"...a very important case, with potentially far-reaching repercussions for the University sector" - Kathleen Stock

[ChristinaXYZ]

Have you come across Almut Gadow's case with the OU? The ramifications of this are horrendous if is goes unchallenged. Thankfully Almut Gadow is challenging it with all that means in personal stress and difficulties.

If you would like to support Almut Gadow, who will be represented by Akua Reindorf KC, you find the details in the usual justice seeking place.

And more info in the Daily Telegrpah

"Dr Gadow also argued that “no offender should be allowed to dictate the language of his case in a way which masks relevant facts”."

Too right.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/18/almust-gadow-open-university-sacked-gender-identity/

It's one of the most shocking things I've ever read. Academia is in a really bad place right now.

I read this too - every time I think things are going in the right direction, some new horror appears. Will be donating.

I can't read it due to the paywall

12ft ladder is your friend: https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2F2023%2F08%2F18%2Falmust-gadow-open-university-sacked-gender-identity

He wasn't some hotshot PhD student with no provenance at the OU. Even then, this action would be insufferable.

He's been lecturing for a decade, running a department. And they were happy to treat him like the shit on their shoe.

These cases need to be tested to destruction, so sunlight shines on the ruins. Maybe one day we'll entertain replacing those ruins with something more stable and fit for purpose.

She. Almut is a woman.

They just keep on going don’t they? How many court cases and tribunals have to be won before institutions actually stop unlawfully discriminating against women who speak simple truth?

I hadn't heard of this particular case before, just read about it in the DT and came here to see if it had been picked up - of course it had.

It's a good 'un. It'd be great to see the courts wipe the floor with the OU.

This sounds very like Jo Phoenix’s case. The OU as well.

Off to do some gardening.

Ugh that we have to keep fighting such similar battles. Here's to the day we look at this time in the rear view mirror because sanity has prevailed. And bump. I'll keep dedicating a significant chunk of my discretionary spending to this kind of thing for as long as I have to, so there.

Sure, my bad.

Jo Phoenix needs some more gardening too - the OU are currently planning to produce 18 witnesses and her case is starting quite soon.

This case sounds awful. To actually be sacked. - and one of the things she had done was criticise course content, a syraight firwardly academic issue. law students being examined would lose marks if they suggested an adult having a sexual relationship with a minor might be grooming and abusing, but would gain marks if they call thd hypothetical adult and minor 'boyfriends'. I really hope there's more to it and they didn't sack her for that kind of thing. But I always think that when a new case comes along, and there's rarely more to it.

@AdultFemaleMorningsider totally agree but unfortunately I don't know if it will be anytime soon

There's already a thread here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4874912-almut-gadow-v-open-university-again
Shocking case

Jaw dropping. So so hard to comprehend how this could be allowed.

Wasn’t Almut an associate lecturer? She wouldn’t have been running a department in that role. At the OU all the course material is set centrally, ALs have a group of students to mark and support, but they all have to follow the same guidance. This is because of the scale of the courses- they have to be delivered in a standardised way.

I’m not justifying how she was treated - it’s just this is such a unique role to the OU that most people don’t understand what it involves.