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Original poster

I was planning on studying at Open Uni.... what should I do

47 replies

BlessedKali · 21/08/2023 22:41

Hi all, not sure where else to post this as looking for specific Sex and Gender related advice...

I was planning on studying Psychology part time with the OU - I'm a stay at home mum to three little ones in a rural part of the country, making OU the only viable option.

With all the current court cases against the OU regarding freedom of speech/gender critical views I am now feeling unsure of how to proceed.

If gender ideology propaganda has manged to enter law degrees, I can only imagine the infiltration that has occured in Psychology.

I was really looking forward to diving into the academic world and writing essays / dissetations - now I am feeling apprehensive that I will feel restricted in my work, or suffer the punishment.

Any advice or thoughts?

OP posts:
RealityFan · 21/08/2023 22:51

I have a friend who's just started a PhD at University of London. Not a social science, but he knows the department is run by someone sipping from the fountain of woke.

His attitude is that he'll fight each battle as they come along. Starting with pronouns.

My issue where I'm reluctant to apply for a Philosophy degree at Cambridge Uni is that I'm reluctant to give my hard earned cash to people who's magical thinking worldview I can't respect.

That's before they even mark me down.

Rocknrollstar · 21/08/2023 22:55

Since the OU is your only viable option and presumably you want a degree, I’d suggest biting your tongue, sucking it up and studying with them. If you don’t you are cutting off your nose to spite your face

RealityFan · 21/08/2023 23:00

The stoic would say, maintain your personal reality, be true to yourself...for the rest, play the game, knowing that as you graduate and get ahead in your chosen new profession, you find that the world is with you, and your previous OU lecturers and students will inevitably adjust to match you.

Janedoe82 · 21/08/2023 23:10

I am currently studying for an MBA with them- never been an issue. Never discussed. And the lecturers are all middle aged men who want to talk about business.

PatatiPatatras · 21/08/2023 23:16

There'll be a world after the OU cases and you'll want to already have qualifications in that world...

chardonnay79 · 21/08/2023 23:30

I’m sort of in the same boat.

I would agree with much of what the above commenters say, however psychology is about how people think. After hearing what happen to James Esses, I would be somewhat concerned.

Perhaps get your undergrad sorted with your GC side quiet, and then look for a more exploratory and open, dare I say old fashioned style of psychological training for masters and post grad? Maybe contact James or Stella O’Malley for advice?

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 21/08/2023 23:31

OU is the most famous university for distance learning, but it's not the only option. For psychology I'm pretty sure Derby does an online undergrad degree, and I think KCL does as well.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 21/08/2023 23:34

I finished a psychology degree with the OU a few years ago and I can't say I noticed anything infuriating. I've been studying with them for 8 years as I'm on my second OU degree and I've only seen one tutor put their pronouns in on their email (and they weren't teaching psychology). No one has asked me for mine and I've attended things online and in person across multiple courses. Certainly I did well and I don't think I had to compromise any principles to do so.

I've really enjoyed my studies so far and what started as something to do to stretch my brain whilst recovering from postpartum psychosis/being a sahm has turned into a hobby.

Wopoiy · 22/08/2023 00:34

The OU is a massive organisation - as people have said above it isn’t all captured. Generally TRAs are in the minority in universities they are just loud.

Remember there is also a gender critical research network at the OU which has been going for a couple of years - so it must have internal support. If you’re worried, maybe look them up and see if there’s any psych staff.

Good luck with your degree!

GreenUp · 22/08/2023 02:00

OU is a huge institution with lots of different tutors who have differing views. I wouldn't let the current tribunals put you off.

You should have some options in terms of some of the modules you can study so you may be able to avoid anything to do with genderism. I don't know the specifics of the Psychology degree but for the subject I studied, we could choose any topic for the final project (STEM equivalent of a dissertation).

One of the academics listed in the OU's Gender Critical Research Network page is a psychologist so maybe you could contact her and ask for advice about module content.

https://www.open.ac.uk/health-wellbeing/research-themes/gender-critical-research-network/members

Menopausalprincess · 22/08/2023 06:50

I study with the OU, but a stem subject, so teaches about sex, not gender. However, that does mean some residentials, and I haven’t been able to get confirmation that shared rooms will be allocated on the basis of sex, not gender.

Based on the issues with the law degree, I think you need to have a VERY good look through the syllabus, go into as much detail as you can for each module, and ask questions - student support is generally very good. Compare that with another university which appears less captured. You need to make sure you will be learning the things you want to learn, and that the basis is science & logic. As pp said, worth looking at other online providers, lots of uni’s are starting to offer this.

Menopausalprincess · 22/08/2023 06:52

Another check would be to have a look at social media posts from the dept, or senior academics. This might give you a flavour of the position they’re likely to take/teach

Tukmgru · 22/08/2023 06:57

What a completely mad way to sabotage your own future. You either want to study or you don’t. The OU, like any institution, may have some people you don’t like. If it’s the hill you want to die on because you think you’ll be obsessing over this too much to think about your studies then yeah - maybe you aren’t cut out for it.

