Jo Phoenix is taking the OU to court for failing to protect her from harassment for gender critical beliefs

[Leafstamp]

She says:

I’m taking the OU to court for failing to protect me from being harassed for gender critical beliefs. We need to stop this happening to any other academics.

twitter.com/JoPhoenix1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

That's brilliant!

Really striking, too, is the size of pledges. They average out at £25. This is not a case being supported by a few big donors. This is lots of women collectively supporting.

@Motorina

Really striking, too, is the size of pledges. They average out at £25. This is not a case being supported by a few big donors. This is lots of women collectively supporting.

Also really striking is the number of men donating and commenting. Imo, that's important because it means the issues are recognised as mainstream. It's not being hived off as a "women's issue" for women to fundraise for. This is the people laying down a marker - many of them having studied (as I have ) with the OU and expressing their disappointment with the university's behaviour. There's been a massive recent shift in understanding what's happening to women.

Hey there gardeners

Sorry it has taken me a couple of days to get back to you. It has been FULL ON. In addition to launching this crowdfunder, I am also trying to finish writing a chapter for a forthcoming book that brings together a range of academics all writing from within a gender critical perspective. My contribution is.... well... guess... about a Gender Critical Criminology.

The love and support have been amazing. £65K in 5 days. I can hardly believe it.

I still need £15K more, but people have been so generous that I just don't have the brass neck to put the call out AGAIN, a third time in a week. I'll wait until next week I think.

The comments on the crowdfunder have been so so supportive. I hadn't realised just how many people realised that the real shocker is that this has happened at the OU, especially given what the OU has meant to, it has to be said, predominately women trying to get educated. Remember Educating Rita? It was not that long ago that women left school at 16, got married by 20 and had few if any qualifications. The OU was their life line.

I will probably write a blog about this next week. Do you know about my blog? I'm still learning how not to write like an academic. It's hard.

jophoenix.substack.com/

Anyway, thank you again. I will be reading and rereading your posts here and on the crowdfunder. It's amazing. There are going to be really dark days ahead and these posts will keep me going.

PS If you can, please split your next week's / next month's harvest between me and Raquel Sanchez Rosario. She needs a few vegetables as well.

Donated (again) to Raquel as well as you.

I remember rape in marriage becoming illegal, in 1992. My first husband raped me, rapeatedly in the 80,s

I had no recourse at all. The police told me to go home and be nicer to my husband. One told me to "shut up and spread your legs, when he says so"

This was when I presented at the police desk, bloodied and bruised from his latest assault.

Having been at FiLiA last weekend, talking to younger feminists, they were utterly astonished that someone my age (60) had such experiences

I've donated Jo, and to Raquel. I'm an academic too and I think this is really important.

SpringCrocus I'm 43 and what you say is shocking to me too. But you're right it wasn't long ago.

No, it really wasn't that long ago.
Thank you @DisappearingGirl

Bumping the thread as it's payday this week ...

Have now donated :)

Good to see it getting closer

Getting very close now.

Donated. Nearly there!

It's amazing to see how much has been raised from what are largely small donations. There are a lot of angry people out there.

Donated.

Best of luck to you, this is so important for all of us.

I no longer conduct my own research but I still work in an academic institution.

Reading about what your colleagues and employer have done to you makes my blood run cold.

If only we weren’t all so terrified of losing our jobs, Universities would see how many of us are gender critical.

I think you are incredible to be doing this.

@everythingthelighttouches

Donated.

Best of luck to you, this is so important for all of us.

I no longer conduct my own research but I still work in an academic institution.

Reading about what your colleagues and employer have done to you makes my blood run cold.

If only we weren’t all so terrified of losing our jobs, Universities would see how many of us are gender critical.

I think you are incredible to be doing this.

Academia seems particularly prone to bullying and other abusive behaviours. When I worked in a RG uni in a technical, not academic, role I noticed the hierarchical culture and the pressure for people to adhere to structured, limiting interactions was intense. Is that why it's been so easy for gender woo to take hold there? People have such fear of being left out in the cold they daren't take a chance on having an alternative opinion?

This tweet captured how the coercive silencing works, I thought: You don’t hear from the people who are subject to the chilling effect, because the chilling effect works.

https://twitter.com/louisemm_perry/status/1453958219106115594?s=21

This tweet captured how the coercive silencing works, I thought: You don’t hear from the people who are subject to the chilling effect, because the chilling effect works.

This👆

Donated and very happy to do so - what is happening is beyond my comprehension. Time to draw the line and take a stand.

Less than 4k now.

Garden dug.

So pleased to see that the target has been met:

NEWSFLASH: WE hit the target in 17 days. £80k crowdjustice fund donations. I’m crying w/ relief. Thank you everyone. The generosity is INSANE. After so long of feeling alone, I have been surrounded by an army of women and men who recognise that this is an important struggle.

twitter.com/JoPhoenix1/status/1455613403800784907?s=20

You managed to raise more than £80K in only 17 days. Seventeen days. Four hundred and 8 hours. That is £196.08 per hour. This is what YOU ALL did.

Yay.

🎯 !

That's amazing, and justified. Are any news media reporting this striking and significant accomplishment?

Well done, Jo.

Newsflash: my case against my employer was filed with the Tribunal yesterday. I stand on 4 sets of shoulders:
Docstockk (fortitude)
MForstater (courage calls)
akuareindorf clarity of mind)
and the 3000+ ppl supporting me (strength)
THANK YOU

twitter.com/JoPhoenix1/status/1456184880430190592

Excellent!