Academic Freedom, Harassment and GC academics - ask me any questions

[ProfJoPhoenix]

Hi Mumsnetters

Jo Phoenix here - as in the academic cancelled by Essex and harassed by colleagues at the OU. I decided to join mumsnet because I know that several women here are supportive of what it is that we (GC academics) are going through and dealing with. I thought I would start a thread - a sort of ask me any question thread. I'll be making an announcement on twitter (@JoPhoenix1) on Sunday morning that you might find interesting. What's happened to Kathleen Stock has left all of us reeling and I am going to do something that, I hope, will help. Watch this space.

I'm so pleased to see this. I'm booked into your Sex Matters chat next week.

It's good to see that there's something in the pipeline because recent events have left me despairing of our major institutions.

It'll vary by institution and discipline, but do you have any sense of how many academics are on board with freedom of speech (even if it upsets certain groups) and how many academics think those upsetting the certain groups need to be silenced/punished? Do you see any difference in the sexes in how they view this?

Hi Jo! Welcome and I think you'll find more than several of us here who support you.

I've been so shocked to see what's going on in academia. When I was a student 20ish years ago, the faculty staff were majority lesbians and feminists, and that's where I learnt about feminism and women's rights. We were really encourage to explore and debate.

I'm interested to know more about what's going on behind the scenes, for example do you feel there is a majority with GC views but who feel unable to speak up?

What do we do about UCU? I have drafted my email of resignation but I feel very nervous at the idea of not being in a union. Any thoughts on alternatives?

Hi Jo, as an OU alumna I'd like to say thank you for establishing the OUGCRN and I hope it is proving fruitful.

I saw a thread this morning about the UK government's feeble response to Clare Dimyon's petition to get the gov to record sex in Violence Against the Person or sexual crimes. They seem to be trying to imply that it would be too much like hard work to discover whether perpetrators are male or female. The full response is here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/590123.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

@nauticant

It'll vary by institution and discipline, but do you have any sense of how many academics are on board with freedom of speech (even if it upsets certain groups) and how many academics think those upsetting the certain groups need to be silenced/punished? Do you see any difference in the sexes in how they view this?

I think it's more complicated than this. I've come across a lot of academics who seem to suffer from cognitive dissonance on this matter. For example, some of the worst TRA academics who have sought to silence women like Kathleen Stock and Serena Todd are will simultaneously complain about how their freedom of speech is being curtailed in relation to criticising Israel (yes, often in terms which some people would find antisemitic). Another example is an academic who is today complaining about how the Home Office cancelled her talk for making a racist comment about the Home Secretary; this academic is someone who has been vociferous in trying to no-platform people she doesn't agree with.

Yes, as someone working in gender areas I agree Colleagues happily discuss male pattern violence but automatically assume that someone born male. socialised male who transitions to female in later life loses ALL TRACES of masculinity. It's cognitive dissonance. Academia also thrives on group acceptance. Academics are unwilling to open themselves to opprobrium and bullying because they don't want to lose face....

Looking on from outside academia, I'm really shocked at what GC feminist academics have been subject to. How can those of us outside of academia meaningfully support you?

Wondering if you see an age-based disparity? Where I work, the younger ones are almost all either on-board or silent but the issue is policed by older women (surprisingly) who insist on pro-nouns, 'being kind' and making their classrooms 'safe spaces' for LGBTQ etc. students (which means silencing women).

Even more scary that some of these are lesbians.

Hi, OP. You have my support.

As a non academic, this whole issue seems to me to be symptomatic of the increasingly large gap between academia and wider society. Do you think there are larger issues at work here, related to politicisation and commodification of academia?

As a non academic, this whole issue seems to me to be symptomatic of the increasingly large gap between academia and wider society

Oddly, and I know you are not asking me, I think somewhat differently here. I think this (as I experience it) is symptomatic of some academics getting confused between intellectual pursuit, being a 'public intellectual' and activism. So, in some senses, it's about being influenced by social media, having an emotive response to this, and bringing it into the university by crafting teaching and research towards activism for a cause (without really thinking critically about that). Then it becomes about 'voices of lived experience' and making a case by picking up on the 'right' voices and bringing them into research and totally ignoring the rest of them.

