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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Edinburgh Uni Academics for Academic Freedom

13 replies

DomesticatedZombie · 11/04/2022 19:07

This looks interesting.

'Schools and gender: the unfinished history of an open seminar'

'Chances are most people reading this will be aware that one of the current flashpoints for academic freedom is the debate on sex, gender and gender identity. You’ve probably heard of Professor Kathleen Stock who was hounded out of her job at the University of Sussex, Professor Selina Todd who needed security guards to accompany her to her lectures in Oxford where she teaches and researches working-class women’s history, and Professor Jo Phoenix, currently raising funds to take her former employer, the Open University, to the Employment Tribunal for its failure to protect her from harassment because of her gender-critical beliefs. These three academics share the view that biological sex is dimorphic, fixed and consequential: their research, teaching and public engagement reflects that understanding.
These and a handful of other high-profile cases, mostly involving senior and well-established academics, have been covered in the press, which is why you’ve heard of them. But shocking as they are, they’re only the tip of the iceberg. Such cases don’t tell the story of the established but less senior academics quietly side-lined from teaching on courses where any critique of gender-identity theory, or simply an acknowledgement that critique is possible, is likely to provoke complaints from a tiny number of censorious students. They don’t tell the story of junior academics, often on precarious contracts, who are obliged either to go along with the currently fashionable view on sex and gender, or to research and teach something else, because to openly critique gender-identity theory would end their careers before they’ve properly begun. And they don’t tell the story of the public engagement events not organised because to do so is to commit vast reserves of time and energy to dealing with the practicalities and the emotional consequences of being targeted by activists who are determined that critique of gender-identity theory should not be allowed on campus.'

A seminar that ws originally organised in 2019, cleared by Uni Compliance dept, then boycotted and attacked by trans rights activists. In the end, organisers decided it was 'too risky' to go ahead with, and then Covid added extra barriers.

To be held this academic year ...

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MidsomerMurmurs · 11/04/2022 19:18

This looks really interesting.

Humbold · 11/04/2022 21:04

I think I stumbled across a whole heap of FOI requests relating to this. Someone was trying to get hold of correspondence relating to precisely why the event was cancelled and the Uni were seemingly deliberately stalling and not meeting their FOI time limits for responding. Is this the same thing - I think it was Edinburgh Uni? Can you link to any further info?

DomesticatedZombie · 11/04/2022 21:33

Sorry, I seem to have failed to add a link!

blogs.ed.ac.uk/edinburghafaf/

More background on the so far postponed seminar:

blogs.ed.ac.uk/edinburghafaf/2022/04/11/schools-and-gender-the-unfinished-history-of-an-open-seminar/

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morningtoncrescent62 · 11/04/2022 21:42

I've just spent best part of an hour wading through the FOI requests.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_regarding_the_propos_7

Request made 4th September 2021 for all the correspondence relating to the seminar. Uni try to get out of it by charging a fee, which the requester pays (and I've never seen that before, on any request). Uni then delay and delay, requester sends increasingly irate messages. Eventually, many emails in, the requester asks for a review, and gets a good telling-off about the tone of their emails.

February 2022, uni finally releases correspondence from 2021 only. And the text has been copied onto spreadsheets, so you can't tell how much has been redacted. Even so, some of the emails from Shereen (seminar organiser) to her managers, are cracking, so goodness' only knows what's been redacted! Correspondence from 2019 and 2020 still not there. Requester asked for the rest in March, was told it was delayed because a member of staff has Covid.

Go figure! The University of Edinburgh has 15,780 staff. Obviously they don't all work in the department that deals with FOI requests, but I don't believe for a second that in a company that size there's no-one available to deal with a 7-month-old FOI request. Between the delay, and the unusual presentation of emails in copied text in a spreadsheet, the uni definitely seems to have something to hide.

wabegyrist · 11/04/2022 21:43

@Humbold

I think I stumbled across a whole heap of FOI requests relating to this. Someone was trying to get hold of correspondence relating to precisely why the event was cancelled and the Uni were seemingly deliberately stalling and not meeting their FOI time limits for responding. Is this the same thing - I think it was Edinburgh Uni? Can you link to any further info?
I think this may be the FOI you saw. It runs and runs: the university does keep failing to meet the time limits and providing stuff very slowly.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/cy/request/information_regarding_the_propos_7

Anyway, here's hoping the establishment of AFAF is a step forward.

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 11/04/2022 22:03

Good work, Mornington and all who are working on this. The university is trying to wriggle out of this in the most cowardly, dishonest and irresponsible way. It's long past time for a reckoning.

Waitwhat23 · 11/04/2022 22:09

Wow - good for S Wainwright! The excuses from the Uni are just embarrassing.

DomesticatedZombie · 11/04/2022 22:51

God reading that FOI is infuriating!

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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/04/2022 08:24

Edinburgh. The Athens of the North. The only place I've ever toyed with living other than London. I love Edinburgh. I have family connections to the city. It saddens me to my core to see this cowardice and lack of rigour from those running the university.

DomesticatedZombie · 12/04/2022 08:33

it's alright if you like that kind of thing I suppose.

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Linguini · 12/04/2022 09:23

Students too, being bullied by gender extremists. The case of Raquel Rosario Sanchez comes to mind being the only one brave enough to bring her harrowing experience to the spotlight. There must be so many more...

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/04/2022 09:53

@DomesticatedZombie

it's alright if you like that kind of thing I suppose.
For those who like that sort of thing," said Miss Brodie in her best Edinburgh voice, "That is the sort of thing they like.
DomesticatedZombie · 12/04/2022 13:55

Well, quaite. Grin

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