruitment pool is small and you can bullshit your way through interview questions. Women tend to minimise their abilities and hesitate to apply for more senior roles if they feel they don't match all the criteria, unless they are quite ambitious. So it's not surprising that a man, even if he calls himself a woman, is more likely to find ways to push himself up an organisation's ladder. And if management are keen to look 'progressive' what better way to show off than appoint a 'transwoman' to the role?

Is there some kind of secret handshake society that is putting these men in these positions?

And why am I not surprised that he's involved with a youth group?

Isn't this the same individual who was promoted on International WOMEN in Science Day earlier in 2023?

That video of him!

How on Earth has his risibly counter-factual claim that male honey bees are female been allowed to stand?

Excellent post @NonnyMouse1337

I'm sure there's plenty that can be done to look at tangible and realistic ways to improve hiring and career progression in physics and other scientific fields, better work/life balance, long-term investment in improving the diversity of candidates that feeds the 'pipeline' for leadership opportunities, reducing barriers and addressing any bullying, sexism etc. But it does require honest conversations that don't shy from difficult conversations and isn't heavily invested on a specific outcome. And you don't necessarily need a DEI role for that.

YY.

It's an unfortunate reality in any organisation or institution that creating job roles that have no tangible goals and objective ways of measuring success, or don't require actual skills or ability, will attract individuals who are more focused on pushing their own agendas and ideological viewpoints. And there's plenty of these types from all kinds of backgrounds and minority groups. It gives them a thrilling sense of power and control over others that they wouldn't otherwise be able to achieve because they don't have what it takes. People (of all backgrounds) who actually achieve stuff tend not to go for DEI roles.

It enables management to be seen as doing something without actually doing anything. There's now a figurehead who can twiddle thumbs, email out newsletters, organise 'workshops' and pay money to other orgs to lecture employees / staff while getting paid handsomely themselves. Sort of like politicians in a way.

I'm sure there's plenty that can be done to look at tangible and realistic ways to improve hiring and career progression in physics and other scientific fields, better work/life balance, long-term investment in improving the diversity of candidates that feeds the 'pipeline' for leadership opportunities, reducing barriers and addressing any bullying, sexism etc. But it does require honest conversations that don't shy from difficult conversations and isn't heavily invested on a specific outcome. And you don't necessarily need a DEI role for that.

I fear my lack of qualifications from clownfish college is very evident here 😢Perhaps I should speak to Dr Clara and ask him to include me in his diversity program?

As it is a generic E&D role and not one specifically reserved for women, there aren't many grounds to complain about their choice, other than maybe to point out that judging on past actions Barker may not treat all characteristics (ie women with the protected belief of gender critical feminism) fairly.

Can we complain?
https://www.iop.org/about/contact-us#gref

Quelle surprise.

(His greasy hair 🤢)

God, it never occurred to me to think about none of my lecturers being female beyond A level. My physics course was about 25% women. Apparently the % of women was a lot lower 20 years later.

@SirChenjins What does a gender non conforming bee look like? They have rainbow pollen sacs of course! I guess you haven't studied at clownfish college like me.

What the honey bee communities do to the drones...

Probably not a variation this person would like to see reflected in the human communities.

In any case, we really should stick to mammals in finding comparable animal models.

Are we going to find out one day why seemingly intelligent people in science are either believing this shit or just going along with it?

It actually makes my brain hurt to think that anyone can read that drivel and not conclude the writer is rambling incoherently and has absolutely no grip on reality.

What does a gender non-conforming bee look like, I wonder? Pink stripes and high heels, with glitter on its antennae perhaps?

And this bloke is supposedly an intelligent physicist 🙄

Oh my goodness I'd managed not to see the paragraph on bees!

and yes, that final paragraph:-

"Examples like the Honey Bee are important. It is simple to define humans as having male or female sex and a corresponding gender, classifying anyone who bends or deviates from pre-defined gender norms as odd and freakish. But, as we've seen, sex and gender variation are found throughout the natural world. Maybe it is time to think outside the box! "

Yep, that explains everything . . .

Perhaps his approach to I&D will be to bring people who spout utter nonsense into science and then try and pass off their witterings as fact?

Indeed.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FTiyX_KmYhY

That stream of consciousness goes some way to explain why Dr Clara thinks that growing your hair, putting on a frock and saying please please please whilst crossing your fingers can turn men into women.

The paragraph Barker has written about Honey Bees on the same website is possibly even more wrong:

"Honey Bees are an interesting case. They have three classes: a female queen, female workers and male drones. Their sexes cannot be compared or categorised in the same way that they are for mammals, however. The 'male' bees develop from unfertilised eggs and are, in effect, females. They possess only one set of chromosomes, contradicting what may be perceived as the 'normal’ male and female gender-binary. With some bees never reaching full development, It could even be considered that there is actually only one sex of honey bee.
Examples like the Honey Bee are important. It is simple to define humans as having male or female sex and a corresponding gender, classifying anyone who bends or deviates from pre-defined gender norms as odd and freakish. But, as we've seen, sex and gender variation are found throughout the natural world. Maybe it is time to think outside the box! "

So, Barker says The 'male' bees develop from unfertilised eggs and are, in effect, females. This is total BS. The male drones are, well, male. They can mate with the queen and produce sperm. They are fertile adult males. So not any kind of female at all.

Barker then says With some bees never reaching full development, It could even be considered that there is actually only one sex of honey bee. Again, total BS. Bees all reach their full development, they are either a queen, a worker or a drone. Female workers don't get to reproduce, but they are adult bees.

The last paragraph is just... words fail.

Why was a chemist/physicist asked to write factual information about a biological sciences display??

There is no comparison between hermaphrodite fish and transgender humans!!! Clownfish transition physically with no outside intervention. They are born with this ability, it is an integral part of their physiology. The change is complete because they are physically designed that way. It is a far cry from the situation of humans, who cannot transition physiologically without substantial intervention, and even then it is an ersatz, superficial change.