Oh my - thank you everyone. I love the questions. My take (for what it is worth) is that there are a huge number of academics who have been happy/uncomfrotable with leaving their heads in the sand (no blame) hoping that the storm will pass. There is an equally huge number who are worried and scared. But, I think the more we 'come out' the more we make it possible for others to follow. I have had so many private messages of support over the summer. And, in truth, I think what has happened to Kathleen this week has made a lot of people realise that (in the wonderful words of Audre Lorde) 'their silence will not protect them'.

I'll keep checking back here in the next couple of days to see what people are saying and thinking about. I'm off to FiLia in a couple of hours. I'm doing a session on fight back in the academy (very topical!!) and will try to report back.

Without wishing to give any game away, the news on Sunday will be big and I will need everyone's kindly words and support. ALso keep an eye on Sunday Times.

(Typos galore - apologies).

@YetAnotherSpartacus

As a non academic, this whole issue seems to me to be symptomatic of the increasingly large gap between academia and wider society

Oddly, and I know you are not asking me, I think somewhat differently here. I think this (as I experience it) is symptomatic of some academics getting confused between intellectual pursuit, being a 'public intellectual' and activism. So, in some senses, it's about being influenced by social media, having an emotive response to this, and bringing it into the university by crafting teaching and research towards activism for a cause (without really thinking critically about that). Then it becomes about 'voices of lived experience' and making a case by picking up on the 'right' voices and bringing them into research and totally ignoring the rest of them.

BINGO! I couldn't answer better myself.

Jo ! Thanks so much for coming to see us. We are all 100% behind you and are hoping for that tipping point moment. I am in the middle of listening to the Stonewall podcast episodes and have just listened to how Ofcom have been censoring peoples opinions in broadcasts in order to move them UP in Stonewalls diversity chart. It’s outrageous censorship and something we all would love to lift the lid on. Thanks for coming to join us here on mumsnet and cannot wait to see what you announce on Sunday. Thanks !

@EmbarrassingHadrosaurus

I'm so pleased to see this. I'm booked into your Sex Matters chat next week.

It's good to see that there's something in the pipeline because recent events have left me despairing of our major institutions.

Fabulous. I'm really looking forward to it.

I've come across a lot of academics who seem to suffer from cognitive dissonance on this matter.

Describing them as having cognitive dissonance would imply that they have some awareness of (and hence discomfort about) the contradictory nature of their beliefs. My impression is that many of them are completely blind to the fact that they are inconsistent in their approach depending on whether they are for or against a particular cause.

Hello there, thank you Professor. It has been a funny few days years.
Looking forward to seeing what unfolds on Sunday.

Hello, I just wanted to say that you have my support and thank you for having the courage to stand up for women. I am now planning to buy the Sunday Times!

Great to see you here Jo. What is happening to women (and some men) in academia has been appalling. Good to hear that there's something in the pipeline as the current situation is completely unsustainable.

Hi Jo and welcome.

Academia is well outside of my experience bar being an undergrad in the 90s but like others I'm horrified at what is happening to academic staff, mostly women.

You all have my support.

Can't wait for Sunday! All power to you Jo

BINGO! I couldn't answer better myself

Thanks, Jo. That actually means a lot to me because I am so isolated that I sometimes feel I am going mad.

Thing is, I am a bit of a dinosaur. I pre-date postmodernism and did my early study at a time when evidence matters and when 'objectivity' was emphasised. I fully understand the politics of evidence and of objectivity and that intellectual pursuit not a clean science as it were, but the rush to throw the baby out with the bathwater and say neither matters really concerns me. I'm unpopular because I tend to hold these views universally and don't just hold those I disagree with to account.

Hi Jo, I’m not an academic but just wanted to say thank you for what you’re doing and I will support you and your GC colleagues in any way I can. Good luck for the announcement on Sunday - if it results on an internet pile on you can come back here for a more supportive reaction!

Are there more people who are now daring to do academic research on various issues related to the current trans movement?

If it results in an internet pile on (which it will) we will all patiently put our points back that we believe in both trans and women’s rights and that the earth is not flat.