"University Union in UK rejects academic freedom for gender critcial feminists"

A UCU member shared this account with me and kindly gave me permission to share it:

========

UCU (the Universities and College Union) is the higher education sector union that represents academics as well as teaching and support staff in UK universities. On 26 May 2019, the UCU debated a motion at its national Higher Education Sector Conference calling for the union’s defence of academic freedom from harassment and intimidation. One would think it uncontroversial that this is the job of such a union. But the academic freedom in question related to people wishing to research, discuss, and debate matters of “sex and gender” free from harassment. A number of female academics have faced abuse, harassment, and intimidation that is well documented and was mentioned in the motion. This is because they hold a Gender Critical position on the matter of sex and gender, supporting sex-specific rights of females in certain contexts.

The motion was defeated 80 votes to 72 with 27 abstentions.

The arguments given from the floor for rejecting it ranged from the motion containing “dog whistles” and having transphobic “intent”, and transphobia, “sewn into the very fabric” of the text (though not expressed in the text itself, of course), to the repeated claim that these Gender Critical feminists were in fact calling for protection from criticism and protest rather than from harassment (despite what the motion actually said). It was also argued (without apparent embarrassment) that because the union already has a policy of defending academic freedom, delegates should vote against this motion (calling for the defence of academic freedom).

The motion was brought to the Conference by the University College London Branch (chapter) of UCU and was moved by 3 women members (some of whom have themselves faced harassment, including having posters with their photos places around UCL’s Institute of Education with the message “we see you” on them). At no point did opponents explicitly defend the view that the people the motion sought to defend from harassment had breached hate speech restrictions or were beyond the pale; that was simply (and dishonestly) implied by arguments portraying the motion as tainted simply by association with these academics’ freedom.

Two amendments to the motion (one from the Higher Education Cttee and the other from the LGBTQ+ Standing Cttee) were passed. But, bizarrely, members who spoke in favour of these amendments then went on to vote against the motion as a whole (as amended).

The movers of the motion faced online defamation, as well as slurs about the motion, both during the Conference and after. Opponents, including other delegates, took to twitter to allege that the motion was itself transphobic, had transphobic intent, was trans-exclusionary, and that the movers (“and their allies”) have engaged in an online campaign of harassment and abuse of young women (all false).

It is truly astonishing that we have reached a situation where the largest national union representing university staff in the UK, and among them the academic workforce, should choose to dismiss explicitly defending academic freedom to engage in research and debate on sex and gender, in the face of clear examples of harassment and abuse. It is also astonishing that there were 27 abstentions on the matter, indicating either fear or deep confusion.

The Motion and Amendments

HE32 (EP) Academic freedom to discuss sex and gender - University College London

HESC notes:

1. UCU's commitment to equality and academic freedom
2. that UCU members have much to contribute to public debate over definitions of 'sex', 'gender' and 'gender identity'
3. harassment has been directed at academics and activists.

HESC believes:

1. that UCU members hold diverse views
2. members need not agree with the views of any academic to support their right to express them within the law (note 2)
3. civil engagement with reasoned argument and empirical evidence is a foundational value of HE, and essential for democracy.

HESC resolves to:

1. re-affirm our commitment to academic freedom in research and teaching, and to the right of academics to participate in political debates
2. condemn the blacklisting and abuse of academics for exercising their academic freedom and lawful rights.

Result: LOST

 

Amendments:

HE32A.1  Higher education committee

Add at end:

1. reaffirm that the rights of trans people and women are complementary
2. reaffirm the right of minority groups to self-identify
3. recognise the importance of the central involvement of trans, non-binary people and women in sex/gender studies/debates and campaign for the resources for this
4. calls for joint Women's/LGBT+Standing-Committee session at Cradle to Grave conference and guidelines with Women's/LGBT+ standing committee input on gender self-identification and cis women's and trans rights enhancing each other.

Result: CARRIED

HE32A.2  LGBT+ members standing committee

Add to resolves to iii and iv:

1. condemn any harassment of feminists and/or trans people for expressing views on sex, gender and gender identity;
2. construct spaces in which gender diversity can be explored through respectful dialogue underpinned by solidarity with all oppressed groups and the promotion of unity in action by women and trans people in the face of attacks on either group.

Result: CARRIED