What ‘Gender Critical’ Actually Means

“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.”

– Benjamin Franklin

“Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes.

– Elvis Presley

There’s been a great deal made about the launch of a ‘Gender Critical Research Network’ at the Open University, and what exactly that means. Research Networks are an important part of the academic process, and the OU is a world leader in making research open and accessible to all. Perhaps it’s no wonder it seems a good place to base a new research network.

But are Gender Critical beliefs something the Open University, or any university, want to have their name associated with?

However, this is not a ‘new network’. There already was a Research Network for Gender Critical academics in existence before this was launched, run by Prof Kathleen Stock. We know this, as it was mentioned in the Forstater Tribunal, and it can have been no mystery to the conveners of the OUGCRN, as Prof Stock is a founding Affiliate member. I can’t see how it wouldn’t at least have come up in conversation. Why go to the trouble of setting up another, if not for the sake of gaining credibility from the inclusion of a respected institution’s name in their title…