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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Amber Rudd and no-platformed at Oxford Uni

81 replies

mindtheclegs · 06/03/2020 11:05

Did a quick search and couldn't find this as an own thread (added to Selina Todd's one but thought it worth a seperate one).

Her Tweet:
twitter.com/AmberRuddUK/status/1235838618221948928
"Badly judged & rude of some students last night at Oxford to decide to “no platform” me 30 mins before an event I had been invited to for #IWD2020 to encourage young women into politics. They should stop hiding and start engaging. #FreeSpeech"

The Oxford Uni article:
www.oxfordstudent.com/2020/03/05/unwomen-oxford-cancels-amber-rudd/
The group is called UNWomen. UnWomen?! And they apologised for hurtz and feels felt by non-binary and 'womxn'. Dressed up in dismay around her politics but they bloody knew her history before asking her to speak, yes?

OP posts:
Justhadathought · 08/03/2020 14:27

The part they objected to was that the event was described as a "celebration" of successful women and they didn't feel it was appropriate to include her in that

Quite frankly, whatever the reasoning behind this action, I'm pleased it has gone tits up in the most public manner possible. Bring it on!

TorkTorkBam · 08/03/2020 14:41

@HesMyLobster What changed on the day to make the vote happen then? Why not days or weeks before? The actions referenced happened months ago. Why wait until the last moment?

Noooblerooble · 08/03/2020 15:47

nothing compared to the potential hurt to the black and Afro Caribbean feminists and students who felt her presence at such an event would be a direct and personal attack when their families and communities have suffered at her hands.

Don't you think some of them would have relished the chance to talk to her? To challenge her? To educate her about their experiences? I think it might have felt empowering for them.

The trouble is, people are trying to create safe spaces where no one feels threatened but the world just doesn't work that way. Humans are messy and complex and relationships are complex too. People hurt one another and do bad things. The only way forward to a better society is through communication. If you want to create a safe world you will end up sitting in a room alone.

Needmoresleep · 08/03/2020 17:05

The Harry Miller Judgement:

"'Right to be offended' does not exist"

"“We live in a pluralistic society where none of us have a right to be offended by something that they hear.

“Freedom of expression laws are not there to protect statements such as ‘kittens are cute’ - but they are there to protect unpleasant things.

“Its utility lies in exposing people to things that they do not want to hear.”

I am sounding very old, but there is a big tough world out there. Young people will need resilience and an ability to get on with things. Yes they should be willing to fight injustice. But fight, not just take offense.

My own instinct is that Rudds "side of the story" could have been interesting. I suspect there is more to a Minister being scapegoated, than we perhaps see. Essentially politics. I suspect women are more vulnerable than men. I suspect the Home Office, that great, unwieldy Department, is the most difficult of all. May was a champion in not making decisions, but also interesting that this job, in a very clubbable Cabinet, that was the one that went to an Unclubbable woman. Rudd, had problems. Javid in contrast seems to have had a bit of a love in with the Perm Sec, whilst Patel is under siege. I note that there seems to be some briefing from people, who were close to Rudd, essentially supporting Patel. For a student of politics, especially women interested in politics, there would be a wealth of interesting questions to ask.

Next time perhaps they should go with Layla Moran, or Jo Swinson or another woman who has fully drunk the Kool aid. (Lisa Nandy, R L-B). Why move beyond student politics.

And can we have Rudd for a MN web-chat on the challenges faced by women in politics?

nettie434 · 14/03/2020 11:38

Grr - fat fingers posted before finished...He questioned whether societies that no platformed should be entitled to name/infrastructure provided by their university. Last item on programme. About 25 mins in:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000gt8v

nettie434 · 14/03/2020 11:41

Well what happened there??? Sorry about confusing post. Was posting about Chris Patten interview on Week in Westminster where he criticised no platforming and recommended universities to be more proactive.

Copying link again for convenience...

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000gt8v

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