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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Shocking bullying of gender critical law professor (Rosa Freedman)

261 replies

ProfessionalBarren · 05/12/2018 07:29

Absolutely shocked (and wasn’t sure I still could be) by her thread this morning about the abuse she’s endured, including acts of physical intimidation, covert bullying and vandalism. twitter.com/GoonerProf/status/1070158128837246977?s=20 Fuckers.

OP posts:
R0wantrees · 05/12/2018 11:09

Prof. Rosa Freedman's full thread from OP's link:
"THREAD: The excellent @WomansPlaceUK have put on many meetings in the last year to discuss women’s rights, and tonight I had the great privilege of speaking at one of those meetings. We discussed the law relating to sex & to gender identity. In many ways it was uplifting to be

part of that meeting. I am a Professor of Law, tenured, protected in terms of being able to speak in a respectful manner based on specific evidence, and supported to undertake research on topical and timely issues. That has not protected me from the harassment & abuse dished out

by the transactivist lobby. This week I picked up my post & received three more hard copy letters (separate to the daily emails I now receive) from staff and students at universities in the UK and beyond who are scared to express their views for fear of stigmatisation. This week

I found my office door covered in urine, including some that had seeped under the door, and I spent time cleaning it up because I could not bear the smell or the shame of what had happened. Last week I discovered criminal damage explicitly encouraging me to leave the University

because of my views that a woman is defined by law as biological not psychological. I have been attacked and vilified personally and professionally on social media by a senior Professor at another University who keeps threatening me with action (legal and/or re my employer), and

have had my reputation spuriously and perniciously smeared by the local LGBT charity who seems to have provided the University with wrongful advice on the trans policy (thankfully it can and ought to be changed) and academics spearheaded by @natachakennedy at Goldsmiths (an

institution that is not a leading light on women's rights). Tonight I met other academics who are being harassed in their workplace for setting out views based on specific evidence (i.e. doing their jobs). We all go to work to do our jobs -- and we are pretty damn good at doing

the research, educating, & administration that comes with the job -- yet we are being demonised, harassed, and targeted for expressing opinions based on the expertise for which we were hired and for why we are revered. This evening I was followed by students on campus, and ended

up hiding behind trees because I was scared for my physical safety. I have been open about being a survivor of sexual violence, despite which young male-bodied persons have seen fit to abuse me verbally about rape or to follow me in the dark into secluded spaces. It is now 3.30am

and someone / some people are continuously calling my phone from an anonymous number, & when I answer I am laughed at and told that I am a ‘TERF’ who ‘should be raped and killed’. If this is how a University Professor is treated, little wonder that women who work in jobs without

protection regarding academic enquiry – e;g; factories, shops, schools, restaurants, hospitals, and beyond (where there are fewer / no protections in place in employment contracts and policies) -- feel unable to speak up to protect women’s rights. Welcome to 2018, where people

have drunk the Kool Aid, or are looking to make a career on the back of the Kool Aid, or are just looking for a reason to bully and berate women who speak up (particularly those with expertise). [Good night]

Postscript: I think universities ought to consider sending communications to students & staff about appropriate behaviour. Peaceful protest is a legitimate part of freedom of expression. Harassment and abuse ought never to be tolerated. Employers have a duty of care to employees"
threader.app/thread/1070158128837246977

WSPU · 05/12/2018 11:10

It is terrifying. The last thing Rosa said last night was how much it means when people engage with her, listen to her and come out in support. I’m sure some supportive emails wouldn’t go astray today.

MsJeminaPuddleduck · 05/12/2018 11:19

Debbie Hayton is on talkRADIO with Matthew Wright 1-2pm today. Hopefully Debbie will mention it then (lots of people are asking on Twitter) and it'll reach a wider audience

R0wantrees · 05/12/2018 11:21

I’m sure some supportive emails wouldn’t go astray today.

This (both to Prof Freedman and The University of Reading) ^^

see also Jenni Murray & The University of Hull
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3443128-Please-defend-Jenni-Murrays-reputation

PutYourShirtOnMartin · 05/12/2018 11:24

I couldn't get past the pissing on her door. I told DH someone had pissed on her door...I didn't give any background info ( he is on twitter and follows same people as me but hadn't seen this) and his immediate reaction was 'fucking men...'...

I agree with him....it's such a man thing

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 05/12/2018 11:25

I'm horrified at the lack of support a tenured professor is getting from their own university. And I am Shock that all she wants is students / staff to be reminder about appropriate behaviour - the university should be finding out who these individuals are and sacking them / expelling them!

theOtherPamAyres · 05/12/2018 12:08

Julia Hartley-Brewer tweets:

I wonder if the urine all over this feminist academic’s door was put there by a woman using her penis

..... and puts on her Adult Human Female hoodie.

