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No.905 Friday 28th October 2022 varsity.co.uk
The Independent Student Newspaper since 1947
REVEALED:
Controversial gender critical feminist to speak at the Union Michael Hennessey Deputy News Editor The Cambridge Union is set to host controversial academic Dr Kathleen Stock on the 17th November for a debate on the proposal “This House believes in the right to offend”. Stock’s views on transgender rights have prompted criticism, including her argument that “many trans women are still males with male genitalia, many are sexually attracted to females, and they should not be in places where females undress or sleep in a completely unrestricted way.” Stock opposes gender self-identification, but has denied opposing trans rights, saying that she thinks “discussing female rights is compatible with defending trans rights”. Stock published a book that questioned the idea that gender identity is more “socially significant” than biological sex. However, Stock denies that she opposes trans rights, saying that she will: “gladly and vocally assert the rights of trans people to live their lives free from fear, violence, harassment or any discrimination.” Stock, who was professor of philoso-
▲ Stock resigned from the University of Sussex amid a row over trans rights (REBEL WISDOM / CC BY-SA 3.0) phy at the University of Sussex until last year, faced criticism for arguing against proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act in 2018. In 2019, Stock signed the “Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights” from the Women’s Human Rights Campaign, which called for the “elimination” of the “practice of discrimination against women which comprises the inclusion of men who claim to have a female ‘gender identity’ in the category of women”. In May 2021, Stock was appointed as trustee of the LGB Alliance, which has been described as a ‘transphobic’ organisation. In October 2021, students at the University of Sussex began a campaign for
her to be fired over her “bastardised version of radical feminism that excludes and endangers trans people”. Stock, who was told by the police to use bodyguards on campus, said that “arguments should be met by arguments and evidence by evidence, not intimidation or aggression”. She was supported by the new Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch, former prime minister Liz Truss and the vice chancellor at the University of Sussex, who saw the protests as a threat against academic freedom. The protests in Sussex received national coverage, and Stock resigned at the end of October 2021. After resigning, Stock said it was surreal to see her name “plastered over every wall” on protest posters and that her treatment by colleagues had become “exhausting”. Controversy erupted in Cambridge this term when gender critical journalist Helen Joyce spoke at an event at Gonville and Caius College. The event prompted outrage among students as Joyce was branded “hateful” and “ignorant”. The event went ahead this week against a backdrop of protests. On the decision to invite Stock, The Cambridge Union said it is “strongly Continued on Page 2 ▶
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