"Equality" conference

[worstofbothworlds]

I'm an academic and spotted this - it's more humanities but some of my (STEM) work looks at people and one of the things it looks at is one of the PCs under the EA2010. The conference says "looking at other things beyond the EA (hmmm... maybe fine? after all we do provide special help to students who are first in their family to go to university, care leavers - and those aren't PCs.)

I wrote to them and pointed out they hadn't got the PCs right, as they only had "gender" and they didn't have sex OR gender reassignment. If they wanted to think about what else should come under equality and diversity that's fine but they didn't have the PCs right. Oh, they say, we are just trying to think outside the box. You should definitely submit an abstract, they say.

I am slightly known for my GC views among some colleagues and wonder if I should apply just to make all the other speakers have a strop and not go? After all I might mention shock horror physical realities.

OR should I write back and say, no, sorry, I don't feel safe if you are not protecting women based on the actual PC in the EA which is sex....

Torn here.... I would probably find the talks very tedious except possibly for a friend who looks at really interesting African arts who might well submit something so I could just attend her talk of course!

Bumping.

I don't know OP, but I hope someone with some wisdom can offer you some thoughts

OR should I write back and say, no, sorry, I don't feel safe if you are not protecting women based on the actual PC in the EA which is sex....

I quite like this as maybe it will make them think this isn't just some self indulgent brain storming. This is about real life. But they might not even understand the point ou are making.

But maybe you just need to think about your own priorities and time. Is this the most important place (of the very many) that need to be challenged, do you have the time, are you prepared for some kick back.

But if you have the time and you could listen to your friend's talk and then the two of you sneak off and have your own discussion, why not?

You should definitely submit an abstract, they say.

Just reply saying
"Can you confirm you have updated your information to include the corrected protected characteristics as per the EA2010"

Then you'll be able to proceed wrt either attending the conference or engaging with a submission.

I think you should definitely apply. Get the GC message out there.

It would be good to get them to at least list the correct protected characteristics under the EA 2010.

I would suggest that they would need to ensure they have done everything they can to facilitate equality at the most basic level (are they tracking their sex pay gap? Career advancement/barriers for female staff? Access for disabled staff? Appropriate representation of BAME staff numbers?).

Once they have formulated the plan for these areas, then obviously looking 'outside the box' at areas beyond, helping disadvantaged students etc would be great.

It would be interesting to know how far down the route of gender ideology they have gone - is there still a full complement of single sex toilets for staff and students? Do they have a strict sex segregation policy (not allowing students to self-id) for shared rooms in halls?

It is great that they have invited you to submit an abstract. Do you have any friendly people in senior management you could get onside quietly first?

There is a possibility that if certain groups (particularly the SU) got wind of some gc wrongthink (ie. biological sex is real, women need single sex toilets) being allowed out into the open, they might put the kibosh on your contribution.

I hope it goes well op.

Remind them that the Equality Act 2010 is an Act of Parliament and they can't just rewrite it to suit their own agenda, even if it's being done to be more inclusive.

And no, it hasn't been changed. And no, it isn't under review.