Launch: Open University Gender Critical Research Network

[Deathsquito]

Hello everyone!

I’ve been a lurker on these boards for the last year or so. I’m a mature student at the OU and was made aware of this whole debate when I was warned to be very careful what I was saying by my (friendly) OU tutor. He told us that what we were discussing may get us threatened online. The whole tutor group was told this.

This was because we were discussing a group experiment we were doing for the module. One involving using biological sex as an independent variable. Like comparing male/female heights.

We had what I thought was a considerate, polite discussion around how best to make sure the data was correct. We decided on asking for biological sex rather than gender as we all understood it to be a different thing.

It was quite a shock to realise this (what I thought was) widely accepted scientific view would get us publicly hung, drawn and quartered, even by other students in the sciences.

I haven’t posted in here before, mostly because I haven’t had anything new to say. But I came across this on Twitter this morning and thought it may be interesting to some.

The OU has launched a GC research network and podcast. The podcast can be viewed on YouTube and after being scared to speak my opinion in real life/my OU studies it has restored my faith in the OU!

@accessorizequeen it's hard isn't it. I really don't want to hide behind a pseudonym, I want to stand up and be counted, but we know how organisations cower in the face of tantrumming adolescents.

Well Sally Hines will know all about academic mediocrity

[quote SoMuchForSummerLove]@accessorizequeen it's hard isn't it. I really don't want to hide behind a pseudonym, I want to stand up and be counted, but we know how organisations cower in the face of tantrumming adolescents.[/quote]
Maybe the Forstater judgment will help there, hard to tell yet. I work for myself. Don't know if that means I should carry on in my quiet way. Or not.

Good news.

Great news. I'm an OU student too.

This is great!

A WhatsApp group I’d joined in preparation for my two modules in October is in complete melt down.

I’ve left it now (can see it’s not going to be the useful kind of group anyway) but a few members in the group appeared to be having difficulty distinguishing between a research network and a genocidal study in to their existence (non binary).

I hope freedom of thought/expression and the ability to fundamentally disagree with someone whilst remaining civilised roars back in to fashion some time soon!

I watched the first podcast yesterday and found it really interesting. Seems to be covering all sort of issues like why there is so little research into female health.

The TRA's are in full attack mode which I assume means that they haven't bothered to watch it. Surely they all have mothers/sisters/grandmothers who would greatly benefit from some discussion on this?

Loved the idea that a well known [they/them] no longer feels safe attending an Open University course!

If anything it’s made me feel safer! After realising what a minefield this all was, it felt too dangerous to actually express a belief which I thought was mainstream (in biological sex).

And since I’ve started paying attention I’ve seen the awful threats mainly women (and via them their children) have received for stating a legal and reasonable opinion.

I had to hold my tongue (finger?) when I saw someone tweeting that they were glad they had quit OU now.

Isn’t that supposed to be part of the whole university experience, learning to get along and debate with others who have vastly different experiences/opinions to you?

Not any more it seems...

Or at least not on this one forbidden topic.

Cardiff University academics are also fighting back (CU is a Stonewall champion). Please support them if you are on twitter...

"it is inappropriate that such a group should be embedded within the university, influencing policies which affect freedom of expression and expose dissenters to harassment".

twitter.com/prossertj/status/1405453727662841859

Really pleased to see this, and finding it hilarious (but also a bit scary) how worked up the TRAs are getting.

Just seen the Reddit thread. It's shocking (and pretty tragic) that someone would find an educational institution in which you never need to see a single person or even interact with anybody other than a tutor (which is relatively rare), you don't even need to leave your bedroom for the entirety of your education, an unsafe place! How on earth do these people even go to the supermarket if an online education provider is unsafe?

I think it's desperately sad that already vulnerable young people have been indoctrinated to believe they're 'unsafe' due to thoughts, discussions, conversations and disagreements. It's a fucking travesty.

I have just seen this. A short survey to support the OU gender critical research network. It's really important to let the university know what you think. 5 short questions.
You could fill it in as someone who will be helping children decide where to study, or where you might study in the future. If you are already a student there please fill it in.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeg0hKlQkOI7koLfsabSbPIIkK0Q8fMr26yCLJQfemSz2o5ZQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2IdkJeVcu7QHt9J7FAHyGgOqemFybH5K-NaiMA1l4o4yN6konL3Nn3PRY&fbzx=4410285978403657531

[quote Manderleyagain]I have just seen this. A short survey to support the OU gender critical research network. It's really important to let the university know what you think. 5 short questions.
You could fill it in as someone who will be helping children decide where to study, or where you might study in the future. If you are already a student there please fill it in.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeg0hKlQkOI7koLfsabSbPIIkK0Q8fMr26yCLJQfemSz2o5ZQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2IdkJeVcu7QHt9J7FAHyGgOqemFybH5K-NaiMA1l4o4yN6konL3Nn3PRY&fbzx=4410285978403657531[/quote]
Thank you for sharing @anderleyagain - I have filled it out

This seems a great contribution to the pushback.

Jo Phoenix's statement on the (too familiar) accusation that the network is a hate group:

The OU_GCN and the academics who comprise it are currently being defamed as a hate group and complaints are being made that its mere existence somehow undermines the Open University policies on diversity. One of these claims is DEFAMATORY and actionable. Gender critical beliefs are protected beliefs. The other claim is simply wrong. OpenUniversity has LEGAL OBLIGATIONS to support academic freedom. Stopping a research group on the basis of its theoretical perspective would be a clear violation of the law (see #reindorfreport). [continues]

twitter.com/JoPhoenix1/status/1405472943392624648

This is great news! I have been wanting to start a course, but have been really reluctant to go near OU, or any university for that matter, because of the current no debate culture. Maybe I will now sign up to OU. I have filled out the feedback form.

Sally Hines is not getting the responses on Twitter she thought she might get, I see. She really doesn't ever learn.

[quote Manderleyagain]I have just seen this. A short survey to support the OU gender critical research network. It's really important to let the university know what you think. 5 short questions.
You could fill it in as someone who will be helping children decide where to study, or where you might study in the future. If you are already a student there please fill it in.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeg0hKlQkOI7koLfsabSbPIIkK0Q8fMr26yCLJQfemSz2o5ZQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2IdkJeVcu7QHt9J7FAHyGgOqemFybH5K-NaiMA1l4o4yN6konL3Nn3PRY&fbzx=4410285978403657531[/quote]
Done.

I've filled it as an ex student however the way its designed they can limit responses they see to those who are pride and/or ou students.

t's good to see a balanced light at the end of the tunnel on the determination of steel tracks built by Maya's, lawyers and others work.

I do hope that the OU doesn't cave in to pressure from individuals with the usual arguments over this.
Academics for Academic Freedom have retweeted this tweet twitter.com/ProfDHayes/status/1405914356857049092?s=20 'Another attack on academic freedom' concerning a letter from other academics professing 'profound disappointment' in response to the new group.

[quote Manderleyagain]I have just seen this. A short survey to support the OU gender critical research network. It's really important to let the university know what you think. 5 short questions.
You could fill it in as someone who will be helping children decide where to study, or where you might study in the future. If you are already a student there please fill it in.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeg0hKlQkOI7koLfsabSbPIIkK0Q8fMr26yCLJQfemSz2o5ZQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2IdkJeVcu7QHt9J7FAHyGgOqemFybH5K-NaiMA1l4o4yN6konL3Nn3PRY&fbzx=4410285978403657531[/quote]
Thanks for sharing. I have submitted a response