The persistent and terrifying harassment of Rosa Freedman is a criminal matter.

Shocking bullying of gender critical law professor (Rosa Freedman)
MsJeminaPuddleduck · 05/12/2018 12:11

I'm starting to really love Julia H-B. Whilst I may disagree with her on a lot of things I do 'like the cut of her jib'.

Ereshkigal · 05/12/2018 12:16

Julia ThanksWine

BernardBlacksWineIcelolly · 05/12/2018 12:21

Yup JHB is not afraid to voice an opinion

It’s great to see

BernardBlacksWineIcelolly · 05/12/2018 12:22

She also seems unbullyable

tobee · 05/12/2018 12:37

They do not want to be us. They want to erase us.

Sunkisses · 05/12/2018 12:38

This is utterly disgusting. I firmly believe that trans activism is sliding into terrorism. I really hope the police are aware of this and are watching them carefully

MsJeminaPuddleduck · 05/12/2018 12:38

And does n't dress things up (women's hour style - I appreciate why they have to but sometimes make it hard to listen through the fog)

Julia H-B just says it straight

I'm gonna try and b #BeMoreJulia

(Just not on MN as it would get me banned)

thewitchofwentworth · 05/12/2018 12:45

This reminds me of the bullying of women in Iran by men. Their misogyny has an almost religious zeal.

HumberElla · 05/12/2018 12:46

JHB! Love that.
Seriously though, I also was reminded of the way men urinated on the doors of Jewish academics and business people and vandalised their homes during the lead up to war. I’m not saying the reason for this attack was the same, but in the context of history the shutting down of academic discourse and specifically this type of direct attack to frighten Rosa should be taken very, very seriously indeed.

theOtherPamAyres · 05/12/2018 12:55

Julia receives waves and waves of rapey abuse, but delivers some cracking one-liners in response. I think that many of her male followers have been introduced to misogyny and sexism on a scale that they would never have seen in their real lives - and they don't like it.

It is sickening that women like Rosa and Julia and all the other women who have raised their voices, have to go through this hell before the public react and demand action - not just from social media outlets and Universities but from the state.

littlbrowndog · 05/12/2018 12:57

Bullies have to bully
The trans thing is just a Trojan horse for these men who enjo6 bullying women
And the university to scared and cowardly to take action

littlbrowndog · 05/12/2018 12:58

Rosa 💐💐🌹🌻

Manderleyagain · 05/12/2018 13:00

Humberella - Students need to condemn the bullying and intimidation. Students need to contact the university formally to complain and be demanding a response. Female students who may feel unsafe on campus after incidents like this should be asking how the university is addressing their approach to student safety.

I agree. Students now hold the purse strings. But how to get this to happen? It is the student bodies that are pushing the 'words are violence' and 'opinions are harmful' line that has helped create this climate where words you don't like can be countered with intimidation.

I have emailed Private Eye and Index on Censorship drawing their attention to the twitter thread. Index on Censorship have just published a report on free speech on campus. They take a long term view and recommend teaching the principles to 11-18 yr olds.
www.indexoncensorship.org/uncomfortable-educational-freedom-expression-uk-universities/

That doesn't help in the short term though. I like the idea of sending postcards of support to people.

MsJeminaPuddleduck · 05/12/2018 13:02

We need to hold the university to account - not just individually but as parent and funders of their current and future customers

Those of us on Twitter can tweet and ask both the university (@uniofreading) and the student union (@RUSUtweets) to publicly condemn the harassment

MoltenLasagne · 05/12/2018 14:27

I firmly believe that trans activism is sliding into terrorism.

The one thread connecting men who commit terrorist acts is violence against women. Regardless of country, religion, race background, it's consistent across >90% of terrorists.

The pattern of escalation is concerning and I'd argue some of the acts, such as the use and intended use (at Bristol) of smoke bombs actually crosses the line into terrorism already.

PipGoesPop · 05/12/2018 14:41

How can her employer stand back and do nothing? Despicable. Lilly livered fuckers.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 05/12/2018 14:48

Reading have said they are investigating - whether that will lead to any action is anyone's guess.

TallulahWaitingInTheRain · 05/12/2018 14:57

I'm not surprised they are going after Rosa. A key part of their strategy has been getting legal changes pushed through without anyone really noticing or understanding what the implications are. Rosa understands the law and has been explaining it to us. She has done incredibly valuable work Flowers

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