It’s basically the one place you don’t even have to think about the bathrooms!

PrimitivePerson · 22/08/2023 07:01

Just do the thing. You'll never find a university course where you agree with everything.

Maaate · 22/08/2023 07:18

There are plenty of universities that offer distance learning degrees so you have other options if you don't want to go with the OU

Beowulfa · 22/08/2023 09:01

I did a science degree with the OU and am deeply saddened that gender-woo may be putting off the exact type of students it was set up to educate.

I would adopt a Louis Theroux faux naif style of innocently questioning key points as they arise. Psychology is a lot more stats-based than people realise. How can data be accurate if gender rather than sex is being used?

MalcolmTuckersBollockingface · 22/08/2023 10:56

I wouldn't say don't do it but go in with your eyes wide open.

I completed four modules of an OU degree but gave up after being infuriated by a load of unscientific crap being taught as fact. In the early days, the marking scheme necessitates you only using the module materials to back up your argument. That can be problematic depending on your line of argument so you have to exercise caution to avoid. Gender woo stuff is the zeitgeist in social sciences so you won't really avoid It in disciplines such as critical social psychology, for example. Quantative and cognitive based modules tend to be more scientific in their analysis so a safer bet.

Most tutors I had were non-partisan but one tutor was very 'beardy woke bro' and took great offence to something that I mentioned about gender that I didn't think was particularly contentious. I am pretty sure it negatively impacted the marks I received.

Also, be aware that there are a large minority of students who will scream 'bigot' at anyone who understands biological reality. However, the modules are largely online so you can avoid the drama. You just have to bite your tongue during some group exercises. Avoid WhatsApp groups: a bloke was savagely bullied off a WhatsApp chat for stating he had read 'Cynical Theories....' and 'The Coddling of the American Mind'.

I, personally, would not study with the OU again but a lot of people have found it to be s valuable stepping stone to other opportunities. These people largely graduated before the recent curriculum updates. However, in the current climate it is probably no better or worse than other institutions. However, I'm looking to continue my studies elsewhere because I found the OU spoon feed you a lot and I, personally, found the narrow parameters of what you must include in an assignment (even at level 3) somewhat stifling,

RoyalCorgi · 22/08/2023 12:34

OP, are you absolutely sure it's the only option? A lot of unis offer distance learning now. Admittedly it's mostly at postgraduate level but you might be able to find one that does a bachelor's degree over a distance. A very quick google has turned up the University of East London course:

https://uel.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/bsc-hons-psychology-distance-learning

Seagullchippy · 22/08/2023 13:11

My DP is an OU lecturer and just showed me an email today from the OU about freedom of speech and gender critical 'beliefs' — DP is very passionate about freedom of expression in academia (and elsewhere). DP doesn't teach psychology, but I'm sure there will be lecturers in all subjects who are concerned about freedom of expression.

I'd go for the OU anyway as it works for you and they're generally really good.

I remember a friend (now a psychologist) who studied at UCL telling me the whole year was told that male and female students have different brains and abilities so their exams and essays would be marked taking their sex into account. This was 20 years ago, but it still haunts me!

Original poster
BlessedKali · 22/08/2023 13:45

Thank you all for your responses!

and to be clear to the one shittier post upstream, I am concerned not because I am part of 'Club GC' and I'm throwing a strop - but because I want to be able to express any ideas or thoughts I have - I want academic freedom, not to be in a position where I am watching my words or hiding my thoughts.

OP posts:
Beowulfa · 22/08/2023 13:46

It looks like this Level 3 course combines what I did separately as Evolution and Molecular Biology some years ago: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/s317

It is not possible to study evolution without acknowledging the reality of biological sex. You would have to replace Darwin's theory with something else, and I'm not aware that this has happened. So someone at the OU knows that mammals cannot change sex.

The Open University

The Open University

This module Explores a Broad Range of Advanced Topics in Modern Biological Sciences, from Evolution to Cell and Molecular Biology.

https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/modules/s317

MalcolmTuckersBollockingface · 22/08/2023 14:03

RoyalCorgi · 22/08/2023 12:35

I am not the OP but I have considered consolidating some of my previous credits and enrolling on this course but I haven't a clue how supportive the faculty are of academic freedom etc. Same shit different institution and all that jazz. I am still, somewhat interested, as the course is well regarded.

Seagullchippy · 22/08/2023 16:48

Tukmgru · 22/08/2023 06:57

What a completely mad way to sabotage your own future. You either want to study or you don’t. The OU, like any institution, may have some people you don’t like. If it’s the hill you want to die on because you think you’ll be obsessing over this too much to think about your studies then yeah - maybe you aren’t cut out for it.

It’s basically the one place you don’t even have to think about the bathrooms!

The issues are freedom of expression, academic integrity and adherence to evidence-based research in the sciences, not toilet use.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 22/08/2023 16:54

@MrsFiddle I think you're right. I honed in on that blue because I know that colour really suits me.

@MuddlerInLaw I look dreadful in black and hate the feel and warmth of velvet! Nice try though.

I think I'm going to stop searching until we come back from holiday in a couple of weeks.

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