Being GC and fearing for your job

[JellySlice]

I work in a field where posters frequently say that they fear for their jobs if they are openly GC. This has made me hesitate about 'coming out' myself.

But are our jobs really at risk? Can you be fired for holding or expressing a particular opinion or belief?

I can't help wondering whether this is, in fact, another example of female socialisation against expressing strong, potentially contrary opinions. 'Men are forceful, women are pliant'.

And I'm not knocking this worry, I understand that it's genuine. But I also want to understand the reason and be fully armed before I stand up to be counted at work.

To be honest, I'm not sure. But I guess they could decide that the activity brings the company into disrepute, or in some places would be seen as a political statement where you are meant to be neutral. It's really difficult because how can we have this discussion, and why should women fear losing their jobs when discussing the protection of women's rights!? It's just mind blowing. Having a very WTF morning here.

For me it's not that I'd be fired outright, but I have a very fragile contract - minimal hours, renewed yearly, tons of extra work given voluntarily out of passion and goodwill, and it directly affects one of my kids. I could be "managed out" at the drop of a hat for any reason, really, just by pointing to funding cuts. It was an uncomfortable position to be in before all this, now it's painful. I'm lucky and privileged that I do my job for love rather than money, but it means the world to me and I would be heartbroken to lose it.

And yet. I hide my online activity as much as I can, try not to be identifying...but if this crap comes into my workplace I will resign rather than support it. I will not tell lies and I will not endanger children.

I think if you work for any organisation that relies on public funding you are justified in feeling fearful.

I am self employed, my name is my business.

I can't afford to have my name attacked!

In my old profession, teaching, it would have caused a lot of difficulties. Many of my friends still only use pseudonyms on line.

I think on a 121 level it wouldn’t matter. If you were an activist and vocal then your HR dept would get twitchy under the equalities act.
Most people don’t believe in the TRA stance at all.
The issue is being unkind to people with gender dysphoria. Then you would rightly be pulled up on your behaviour.

I get the personal risk to self-employed and those on fragile contracts.

But, if you have a continuing contract and have been employed under that contract for over two years, aren't your employee rights protected?

Do I have the rights to my own beliefs and to express them?

Does my employer have to respect those rights?

If I was employed by, say, a staunchly Labour council, and expressed support for Boris Johnson, was seen on TV holding a placard supporting him at a demo, would they be allowed to fire me for bringing them into disrepute?

The issue is being unkind to people with gender dysphoria. Then you would rightly be pulled up on your behaviour.

The problem is in lots of places raising concerns about self id is considered “being unkind”.

The policies of my organisation demand my full compliance with the TRA agenda. I can be sacked for breaking policy if I do it in particular ways. Next year, so I have heard, I will be compelled to put my pronouns on my sig-file. I also live in fear of a complaint being made against me. TRAs can be as vile and misogynist as they want, but women must toe the line. I have already lost key things and duties to ambitious men because I am middle-aged and with caring responsibilities. Sexism and misogyny colour the fabric of the organisation as it is. Yes, it's a university and yes my discipline means that I have to address trans issues almost every day both in the organisation and outside the university where I must do community work as well.

Realistically, in my wokeplace, being openly GC is more likely to have social consequences than result in loss of employment, but you never know.

I’ll find out next time the issue comes up

Those of us who work in universities but aren't actually academics don't get academic freedom, but are obliged to comply with the institution's diversity policy. The recent news from TUC that our unions are pro-self-id does not boost confidence that said unions will defend our right to free expression outside work. Of course, postdocs are hugely precarious even though they theoretically have academic freedom.

With the students as consumers, I would not put it past a university to "manage out" a gender critical non-academic permanent staff member or not renew the contract of a fixed-term staff member of any type.

Meanwhile, TRA PhD candidates openly hang the trans flag from the walls of their offices. I don't think I'd be allowed to print Posie's dictionary definition out and stick it to mine.

Next year, so I have heard, I will be compelled to put my pronouns on my sig-file

I don't use an email signature and so far my university have not compelled me to use one. Can you simply stop using a signature completely?

Yes, wacademia that is what I have decided to do. The only thing is that I like to remind people who I email that I am an academic with a PhD because I do sometimes get a modicum of respect that way (having an obviously female name).

At my university we've been explicitly told to ask people's genders and refer to everyone as "they" until they've told us about it, to put pronouns on emails and so on. They seem to be creating new buildings with only unisex facilities.

Some people I've talked to confidentially are very gender critical; most think it's a phase. However a few people are very very into it, it's their main "thing" and I try to avoid talking with them really, I know they'd hate my views.

I don't think I'd be fired outright for being gender critical in public, but I am certain I'd be complained about by some colleagues and by students, I'd be hauled in front of HR, have things put on my record, and be told to comply ... then I'd probably be managed out. I'm the only breadwinner and we can't afford that.

Does it boil down to company policy, then? Most employment contracts will include the requirement to uphold the company's policies, so breaching policies that you disagreed with could result in your dismissal.

Sounds utterly dreadful to be working in academia, where learning should be expanded, where critical thought and debate should respected, and yet to be subjected to such shut-down and disrespect.

It's not even just where it's company policy - I haven't double checked lately but I'm pretty sure my employer's policies would prevent me being openly GC under my own name on social media. They're also very loud about LGBT equality despite having major issues with sex inequality. Even if they couldn't outright fire me, I think being openly GC would certainly prevent advancement even more than being female already does.

DH and I also run our own business and have to be very careful as we live in a fairly MC liberal area and it could directly affect our business and be very hard to deal with

I don't think I'd be fired outright for being gender critical in public, but I am certain I'd be complained about by some colleagues and by students, I'd be hauled in front of HR, have things put on my record, and be told to comply ... then I'd probably be managed out.

^This. Also in academia. With the introduction of fees, students are consumers, and institutional loyalty now lies with student recruitment and retention rather than their relatively replaceable staff. That’s why academia is such a hotbed for this. The bluehairs call the shots.

Not sure what my company policy but I play it safe by talking quietly to women and giving the address of the consultation. If I do get pulled up on this, I will defend my right to encourage people to take part in democracy, but I am not sure if I feel strongly enough to be gc. The company knows what has happened to me in the past but I dont know if this would protect me from wokeness.

openly GC

They're also very loud about LGBT equality despite having major issues with sex inequality

Ditto. And gay and 'T' males benefit from patriarchy, don't acknowledge it and are the first to cry 'poor me' despite their privilege.

What is stunning me is the number who are coming out in older age - suddenly declaring they are 'living their lives as women' and parading about in frocks and nylons. When these men were the previous bastions of chauvinism that really fucking hurts.

Health professionals are also in a very vulnerable position

Why, Tallulah?

And lest we forget, this fear of losing jobs is all in order to show extreme levels of kindness to a very small number of transpeople who otherwise feel 'othered' and 'unsafe'! The hypocrisy is astounding, as is the blindness of those who won't see it.

What about jobs where safeguarding is an important aspect? In the sense that safeguarding is everybody's responsibility, not that they have are a named person in a safeguarding role

Yes I do fear for my job and have said to DH that this could be the end of my career. I work as an Equality and Diversity Manager. In the past two years I would say that trans issues have taken up about 60 % of my time. I feel that I am neglecting other groups who need my support and am conscious that they are receiving diminished support as a direct result. And not just general support, facilities have been taken away from them. One example - we had funding for a project to encourage women and girls into STEM. I was told by the funder that the project had to include outcomes to encourage trans women into STEM. It ended up becoming a huge feature of the project. Those resouces , in my opinion, should have been better targeted. I also worry that if one more person calls me cis at work I shall scream.