Bullying over gender-critical views ‘stifles academic research’

[Igneococcus]

Several articles about Prof Alice Sulivan's review into free speech and academic freedom specifically wrt views on gender.

Article about the review here:
https://www.thetimes.com/article/56a13811-56d0-4df3-941b-518a7a075eea?shareToken=275df20114c1b97351df7b01a280ae73

Comment by Prof Sullivan:
https://www.thetimes.com/article/0e02c202-2ebb-46d9-88d6-890b2a1d1d1a?shareToken=c402c1dc4c09b3e9216a1ba5829dcdbf

And in Times Scotland an article about Prof Sarah Pedersen at RGU in Aberdeen:
https://www.thetimes.com/article/d1f504f6-7560-4123-902c-ce57338ef1cb?shareToken=f90d69d19b4fbd05b8649559f7c5eff7

Now here is a piece in the Grauniad, which is clearly deliberately opaque and actually a really boring read which completely fails to explain what is going on to anyone who isn't glued to the subject. As well as factually incorrect.

Most people not paying particular attention to GC/ TRA issues wouldn't even get as far as the sentence where they claim to describe what GC means, and then they say that the FACT that you cannot change sex is a "belief". Up to their usual tricks.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jul/02/uk-universities-have-failed-to-protect-gender-critical-academics-report-finds?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

The Guardian never fails to disappoint 😃
Good to see extensive coverage of this as bit by bit, the intimidation / bullying tactics of the trans mob are revealed.

Thanks Igne and Dudes (though I confess I didn’t click on the Guardian link - stopped subscribing and donating some years ago). I regularly thank heavens my research is nothing to do with this. It has a genuine chilling effect. I’ve been trying to persuade my institution to collect proper data on sex for years. It’s ridiculous that they don’t.

Oh I just read the Guardian article and thought it was quite good!

I liked this bit:
"[The report] recommends that universities help students to see “robust disagreement as an opportunity for intellectual growth rather than a threat”. They should also “avoid directing staff or students to mental health support resources in response to the presence of views with which they disagree”."

It's not just overt bullying, it's also the fact that an 'accepted' view in enforced at all levels. The Open University for example embeds TWAW uncritically in its materials which can make for a difficult environment for tutors and students both.

'I liked this bit:
"[The report] recommends that universities help students to see “robust disagreement as an opportunity for intellectual growth rather than a threat”. They should also “avoid directing staff or students to mental health support resources in response to the presence of views with which they disagree”."'

I like this too, but isn't it just beyond pathetic that UNIVERSITIES have to be told to make room for debate and different points of view, and to stop squealing about hurty feels any time they face that debate and disagreement. You would expect better of 3 year olds in a nursery

I hope Kathleen Stock is feeling some vindication today. She bloody deserves it

I thought the guardian article was fine. Appropriately factual and no weasel words.

In tomorrow's Guardian, researcher and race realist, John Biggs, reports on the oppression of people with race realist opinions.

When will white, straight, cisgender people with binge-drinking problems finally be protected?

You know what Bee, the scariest thing about TRAs isn't their lack of basic scientific understanding or the lack of coherent thought, the scariest thing about them is their love of totalitarianism and their utter lack of self-awareness about it.

Spot on. Rocking up on a feminist board advocating for women to STFU about women's rights, free speech, political analysis, child safeguarding and all the rest.
Not really the act of a respectful, informed, intelligent mind with an understanding of democracy is it?

The urgent need reframe the gender debate as something else, so that you can argue from analogy rather than build your own. 🙄

Irrespective of whether we believe that race is or isn't a valid topic for research, we all know that sex is. It's not even coherent to say it's not. What's at question is the degree to which one's asserted gender identity should be folded into sex for research purposes. But of course when stated that way the answer is so obvious it makes the question look rather silly.

Bee, wouldn't the equivalent race realist position be:

When will black people finally be protected from white people blacking up and identifying as black? (as far as I know this isn't generally happening, but the equivalent is happening to women)

And why would you have a problem discussing that?

All views should be available to be critically analysed and challenged. Just deciding not to talk about stuff doesn’t make it go away. What makes abhorrent views (like misogyny and racism) go away is allowing them to be aired and challenged in public discourse, especially in universities.

if you don’t like someone’s views, produce a coherent counter argument. Something you’ve spectacularly failed to do so far, despite the hours you obviously spend on these boards

Funny you should say that, if there's a modern parallel to the "race science" of 100 years ago it's to be found in Gender Studies departments.

Except, you know, phrenology aspired to some sort of objective basis whereas genderology is just Calvinball.

Or in your world; when will pale, stale, males in dresses who violate womens boundaries, privacy and dignity finally be protected?

Are you saying that actual data on race is not to be discussed? I guess you are. Part of the progressive agenda is to refuse to accept reality if it doesn't fit the agenda.

It used to happen on the BBC in the 60s and 70s and, as a society, we put a stop to it.

Gender nonsense is deeply entrenched in universities and reports like these will help to challenge institutional capture. I’m grateful to Alice Sullivan for producing such an excellent piece of research.

Why white working class boys underachieve in school is absolutely a valid research topic.

Why (mostly white) trans identifying men have been allowed to steal resources, employment positions & sporting success from women will be researched and discussed for decades to come. Why did anyone (let alone the state) see this as progressive?