Mick Hartley

The student union at Oxford is replacing its women’s officer with a liberation and equalities representative. Ellie Greaves, the current Vice President for women, and point of contact for students with issues relating to women’s health, sexual consent and night-time safety, expressed her disquiet: “I really hope the issues I’ve been talking about this year don’t fall into the background. I think there’s a risk that the removal of [the post] will send the message that ‘sexism is solved’, when it really isn’t. We’re not where we need to be in terms of women’s representation and I think there’s a risk of moves to tackle sexual violence being left behind. There’s a reason why the role has been around for so long. I will continue to prioritise women for as long as I’m in Oxford.” She also told the student newspaper Cherwell that “provision for conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are not accommodated in the way I would like to see”.

Oh dear. Did you see what she did there? She was, of course, guilty of bio-essentialism. No mention of the all-important trans experience:

Students took issue with some of her comments, The Oxford Student website said on Tuesday. She was asked at a student council meeting last week: “What do you have to say to the hundreds of students who were consulted regarding [the role review] . . . who agreed that this would be a good change for inclusivity, equality and the priority of intersectionality?”

What indeed? Well…here's what:

Greaves issued a statement on Tuesday, saying: “The comments I made in the article contribute to a bio-essentialist, narrow-minded narrative of what being a woman is, including the prioritisation of women over minorities. I cannot apologise enough for the damage and hurt I have caused the trans community.” …

“My knowledge of the trans experience is very limited at the moment, and I will endeavour to educate myself further on trans inclusivity through more open engagement with LGBTQ+ Campaign and personal research,” she said.

A world-class grovel there. The only bit missing is having her head shaved and being paraded in front of the jeering mob, as per the Chinese Cultural Revolution…