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Original poster

Academics' letter in Guardian

118 replies

Velella · 16/10/2018 20:34

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/16/academics-are-being-harassed-over-their-research-into-transgender-issues

OP posts:
GCAcademic · 16/10/2018 23:48

Any support would, I'm sure, be greatly appreciated, as there will no doubt be some backlash. I have pre-emptively told my boss, senior management and Comms person about the letter so they're not on the back foot when complaints come in.

Some of you have asked about the network, I'll PM you tomorrow as I'm a bit tired now.

northender · 16/10/2018 23:49

Thank you all.

littlebillie · 16/10/2018 23:53

Wow that's amazing

IWishIHadEvenMorePlasticTat · 16/10/2018 23:55

Standing up and cheering loudly. Great letter. Amazing. I just finished filling out the consultation online tonight. I’m so fed up of this nonsense. Thank you.

littlebillie · 16/10/2018 23:55

Actually reading this has really scared me what powers lie behind this

SPOFS · 17/10/2018 00:30

A reasonable, intelligent, well-written letter signed by both men and women.

I can't believe the Guardian printed it! Shock

Oldstyle · 17/10/2018 00:43

Thanks GC. It lifted my spirits to read this letter and see the amazing list of signatories. Flowers

PipGoesPop · 17/10/2018 01:00

Very pleased to see this together with the letter printed earlier in The Observer.

Really good to hear that lots of students are not on board but a sad sign of the times that they along with academics, politicians and, oh, women in general are being bullied and silenced.

Dare we feel hopeful that the tide really is turning?

PleasingFungusBeetle · 17/10/2018 01:14

This letter is brilliant thank you so much xxx

I'm quite new to this area but I have been starting to get really frightened, particularly today reading that MPs going into the FPFW meeting were so frightened they asked for their names to be kept private. What the actual fuck? This whole thing is so fascistic I feel like I'm going mad

littlecabbage · 17/10/2018 03:16

Thank you to GC and all the signatories. You are brave and strong. This letter will really help.

acivilcontract · 17/10/2018 03:42

Thank you for this, putting your name to this is hard to do. I need to be braver about this in RL, not that I work in academia.

Regressionconfession · 17/10/2018 05:34

Thank you GCAcademic and all the other signatories. It was heartening scrolling down the list.

I emailed the only academic from my old university to say thank you and got a reply straight away saying how heartening it was to receive my email. So it's definitely worth emailing individual academics on the list. I also copied in a tutor from my old department to spread the word and hopefully increase support.

Mamaryllis · 17/10/2018 05:44

One of my old lecturers is on there too - but I assumed she would be. I’m glad the fight goes on. The Academy is not a safe space for gc women currently. Kudos for your courage, all.

Bowednotbroken · 17/10/2018 06:18

Thank you GC and all the signatories - lurkers / participants or not! As PP have said, great to see this finally making headway in the Guardian.

Beerincomechampagnetastes · 17/10/2018 06:23

StarStar thank you 🙏

Cuntysnark · 17/10/2018 06:34

Thank you

PartridgeInAFairTree · 17/10/2018 06:36

Well done GC. Young people desperately need people like you, it's been devastating to see the shut down of critical thinking within places of learning

ChattyLion · 17/10/2018 06:47

GC I remember your thread. I appreciate how personally difficult and potentially livelihood-threatening going public on this issue will have felt for you and the other signatories working in this environment. Every signature means a great deal to me as someone who is silenced at work. Thank you all for your bravery. FlowersFlowersFlowersFlowersFlowers

ChattyLion · 17/10/2018 07:02

I also wondered if this is still open to other signatories? This issue affects so many academics- not just those who directly research trans issues. Anyone who deal with what men or women are- in their work, research, teaching, university policies on equality or on facilities etc which at some point will be most academics.
Is there a way of keeping this up somewhere or keeping it open with an academic who is willing to host it? The word is very likely to spread and others may be emboldened by this.

noraclavicle · 17/10/2018 07:08

Thanks for the prod to email lecturers from our alma maters! I’ll definitely do mine Smile

iismum · 17/10/2018 07:41

Wonderful to see. But as a Scottish academic I'm disappointed that there doesn't appear to be a single signatory from Scotland. I'd love to get engaged with the network -although I don't have any academic expertise in the area.

Floisme · 17/10/2018 07:42

Thank you GC and to anyone else reading who has signed.

None of the students I know believe trans ideology. The problem is, they just think it's a big joke.

Scarecrows · 17/10/2018 08:14

Thank you to those that have put their name to this letter!

Does anyone know if articles like this are ever shared on LinkedIn? I couldn’t post it but would be brave enough to ‘like’ it (hate that I have to even worry about this).

hipsterfun · 17/10/2018 08:15

Has there been a coup at the Guardian?!

Inspiring work, GCAcademic. Well done to all the people on the list.

hipsterfun · 17/10/2018 08:19

Particular respect for Dr Rosalind Barber, English & Comparative Literature from Goldsmiths.

For obvious reasons Smile