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Feminism: chat

RCN conference cancelled due to "sexual harassment".

73 replies

EgonSpengler2020 · 28/08/2021 19:58

OP posts:
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SpittinKitten · 28/08/2021 20:00

Saw the story earlier on the BBC news site and raised an eyebrow - I don't know anything about the background either unfortunately.

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MonsignorMirth · 28/08/2021 22:47

Did Benny Hill buy a ticket?
.
.
.
(Sorry, I know it's a serious subject - it's just quite a weird article with no obvious context. Hoping anyone affected is OK.)

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weaselwords · 28/08/2021 22:54

Is sexual harassment normally rife at RCN conferences? Or just this year?

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LizzieSiddal · 28/08/2021 22:56

It’s very odd isn’t it. When I heard it on the news it sounded like a lot of people were involved, and this would explain why they’d had to cancel. Very sad but glad they seem to be now doing something about it.

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SevenOldLadies · 28/08/2021 22:59

Did someone get confused and think Carry On Nurse was a training video?

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NiceGerbil · 28/08/2021 23:21

Yes I saw this and was ????!!!

I mean at a conference with squillions of people lots of them women. They are worried about mass sexual harrassment? It's risky bizarre!

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NiceGerbil · 28/08/2021 23:24

Nursing times

The news has very much divided opinion on social media, while some have praised the unions quick decisive action, others have suggested the union is acting irrationally.

One seasoned male RCN member, who wished to remain anonymous, told NursingNotes that it is “unacceptable” that the union is tarring all male nurses with the same brush.

“Banning individual men who pose a risk [to the membership] is one thing, canceling an entire event based on the actions of one, maybe two people, is totally absurd and utterly unacceptable.

“Many have made plans to attend Congress on their own time and expense,” they added.

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Manderleyagain · 28/08/2021 23:29

It is really really strange. I wonder what the email to ticket holders said. It must be an unprecedented reason to cancel her large conference. Very little info in the report.

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NiceGerbil · 28/08/2021 23:31

Maybe a high up has had multiple reports and that's why?

The comment about tarring all male nurses with the same brush is... Very very odd.

No idea.

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HotPenguin · 28/08/2021 23:36

Have you seen the other thread about nurses calling for their orgs to end links with stonewall? Could it be related to that and concerns about harassment.

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NiceGerbil · 28/08/2021 23:42

With legal assistance etc my guess would be they're had multiple reports about a prominent bloke in the org who would have been high profile there panels talks etc

That's a wild guess though

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RagzReturnsRebooted · 29/08/2021 00:10

@weaselwords

Is sexual harassment normally rife at RCN conferences? Or just this year?

Not at the one I went to! How odd... Intrigued now.
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catzwhiskas · 29/08/2021 00:25

Could be the topic that dare not be named Is just too risky for women to present in person...or some people really don’t want it raised. The document some nurses have produced is really excellent . Worth a read on the other board.

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NiceGerbil · 29/08/2021 00:35

I bet it's a bog standard man with a visible position has harassed multiple women.

Thats my bet.

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KimikosNightmare · 29/08/2021 00:46

@NiceGerbil

Maybe a high up has had multiple reports and that's why?

The comment about tarring all male nurses with the same brush is... Very very odd.

No idea.

Multiple reports about a high up should just require that the high up is told they cannot attend.

It's bizarre. I don't think the comment about tarring all male nurses with the same brush is odd if the scenario was what you suggest.

I'm also finding it a little unbelievable that the RCN annual conference is such a hot bed of sexual harassment that it requires cancellation. Very odd story.
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NiceGerbil · 29/08/2021 00:52

That would raise questions about why not there.

I mean I have no idea what it is but it sounds pretty serious

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midgemagneto · 29/08/2021 10:00

If it's one or two , doesn't it normally get managed like Alex salmond is reported to have been managed

Very odd

Imagine if every event was cancelled following previous harressment at other events , no event would ever run

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so750 · 29/08/2021 10:22

I can see that the chair of the RCN Governing body has stepped down and is being investigated for misconduct after complaints were made about him. I wonder whether the RCN are afraid that the conference will be disrupted by people speaking out on this issue?
I agree that the other thing could be that the RCN are afraid that people will speak out on the Trans issue.
If the conference is held online, they can simply turn those people off.

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SpindleWhorl · 29/08/2021 10:32

Yeah, there's definitely something afoot, and I suspect it's about controlling the delegates.

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Flapjak · 29/08/2021 10:39

Whats the RCN document? I have missed this? It seems an unusual move to cancel a whole conference based on the actions of one person or two.

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Childrenofthestones · 29/08/2021 10:43

@SevenOldLadies

Did someone get confused and think Carry On Nurse was a training video?

Right, smart arse.
Now tell me how to get coffee out of a keyboard 😁
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SpindleWhorl · 29/08/2021 11:18

@Flapjak

Whats the RCN document? I have missed this? It seems an unusual move to cancel a whole conference based on the actions of one person or two.

It's on another thread, on this board I think. Sorry I can't do the link.
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EgonSpengler2020 · 29/08/2021 11:29

Would someone be able to link the other thread that keeps getting mentioned please, I'm struggling to find it.

OP posts:
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KaycePollard · 29/08/2021 11:31

One seasoned male RCN member, who wished to remain anonymous, told NursingNotes that it is “unacceptable” that the union is tarring all male nurses with the same brush.

Well, until men come with absolutely accurate labels

"Sexual harasser"

"Not a sexual harasser"

this might be the consequence. A male nurse might be better to complain and put pressure on his male colleagues, rather than whinging about the RCN.

Women shouldn't have to deal with colleagues harassing them.

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Skiptheheartsandflowers · 29/08/2021 11:34

How predictable that it's become 'not all male nurses'

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