Times Edinburgh University

[littlebillie]

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/db057626-cbb5-11eb-b575-81b2a16c3be4?shareToken=3b9a4089e0b3bfb1e2ef522a96f50f2c&fbclid=IwAR1amvGWZF9It8_D6y3nUBQ317QipREt5PM0izNJ8R0dqX-NvU5hCEa89TY

"Edinburgh University’s students’ association (EUSA) is paying for “gender-empowering” items that also include breast-binders and compression underwear to hide male genitalia."

Has anyone raised the issue that this may cause issues for breasts and possible male infertility due to compression. I still think students are vulnerable even at 18, I wonder if health risks are explained.

I thought compression clothing was left behind in the 19th century with the "fashion" to have a tiny waist. We seem to be heading full circle...

I wonder if they also offer corsets or workshops in footbinding or breast ironing.

I mean at what point do you wonder whether you actually are being your true authentic self when you bind your breasts so tightly that your ribs change shape and put a silicone penis down your pants so that people can see a bulge?

FFS will they supply tailed butt-plugs for the Furries too? We took our DD to Edinburgh last week as it’s one of her Uni choices for next year (Scottish resident). WTF are they like? Binders absolutely destroy breast tissue - if you hated your breasts before wearing one you’ll definitely hate them after wearing one for a while. Imagine your child going off to Uni and the Uni facilitating that damage?! I bet they make them sign a waiver. Would flat-chested girls be allowed to get prosthetic breasts I wonder? Y’know self-esteem and all that?

Cripes imagine a university paying for people to damage their bodies

What a strange thing to do

@TeviotT Don't give them ideas!

If a university provides items to students that it knows cause physical damage to the body, surely it could be liable for future lawsuits?

TeviotT
UofE is on my daughter's list of possible universities too. It's stressful enough to make decisions about university applications without this added to it.

I have three (!) degrees from the University of Edinburgh. EUSA was always a joke, but this is not funny. I believe that there is a fair bit of disquiet (putting it mildly) among staff about the current leadership, and not just on this issue, but I also think many people are keeping their heads down.

Your DD wouldn't be obliged to bind her breasts just because she attends the university!

The student union was a shot show when I was there. The only union not to send buses to London to protest against the introduction of fees. All of them just wanting to get on the Labour Party radar. Self interested shit bags. Looks like nothing has changed.

@NotRainingToday

Your DD wouldn't be obliged to bind her breasts just because she attends the university!

Well no. The point is that the union is preying on vulnerable young women by encouraging them to engage in self-harm by binding their breasts. It’s incredibly bad for the body and often leaves permanent damage. Would you be cool if they supplied razor blades for cutting too?

I’m at Edinburgh, and in fairness it is very easy to avoid EUSA! This is still ridiculous though.

@TeviotT

FFS will they supply tailed butt-plugs for the Furries too? We took our DD to Edinburgh last week as it’s one of her Uni choices for next year (Scottish resident). WTF are they like? Binders absolutely destroy breast tissue - if you hated your breasts before wearing one you’ll definitely hate them after wearing one for a while. Imagine your child going off to Uni and the Uni facilitating that damage?! I bet they make them sign a waiver. Would flat-chested girls be allowed to get prosthetic breasts I wonder? Y’know self-esteem and all that?

I don't think a waiver would stand if it causes physical harm

Edinburgh law school is full of TRA staff who helped to write a trans manifesto that labelled anyone who didn’t believe wholescale in gender identity as a bigot. It’s not just the student Union. I wouldn’t let any child of mine go there but there are lots of other unis that are just as bad.

DD graduated from Edinburgh last year, she had a great time although sadly post Covid I daresay there is a different student experience to be had, but I assume that applies to all universities. She worked for a comedy company through two Edinburgh festivals and loved it, meeting the comedians, going to the shows and lots of partying. Also a certain amount of misogynistic aggression on the streets when leafleting and promoting the shows. I don't know what is happening with the festival now but hopefully it will all come back in the next year or two.
Edinburgh is a beautiful city, and quite inspiring to be in. Lots to do and most of it in walking distance, and a very safe city, I don't think she paid for a bus fare once.
Whilst writing SexMatters stonewall letters I wrote to Edinburgh and also Oxford Brookes where DD2 is headed. Researching for my letter I looked at the EDI policies of both universities and the other chosen organisations. Edinburgh does list Sex as a protected characteristic and talk about women (I think I looked at the maternity policy, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole and can't remember precisely but do take a look if you are considering the university). I'm not particularly happy with the letter I received in response and will be getting back to them, but on the other hand I haven't heard back from any of the others. Also Oxford Brookes lists gender and not sex as a protected characteristic.

I'm not happy that DD certainly has drunk of the Koolaid, occasionally posting on Instagram and talking about her intersectional feminism. But I'm trying not to bait her on the subject as I'm pretty sure she does know and will come round. I pointed out that no man can suffer from rotten periods the way she does and she agreed but said intersectional feminism means being kind to everyone. So at least I can take comfort that she does really know TW aren't women but chooses to ignore it to be kind.
I wouldn't cross it off the list if you are scouting universities for your DDs, I don't know if there is one university that isn't signed up to Stonewall champions? When DD went I was still in a state of total ignorance about the GRC and the implications for women so I had no opportunity to discuss these issues before she went. Now there is the opportunity to speak have the discussion before they go.

@NotRainingToday

Your DD wouldn't be obliged to bind her breasts just because she attends the university!

Should vulnerable students be encouraged and supported by EUSA to cause themselves harm if that's what they feel is best for them?

@IvyTwines2 If this is the student union it isn’t the university, it’s a completely separate legal body. The uni isn’t responsible for what the SU does and it can be very hard for the uni to exert any influence over the SU. Any legal action would have to be against the SU. However the perception that the uni allowed this on their patch would make it look as though they were jointly responsible. I really hope there isn’t a test case because of some poor woman being seriously harmed.

[quote FictionalCharacter]@IvyTwines2 If this is the student union it isn’t the university, it’s a completely separate legal body. The uni isn’t responsible for what the SU does and it can be very hard for the uni to exert any influence over the SU. Any legal action would have to be against the SU. However the perception that the uni allowed this on their patch would make it look as though they were jointly responsible. I really hope there isn’t a test case because of some poor woman being seriously harmed.[/quote]
I understand that it's the SU however as a separate legal body doesn't it still bear the name of the University in its title. I think "do no harm" test needs to be applied to this campaign by the University to see if it's best serving the students. When I was a Uni a member of the SU was dismissed due to their behaviour towards other students as they were causing harm.