Should I email my Uni Lecturer about this?

[Magpiemavis]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster!

I’m in my first year of a uni degree, and was just listening to one of my online uni lectures. I was quite stunned to hear the lecturer brand JK Rowling a transphobe. Having actually read JK Rowling’s open letter, would it be reasonable of me to email the lecturer and ask why they thought this was a reasonable thing to do?

Would really appreciate some outside views on this!

Sorry I realise I’ve used the word reasonable far too much!

Yeah of course it would as a professor they should welcome and be able to engage in debate. I would be interested in their reasoning also.

What are you studying/what do they teach?

Irrespective of my views I would think that should provoke a healthy debate and I think that is what University is meant to do. Promote independent research and the ability to question (challenge?) opinions in a healthy respectful way.

I am probably wrong though.

I think you'd be reasonable. I wish there was a woke ranking for universities.

Not only reasonable OP but vitally important. Also worth asking him/her whether they have actually read JKR's essay and, if so, what the evidence is for 'hatred or fear' of trans people.

And maybe whether they feel that women have the right to name themselves or if the language we use to talk about our material experiences as a sex-based class should be decided and policed by men.

Good luck!

I'm sick of hearing her described as transphobic. My young DD said she'd gone off her for this reason and I felt so sad. I explained that I dont think she is but due to her age couldn't get too far into the whys.

If you're confident of putting your points across clearly then I would say something.

Yes, absolutely!
As long as you ask in an open and respectful manner (as I've no doubt you would), this is a great thing to do, IMHO. Could you ask why, specifically, the lecturer thinks what JK said was transphobic?

Another vote for yes, at the very least there should be some explanation for that view based on her essay.

If it's a personally held point of view not only should it be defensible it should be openly debated as to whether that is reasonable to think so.

Universities should encourage debate around this, it shouldn't be something to be scared of, though I see why it could be.

Why did they say it as a matter of interest, I mean how did JK Rowling come up? But yes absolutely challenge this, people should be asked what it was about anything she said that was transphobic as opposed to speaking out for women's rights

would it be reasonable of me to email the lecturer and ask why they thought this was a reasonable thing to do?
No, don't ask "what they thought". Ask them to provide evidence of their assertion. But worded a bit more diplomatically than that.

Ask the lecturer to provide evidence for their claim.

I'd also ask them what their opinions are regarding women having thoughts and opinions about our current legal protections.

God, how depressing that people involved in education would do this. Yes, please email the lecturer asking as well if they are allowed to make people of different beliefs uncomfortable in their lectures - I’m sure this must be something they are warned against if teaching is anything to go by.

@NowtSalamander

God, how depressing that people involved in education would do this. Yes, please email the lecturer asking as well if they are allowed to make people of different beliefs uncomfortable in their lectures - I’m sure this must be something they are warned against if teaching is anything to go by.

Seems like only certain people are allowed feel uncomfortable these days, women most certainly are not one of them

Ask for primary source evidence. He may attempt to flannel because he knows it is bullshit or he may be genuinely surprised that he can't find any. Her genuine concern about ROGD is what was quoted at me as evidence of transphobia. It most certainly isn't and the recent court case backs her up.
Go for it.
Ask the question.

I would report him to the colleges/uni for hate speech and misogyny.

Love it how the last two posters are assuming it’s a man! Yes definitely email the lecturer and ask for an explanation.

I am a lecturer (and have a vagina - gasp!) and would welcome the discussion.

That's so appalling!! Yes - you should email them! It's always in your rights to email any lecturer for further clarification anyway. In this case - why not email the piece and ask him/her to point out the bit that is actually transphobic? You can always play a bit innocent if you don't want to come across as a trouble-maker - just say you can't see it yourself and if they could just point out the actual transphobic bit (clue: they never can!) that would be so helpful - blah blah.

Also - don't forget that your lecturer has a line-manager, the head of department. Of course, I know lots of (esp female) undergrads don't want to make trouble and wouldn't dream of ever emailing the Head - but actually, the Head's inbox is always full of student emails querying/complaining about various things, and it's completely in your rights to do so. Maybe see what response you get from the lecturer, and if you're concerned, raise your concerns with the Head. It might be worth checking them on Twitter/checking their email signature - if they've got their pronouns there, you can pretty much rule out getting a helpful response. But actually, there are plenty of heads who don't think JKR is transphobic, and a student email can be enormously useful to them in helping to foster an academic environment that works for both trans allies and GC feminists.

Good luck and always feel free to come back to us. There are plenty of academics here and we're happy to support and advise as best we can!

I'd steer clear of the term "brand"... bit Daily Mail!
Do it in the spirit of wanting to understand (and also out of concern for same-sex attracted individuals)

Yes, do. Hopefully they will welcome the discussion with you.

@Run1000km2021

Love it how the last two posters are assuming it’s a man! Yes definitely email the lecturer and ask for an explanation.

I am a lecturer (and have a vagina - gasp!) and would welcome the discussion.

True that (guilts as charged). I just assume women have more brains...

Any academic worth their salt should be willing to engage in academic debate about an issue. If you make your case clearly and respectfully then you are perfectly within your rights to challenge him/her. I wish more students would do so!

As someone else at uni at the moment I'm terrified of this. There are people on my course who identify as trans and the subject clearly terrifies lecturers. It feels grossly unfair they're allowed to engage in their activism but I suspect any questions or gentle pushback would be deemed 'unsafe' to these people and therefore verboten.

Is there a ‘rate my lecturer’ site in the U.K.?

True that (guilts as charged). I just assume women have more brains...

I always work they other way around - I always assume it'll be a woman pushing this stuff as (sadly) I see far more women declaring their pronouns than I do men - I'd say at least five to one, may be even ten to one.

Also - it always feel so much more painful coming from women. I can see why men buy into it - lack of thought, nothing to lose etc. But when I see one of my sisters doing it, really - a little part of me dies inside.

Yes, I'd email (you'll probably get a long list of links to random articles on medium in return), but I'd also ask for a working definition of 'transphobia'. If the reply does not satisfy you, do raise it with your Head of Department, not to snitch but to make the Head aware that lecturers are bringing their personal politics to work.

It's fine to bring up issues that are in the public eye but the professional way to signal that something is 'problematic', is to say 'controversial views' or 'views that have been described as transphobic' because otherwise you're shutting down debate.