I’d like to speak to your manager…

Yes, it’s time for another letter to the Open University about why there still seems to be a Gender Critical Research Network hanging around, and why they can’t address any of the points I craft so very carefully…

Thank you very much for your letter dated 12th November 2021, ref x-xxxxxxxxx.

I apologise for the delay in my response due to my ill health, but would note that I am within the 28 days specified.

I was initially pleased at what I thought was an apology about the tone and content of the response to my previous correspondence. However, in reading it with more care, it very clearly says, “I am sorry that you felt…”.

You are sorry that I decided to respond in this way. You are sorry that I have chosen to be upset or take offence. After all, that is what is creating the issue, I suppose. It makes sense you are sorry that it has happened.

You take no responsibility and express no regret, however, for how the matter was dealt with, how I was spoken to, or the advice I was given. The points I took the time to research, raise, explain and evidence were neither considered nor addressed, and were treated with what frankly amounts to disdain and disparagement.

One point that I very clearly made, (and have repeatedly) is to question why this group is using the Open University name. The second paragraph of xxxxx’s response actually makes a clear case for them not doing so. If this group are an affiliated part of the Open University – operating under their umbrella, if you will – and carrying the Open University name and logo attached to what they do, they are therefore able to bring that name into disrepute. Otherwise, they are “a self-organised group set up by individuals, some of which may be University staff and also some external academics to the University, but importantly the group is not set up by the University…” in which case, it should not carry the OU name and logo.

The fact that in xxxxxx’s response she states that “the University affirms that we do and always will continue to support all transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming students, alumni and staff…” is also not good enough. You can’t just say “Yes, we do that.” and consider a thing done. The only way you can support any group of students, or alumni or staff is by asking them what support they need and then providing it. If a group come to you with an issue where they feel support is lacking, you can’t just say, “Sorry, our charter says we’re supporting you. We’ve even got a policy!” To support the trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming members of your community, you actually have to listen to their needs, and if they tell you there is a problem, your solution cannot possibly be “Just ignore it and it will go away”. You need to make a commitment to take a hard line on transphobia, along with all other forms of prejudice and discrimination. It’s only your trans community who can tell you what and where transphobia is. You don’t get to dictate it to them. That isn’t providing support. That’s siding with their oppressors.

To imply that I can just ‘opt out of viewing’ things that are a problem to me is bizarrely bad advice. I cannot think of any situation where that is a reasonable course of action. Maybe balancing on a high ledge? Gender is part of psychology. One of the reasons I am doing the course I’m studying is to study gender and gender identity. Things that are “not part of the University” are frequently part of study programmes. I’ve recently been studying Milgram, but I’m not expecting him to pop up in a tutorial personally any time soon. And if the OUGCRN are not part of the University, why are they carrying the OU name and logo?

The suggestion made by xxxxx does, as clearly intended, dismiss my feelings towards the OUGCRN. It also ignores the fact that I am not talking about hurt feelings here, but evidenced, discriminatory behaviour, and a group that has been set up to promote transphobic propaganda.

I am still trying to find out why reference was made to my entirely unrelated discussions with Student Support, and why this wasn’t a matter of confidentiality. The lack of response to this now genuinely concerns me. Students can’t continue using this vital service if they can’t rely on their data being protected.

My complaint relating to social media use still puzzles me. Staff can do and say anything they like, but I can only raise a complaint if they target me personally and directly? A staff member can make a biphobic comment and have a good laugh about it on their public twitter, but I can’t bring this to the OU because she wasn’t talking about me, personally? Are you sure this is how you want to interpret your social media policy?

I am grateful that a review has been undertaken by the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive, regarding the creation, operations and remit of the OUGCRN, and that they are aware of the concerns expressed by students and staff. However to then say that these concerns were that the students and staff ‘found the content of their [OUGCRN] work challenging’, is a breathtaking oversimplification of the situation as it stands, and of what I know some people have tried to communicate, myself included.

They didn’t find this group’s work challenging. It’s not even as though they have any work to speak of yet, although I suppose some of their YouTube content has been quite hard to sit through. It’s not about their work being challenging. It’s about legitimising study that is based on the belief that trans people are poor, deluded fantasists. It’s about research that seeks to prove that trans kids should be forced to live as their natal gender, and denied access to puberty blockers. It’s about promoting genuinely dangerous ideas like conversion therapy as a reputable course of treatment. These are the sorts of misinformation and lies that trans people and cis allies are working every day to counter, and you want to start to legitimatise them…?

Academic Freedom is a necessarily subjective term, much like freedom of speech. Operating within it can be applied to almost any situation you like. The fact that freedom brings responsibility with it is what people seem to be missing. Students, staff, alumni; we all carry a responsibility to treat each other and each other’s opinions with the respect they are due. Within the academy, there are difficult truths and challenging subjects, and things some of us would rather not face. It is only through study and understanding that we can bring those things out into the open, deal with them, and create a better world for everyone. One thing we can all agree on is that there is no room for the promulgation of ideas based in oppression, prejudice and discrimination. ‘Gender Critical’ thinking, as I have repeatedly stated and provided evidenced research to demonstrate, is not a field of study. It is a transphobic dog whistle, and an objectionable band of malicious and narrow minded people are enjoying pulling the wool over our eyes on this one.

You are again not providing me with any direct answers to my questions or responses to any of the points I’ve raised previously to support my arguments. I can only conclude that this simply hasn’t reached the right person yet, and that there is no one from the LGBTQ+ community or particularly the trans community within the governance structure or the executive. If the only liaison with these communities in investigating this has been to ‘offer support where needed’ it is perhaps no surprise that no one yet fully understands how appalling a situation this really is. I say this, as my only other conclusion is that those making the decisions are sympathetic to this group’s cause. Please just say so, if that is the case, as it would save us all a lot of time.

I do however note in your letter that at no point are they referred to as the ‘Open University Gender Critical Research Network’ but always just the ‘Gender Critical Research Network’. Perhaps the implication here is that there is a mood to separate the group from the University? It certainly looks much tidier that way, doesn’t it? And whilst you are working so hard to protect this group’s principles, one of its founders is making plans to sue the University for not making enough effort to… protect this group from other people’s expected responses to what it is. They have even resigned their OU position and moved to another university. So there’s one OU staff member left running the OUGCRN. What will happen if he resigns? Will they still use the OU name then? Why this unaffiliated affiliation? It makes no sense.

This situation gets more ridiculous as time passes. Do the right thing, and stand up for your staff, alumni and students like they are asking you to do. There is no downside to this now, after all.

What will they do? Sue you?

SJR

Photo credit: Aiden Comerford (Twitter: @ AidenCTweets)