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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

UCU at Edinburgh University again

29 replies

IcakethereforeIam · 10/10/2023 00:45

This is an archive link to a Times article.

https://archive.ph/sTHYP

A new book on sex and gender. The UCU has done a mass mail out calling for the launch it to be scrapped and, possibly, libeĺling the people involved in it. They're threatening to protest the launch. As usual, Edinburgh University have issued a very milquetoast statement before, I assume, taking to their fainting couch.

Link to original article

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/edinburgh-academics-demand-sex-and-gender-book-launch-is-scrapped-rwck6wdc0

Edinburgh academics demand ‘Sex and Gender’ book launch is scrapped

Academics at the University of Edinburgh have been accused of an “horrific” and “nonsensical attack” on free speech after calling for the launch of a book about

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/edinburgh-academics-demand-sex-and-gender-book-launch-is-scrapped-rwck6wdc0

OP posts:
Original poster
IcakethereforeIam · 10/10/2023 00:49

At the bottom of the above archive there's a link to this article

https://archive.ph/gDugx

About how embedded 'nakedly ideological' sex and race theories are in teaching at Scottish universities and how much is spent on EDI.

OP posts:
Rightsraptor · 10/10/2023 07:09

Thanks for sharing, @IcakethereforeIam. I can't help but notice there's a claim that the book breaches the EQA 2010. They do like to claim this but never explain exactly how it does so. Probably because the EQA doesn't work how they think it does.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 10/10/2023 07:29

Oh FFS. From previous experience I can confidently predict that a few masked children will blockade the lecture theatre and the launch will be cancelled.

Edinburgh Uni really is being pathetic over reining in these "protesters", and that UCU branch is a disgrace, and seems to have forgotten that is there to represent all its members, not just adherents to this new religion.

SaffronSpice · 10/10/2023 07:40

Rightsraptor · 10/10/2023 07:09

Thanks for sharing, @IcakethereforeIam. I can't help but notice there's a claim that the book breaches the EQA 2010. They do like to claim this but never explain exactly how it does so. Probably because the EQA doesn't work how they think it does.

They make that claim whilst they themselves actively breach it by discriminating on the basis of belief.

IncomingTraffic · 10/10/2023 08:05

That ‘I am not an academic debate’ sign really sums up the egocentrism of transactivism.

You personally are not an academic debate. Obviously. No one is interested in you sign holder.

But all sorts of aspects of your life are and must be an academic debate. And that includes ontological debate (ontology being the study of what is), debate around the concept of identity (or any idea ghat might fall within a theory of identity) and it’s effects in the world - just as it includes medical research about the function of the human colon or anything else.

To stamp you foot and scream ‘I am
not a debate’ is a ridiculous thing to do in a university context.

If it were a religion trying to outlaw whole swathes of academic thought, the reaction would be very different.

Fenlandia · 10/10/2023 08:36

I don't remember women shutting down book launches or events for all those trans writers who wibble on about how basically they're better women than actual women eg Lavery, Chu, Faye.

stealtheatingtunnocks · 10/10/2023 08:44

Is that dreadfully nasal warbler going to turn up again? I do hope not.

Meanacademic · 10/10/2023 10:34

How can anybody do any serious work in an academic environment like this? Pathetic, deplorable and yet another stain on UCU’s reputation. I wonder, does the OfS have power to intervene? This seems like a potential case of the ‘heckler’s veto’, causing so much disruption that an event can’t go ahead.

RhannionKPSS · 10/10/2023 12:16

It’s a stain on Edinburgh University as a whole, and Mathieson really needs to grow a spine. He is weak, pathetic & appalling in his role.

Last time , with the film screening the” security guards “ allowed the wee masked whiners to sit in the revolving door to the venue, and allowed them to leave their “ picket” and return with coffee!!!! Unbelievable.

I asked the so called security guard “ why did you let them return, you had your opportunity to refuse & send them on their way” The police were no where to be seen even after we called them repeatedly.

Students who were not involved, many of them being foreign, who are paying a lot of money to study here, were dumbfounded by the lack of action by security.
It was a shambles and an embarrassment on the university.

morningtoncrescent62 · 10/10/2023 14:21

Meanacademic · 10/10/2023 10:34

How can anybody do any serious work in an academic environment like this? Pathetic, deplorable and yet another stain on UCU’s reputation. I wonder, does the OfS have power to intervene? This seems like a potential case of the ‘heckler’s veto’, causing so much disruption that an event can’t go ahead.

I could be wrong, but I don't think the OfS has any jurisdiction in Scotland. Or is it just school-level education that's devolved? Whatever, it does look like the management at Edinburgh University have lost control.

stealtheatingtunnocks · 10/10/2023 14:27

RhannionKPSS · 10/10/2023 12:16

It’s a stain on Edinburgh University as a whole, and Mathieson really needs to grow a spine. He is weak, pathetic & appalling in his role.

