Dear everyone,
Thank you for all the messages of support. I just noticed that over 4,800 people have been planting carrots and gardening in solidarity with everything I’ve gone through. We all have a big week ahead of us. My hope is that as a result of the trial for my legal case against the University of Bristol, we all get the clarity we need regarding the bullying and intimidation of women in academia. Obviously, I want to win my legal case. But more than that, I would like a legal judgement that addresses the duties and expectations that academic institutions owe women who find ourselves abused by trans activists staff and students.
Here are my responses to your questions:
BettyFilous asked: “Where do you draw your strength and resilience from?”
My family and close friends have been steadfast and unwavering in their support. From my besties from high school who knew me since I was 12 to the friends I made at university and former colleagues. That was really important because I never had any drama about friends deserting me or accusing me of being horrible. Even those who disagree with some policy points, they all know my character and where my heart’s at so I’m very grateful to have a strong circle around me.
My parents got divorced when I was very little but they share the same principles, which are my principles, and today they are best friends. Both of them spent many years as student activists and went on to become civil servants so they understand what it’s like to feel very passionate and resolute about a particular cause. So my parents, along with my larger family, represent a rock-solid core and without that, I probably would not have made it to this point.
I also meditate every night before I go to bed. Nothing wild like hours on end, but that moment by myself with my thought every night has truly saved my sanity, keeping me grounded and centred throughout an experience that has been so destabilising. People can always tell when I stopped doing it for a day or two because I get grumpy and grouchy at everything!
Cagedbirdsinging asked: “Are you ok for money?”
I am very grateful to everyone who has donated since June 2020, when we launched the case. But it’s been really heart-warming to see how people have truly stepped up this last month. For a while, I kinda thought people had forgotten about my case and I didn’t like to shout about it too much or too often because I know people have other commitments they need to prioritise.
Unfortunately, I will have to stretch the target one final time. If you look around, the costs for my case will be equivalent to everyone else standing up for sex-based rights but I’ve felt really uncomfortable asking people for money just to ask people for money, or just to say “look how much I’ve raised.” So, since we launched, I have put off stretching the target until it became absolutely necessary for each stage of the case (ie. once it became essential to the work the lawyers were doing at the time). The countdown on the carrot patch will renew and add 30 days until we meet the target so there’s still time.
MaMaLa321 asked: “Has your MP been any help Raquel?”
Yes, she tried to help for much of 2018. But at that point, the University was “reassuring” everyone who tried to support me or intervene on my behalf that we all needed to trust the University and that they were taking my case extremely seriously. Of course, at that point, nobody knew or could have anticipated that they would go on to do a 180% later on.
ConstanceBeryl asked: “I know you've said your department has been supportive - what would you say to anyone considering postgraduate study at Bristol, specifically in your department?”
That is a difficult question and I am not sure I have an answer. All I can say is that I wouldn’t want any woman (student, lecturer or employee) to be in an environment that so explicitly prioritised trans activism over women’s rights and have her rights be violated like I claim mine have. My experience has been challenging and I wouldn’t want to ever minimise the toll this takes on your psyche and wellbeing.
That being said, the Centre for Gender and Violence Research is superb. I am so grateful to all the women at the Centre who have been encouraging and so kind to me throughout. They have truly demonstrated that their commitment to ending the abuse of women is not theoretical, but genuine. Even when that puts them at odds with their own employer. Case in point, you can read the statement issued by the then Head of the Centre for Gender and Violence Research when the University decided to throw me under the bus:
womansplaceuk.org/2019/08/21/statement-by-the-head-of-the-centre-for-gender-and-violence-research-at-the-university-of-bristol/
Next week, Dr Williamson will testify against her own employer and in support of her student. That takes immense bravery and strength. So perhaps the only blessing in all my experience at the University of Bristol is that I got to meet such remarkable women and call them my colleagues.