Mick Hartley

Here we go again:

A university has omitted the word “woman” from almost every part of its policies on menopause and parental leave, a new report has revealed.

University of Arts London (UAL) uses the terms “pregnant person” and “expectant parent”, or simply person and people, throughout. The one mention of “women” is justified by the university as having been used because it refers to another organisation’s survey that used this term in its research.

The staff policies feature in the latest edition of a newsletter published by Policy Exchange, the right-of-centre think tank. It asked people to submit evidence of gender-identity beliefs being adopted in the public domain.

UAL’s documents say: “This policy uses the term ‘maternity’ throughout to reflect UK law. However, this policy applies to people of all genders at UAL.”

The policy says expectant parents “may be of any gender (including trans, non-binary, agender, gender nonconforming, genderqueer and gender-fluid individuals)”.

The menopause support and guidance policy uses the terms “individual”, “person” and “people” when referring to women experiencing menopause except where it refers to a survey carried out by YouGov for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. UAL’s policy says in a footnote it uses the term “women” because this was the language used in the research.

The policy also states: “UAL recognises that menopause may also be experienced by colleagues who do not identify as female, so this guidance and support content is intended to support anyone experiencing menopause, regardless of their gender identity.”

Lottie Moore of Policy Exchange, the author of a recent report on sex education in schools, said: “The removal of language relating to female biology within UAL staff policies is yet another example of where gender-identity beliefs are taking precedence above all else, including scientific fact.

“Language matters, as does biology, and it is important that such examples are exposed. This latest publication reveals new examples of how gender identity beliefs are being adopted in the public sphere in the absence of public consent, often with severe consequences for society’s most vulnerable. This needs to stop.”

More than a whiff of Stonewall here, I'd guess.