Last time , with the film screening the” security guards “ allowed the wee masked whiners to sit in the revolving door to the venue, and allowed them to leave their “ picket” and return with coffee!!!! Unbelievable.

I asked the so called security guard “ why did you let them return, you had your opportunity to refuse & send them on their way” The police were no where to be seen even after we called them repeatedly.

Students who were not involved, many of them being foreign, who are paying a lot of money to study here, were dumbfounded by the lack of action by security.
It was a shambles and an embarrassment on the university.

The university pride network paid the warbler to come and harass women who had tickets for an event at the uni?

its enraging

WoollyBat · 10/10/2023 21:25

That ‘I am not an academic debate’ sign really sums up the egocentrism of transactivism.

Yes - why on earth is being a subject of academic debate unacceptabe? My identity, as a woman, is debated. Also many other things - as a single mum, or as a white person, or as someone with ACE, etc etc I'm a member of groups that are often debated by academics. Academic debate is about the stuff of reality (or most of it is, or should be). Why is this "my existence isn't up for debate" line seen as some kind of gotcha?

Original poster
IcakethereforeIam · 11/10/2023 11:32

Another article in the Times (archive link)

https://archive.ph/Ni1y1

It sounds like Edinburgh University may have found some backbone. Perhaps having the libel pointed out to them has prompted them to seek legal advice. Or perhaps they just decided to stop indulging blue haired toddlers. Let's wait and see.

OP posts:
stealtheatingtunnocks · 11/10/2023 16:01

I’ll believe it when I see it. A union is defaming its members and an academic institution’s staff is trying to ban the launch of an academic book written by some of its own staff. Am I drunk?

RhannionKPSS · 12/10/2023 00:27

Update: glad to say it went very, very well! interesting book, good speakers , plenty of copies sold.

There were about 50 or so whiners outside , who seemed to like shouting “ shame on you “ and “ we aren’t going anywhere “ well neither are we ! 💚🤍💜
There were plenty of security guards and police in attendance. No interruptions of the event inside the building, we got in & out with no issues that I saw, or heard and then we went to the pub!

DiabolicalFinial · 12/10/2023 03:00

RhannionKPSS · 12/10/2023 00:27

Update: glad to say it went very, very well! interesting book, good speakers , plenty of copies sold.

There were about 50 or so whiners outside , who seemed to like shouting “ shame on you “ and “ we aren’t going anywhere “ well neither are we ! 💚🤍💜
There were plenty of security guards and police in attendance. No interruptions of the event inside the building, we got in & out with no issues that I saw, or heard and then we went to the pub!

That’s so good to hear!

Meanacademic · 12/10/2023 05:31

Great!

lifeinthelastlane · 12/10/2023 06:50

So this wasn't a student union who were calling for the ban, it was the actual trade union of academic staff? Ffs
Mind you, the STUC give out guidance saying people should be allowed to use whatever work toilets they feel like, so they aren't the only captured union.

IncomingTraffic · 12/10/2023 07:44

In its letter to Mathieson, the UCU accused Benjamin, a founder of the Edinburgh branch of Academics for Academic Freedom, of “debunking” the rights of trans people.

This is actually hilarious. A letter written by actual academics employed by one of the world’s top universities is complaining about an academic ‘debunking’ something. As if that’s a problem, not something academics should be doing.

Do they even know what debunk means? If it can be debunked, then it wasn’t a sound and reasoned position in the first place.

The UCU issue is a big problem. It’s supposed to be a trade Union. But it’s reps seem more interested in policing their colleagues’ thoughts than in improving their conditions of employment.

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 12/10/2023 09:27

The event went ahead, I got there OK. Wonderful to see in person all these women I massively admire! Lecture hall was nearly full, copies of book sold out.

There were some protestors outside but security and police got the audience in and out safely. Security got a round of applause in the hall.

I enjoyed it and I'm still mentally processing what the speakers said and thinking of questions I would have liked to ask!

Original poster
IcakethereforeIam · 12/10/2023 10:22

👏 well done the people who attended.

Perhaps Edinburgh University has found a backbone?

OP posts:
Meanacademic · 12/10/2023 11:30

A full lecture theatre and sold out copies … 🥰

KStockHERO · 12/10/2023 11:36

Lecture hall was nearly full, copies of book sold out

Fabulous news.

KStockHERO · 12/10/2023 11:39

Sorry, posted too soon.

I'm an academic and agree that the UCU is a huge part of the problem. I left UCU because of their ideological approach to sex/gender and sex-realistic academic women. Lots of women on the Academic Common Room board did similar too.