GC victory at work

[RhymesWithOrange]

I work in a university. I won't say what I do but I'm close to the senior management.

A proposed policy on transgender crossed my desk. It started off as well meaning - a change to a system so trans students could id their gender different to their sex - so as to avoid the trauma of a computer system misgendering them.

But someone had gotten hold of it and gone full woke on it. Lots of talk about self id, no one must question anyone's gender, right to access facilities according to their gender id. Referenced Mermaids as a go-to for trans information.

I arranged a meeting with the Director of HR (it was a HR policy affecting staff as well as students) and talked through everything I knew about the issues, and how it would apply to a university context - e.g. 50 year old men accessing female gym changing rooms full of 18 year old students, men demanding to be put in with women in single sex campus accommodation (including shared bedrooms).

It took all of 3 minutes for the penny to drop. The policy is going back to the drawing board to only reference a computer system.

NB this is not about hating on the trans. The university is very very inclusive and supportive. Lots of GN facilities. Correct language and pronouns respected and promoted. Trans students fully supported. But thankfully in this case there was the right balance between trans support and recognition and the protection of single sex spaces.

Well done!

There can't be many reasonable people who can't see the potential for disaster when the full implications are spelt out. Unfortunately, these perple have been so good at obfuscating and hiding behind progressive mantra, that so much has already slipped through.

I just want commend you on your courage OP. Much of this nonsense is getting pushed through because the GC (realists) amongst us are afraid to speak out, because of the abuse that is quite often inflicted on us. Well done for speaking out and well done for this first step to helping protect females. While you’re waiting for the inevitable backlash when the woke person that went full agenda on it, you can get your ducks in a row and get ready to answer their ‘suicide, most vulnerable/oppressed, not all trans, etc’. I fucking love the GC women of Mumsnet. 💐

Well done, OP.

My son is off to university in a couple of weeks. He's going to a uni with a strong STEM leaning so I'm hoping they will be a bit more sensible on these matters but as he, his gf and his friends (along with most people) are somewhat gnc, I am fearful for what the next 3 yrs might bring our way...

Well done you 👍 That’s how wars are won; one tiny step at a time.

Oh, very well done. What a ray of hope that is - and what a model for best practice. EVERYBODY benefits from safeguarding and it doesn't have to cost anyone their rights or dignity.

I know you can't possibly say but I'd love to know which uni. In a way I hope it's not one of the "sensible" ones on that list that was doing the rounds recently, because that would mean more people are waking up.

There was a thing in the 1980's - a fictional story of a northern lad set in the 1960's- read by the wonderfully named actor Finetime Fontayne -and one incident involved the teacher saying nothing rhymes with orange and our hero suggested door hinge. He also had to go shopping for school uniform while the world cup final was being won in 1966 as I recall. Now back to the point of the thread..

lozenge?

(sorry)

singe, binge, tinge?

(sorry - think I need to get off FC and on to Chat)

I know you can't possibly say but I'd love to know which uni. In a way I hope it's not one of the "sensible" ones on that list that was doing the rounds recently, because that would mean more people are waking up.

My university is on that Twitter list. It still has self-ID and actual academics who insist on #nodebate.

Good news.

Oh well done you, you absolute star. Thanks to the power of Mumsnet I feel so well educated on the subject now, which makes it so much easier when showing other people exactly what has been happening.

Yes, I also have Mumsnet to thank, but also many amazing people on Twitter, ManFriday, Posie Parker, Women's Place UK...

I have so much more hope about this issue now than I did 6 months ago.

And no, I can't name the university. We're not RG though so we don't figure much on MN

It is actually brave and stunning
We all know speaking up can lead to (literal) risk of losing your job or at the very least being on the receiving end of abuse.

Well done for explaining it so eloquently! Whenever I start to try and explain things my brain goes full-on babble so nothing makes sense. I need a cue card of crucial points!

OP - Well Done! I'm cheered up (and spurred on) by your success.

Fantastic work OP!

Without putting a dampener upon your experience, do be prepared for the possibility that when other 'interested parties' hear about the removal of wokeness, there may be a push back . . .

I was where you are 18 months ago. My initial concerns were welcomed and changes were promised. However, representatives from outside organisations who influenced the policy kicked up a stink. The battle continues . . .

I really hope your experience is different though! Well done

Thanks again. I don't feel that brave. I started gently and realised I was pushing at an open door. Suspect (male) HR Director is also GC and far too clever to be a woke dudebro.

I'm ready for the push back. Hearteningly, all policies and changes must go through and EIA so that's a useful backstop.

I hope my story inspires others but I fully understand if people don't feel able to speak out at work.

Brilliant Rhymes,well done

Well done, it's cheered me up to hear about your success.

However, representatives from outside organisations who influenced the policy kicked up a stink. The battle continues .

Stonewall? My university has happily thrown women under the bus to get their Stonewall accreditation.

Good for you OP

"I wonder what would happen if GC students and parents started asking questions at open days about the protection of sex segregated spaces? Universities are in a fight to the death for student numbers."

This is a very, very good point.

Yes, NameChangedAgain18 . . . Stonewall.

They appear to have absolute power. Largely, I think, because no one else seems to have a clue about the relevant issues. They are therefore quite happy/relieved to leave it all to Stonewall.