Latest news with #Don'tDivideUs
Telegraph
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Don't ask about pronouns, university students told
Asking someone for their pronouns is now not inclusive, university students have been told. The University of Liverpool has issued diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) guidance that warns that asking someone to disclose their pronouns may make them feel pressured to 'out themselves' as transgender. The Russell Group university, which has been part of the controversial charity Stonewall's 'Diversity Champions' scheme since 2009, warns staff and students to avoid asking the question. 'When you first meet someone, you don't want to ask about their pronouns,' the guidance reads. 'This could make them feel like you're asking them to out themselves as transgender, agender, or non-binary, which they might not want to do, particularly if you work in a conservative office.' Lord Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union, said the guide showed that 'what is politically correct in the trans community changes every 10 minutes'. 'This trans-inclusive language guide feels a bit 2024 in light of the Supreme Court's decision,' he told The Telegraph. 'Given that what is politically correct in the trans community changes every 10 minutes – from you must ask someone what their preferred gender pronouns are, to you must not in the blink of an eye – wouldn't it be better if universities stopped issuing these guides? They cannot hope to keep up, so why not just bow out?' The guidance says that staff and students should instead introduce themselves with their own pronouns because it is 'an important indicator of support for trans and non-binary' people. 'By sharing your own pronouns, you're allowing the other person to share theirs, but not forcing them to,' it says. The guidance adds: 'This small action can contribute towards creating a more inclusive environment for everyone to work and study no matter their gender identity.' The university's DEI measures tell staff to put their pronouns in their email signature, always introduce themselves with them and use 'they/them' for everybody until they have made clear what pronouns they have. The advice goes on to warn staff and students to not use the phrase 'preferred pronouns'. 'Despite the popularity of the term, it's incorrect, since 'preferred' implies someone's gender is a preference,' it reads. Alka Sehgal-Cuthbert, director of campaign group Don't Divide Us, said students and academics should say 'thanks, but no thanks' to the guidance. 'We are human beings capable of speaking with each other, and working out differences, hurts and offences, ourselves,' she said. 'We don't need official approval or gold stars from anyone. This is an elemental freedom of being a free citizen in a democratic society - policing this, in whatever guise, encourages authoritarianism. 'There must be better jobs the so-called, often self-appointed, 'DEI experts' could be doing other than encouraging us to behave like infants or paternalistic carers. 'You can state whatever pronouns you want and still be a nasty person, and vice versa. Most of us know this. It seems like our academic elites are having problems understanding this.' The guidance states that declaring pronouns is a 'personal decision' and that people should not be forced to share them. 'To include your pronouns is a personal decision, though it can make a real difference in reassuring our trans, non-binary, and broader LGBQ+ staff and students that they are welcome and accepted for who they are within the university,' the advice reads. It adds: 'Ultimately, using gender-neutral pronouns doesn't require too much effort on your part, but it could make a huge difference in creating a warmer, more inclusive workplace environment for everyone.' A spokesman for the University of Liverpool said: 'We are fundamentally committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and students, and proud to be a diverse, welcoming and inclusive community. 'This guidance - which is not mandatory - is intended to support inclusive communication and sits within our broader efforts to foster a respectful and supportive environment.'
Telegraph
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Chilling effect of diversity guidance reaches the South Pole
Believing in meritocracy can be a 'racist' microaggression, polar scientists have been told. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), which oversees Britain's research stations in Antarctica, claimed that believing 'the most qualified person should get the job' can be a form of 'racial harassment'. In an inclusivity guide issued to employees, the organisation says the 'myth of meritocracy' asserts 'that race does not play a role in life successes'. It defines meritocracy as the 'belief that performance alone will be enough to earn recognition [and] promotion' and says it can be a 'microaggression'. Scientists working for the national polar research institute were also warned that saying 'I believe the most qualified person should get the job' can count as 'racial harassment'. The guide advises against saying 'everyone can succeed in this society, if they work hard enough'. It claims that anyone who uses the phrases sends the 'message' that 'people of colour are lazy and/or incompetent and need to work harder' or that 'people of colour are given extra unfair benefits due to their race'. Management 'imposing fake value' Alka Sehgal-Cuthbert, the director of campaign group Don't Divide Us, said much of the guide was 'rooted in the ideological lens of EDI' and focused on imposing 'intrusive and arbitrary speech codes'. She told The Telegraph: 'Diversity is not a self-evident good to be respected at all costs, and management shouldn't be in the business of trying to impose this fake value because, ultimately, it stifles a more genuine diversity of thinking. 'As such, EDI speech and conduct codes are likely to foster hypersensitivity, grievance and stultifying conformity. None of these are good for 'good relations' at work.' The guide also claims that both of the phrases 'all lives matter' and 'there is only one race, the human race' are microaggressions that 'indicate that a white person does not want to acknowledge race'. These phrases deny 'a person of colour's racial/ethnic experience' and send the message that minorities must 'assimilate… to the dominant culture'. The guide also lists a number of sexualities under a section entitled 'understanding differences in sexual and gender identities'. These include 'demisexual' – meaning that you only experience sexual attraction to someone with whom you have a deep emotional bond – and 'allosexual', which is defined as 'the ability to experience sexual attraction'. The guide also uses the controversial term 'sex assigned at birth', which claims that biological sex is not innate and is instead 'assigned' based on how a person's anatomy is perceived when they are born. Employees told to recognise their 'cultural biases' It also says all BAS employees should be 'aware' of their 'privilege and power', which involves 'recognising the colonial histories and cultural biases that may have led to people's different positions within the team'. The BAS, which is part of the UK Research and Innovation quango, operates Britain's polar research stations, aircraft and the Sir David Attenborough research ship. It was established in 1962 in succession to the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, which sought to establish permanent bases in the Antarctic during the Second World War. A spokesman for BAS said: 'We aim to make BAS a welcoming and inclusive place for all. 'We achieve this by investing in comprehensive training and offering valuable information on safety and wellbeing for all BAS staff and those who deploy with us. 'BAS wants to create a responsible culture where we support inclusive leadership that puts everyone's safety first. Our guide provides learning and information on how to be part of an inclusive community.'
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EU ‘bans the word man' in inclusive language guide
The European Union has advised against using a series of common words and phrases that include 'man' in the latest version of its English Style Guide. Politicians, officials and translators are now warned not to use words such as 'tradesman' and 'man-made' because they are not inclusive, in official guidance from The European Commission, the EU's executive body. The new version of the guide, issued in February, also takes aim at the phrase 'man in the street', saying 'the average person' should be used instead. 'Wherever possible, use alternatives for terms containing 'man' to mean people of all genders,' it explains. The guide was ridiculed by critics. Lord Young, the founder of the Free Speech Union, told The Telegraph: 'This sort of woke nonsense now feels completely outdated. The European Commission clearly hasn't got the memo. I think JD Vance needs to make another speech.' Alka Sehgal-Cuthbert, director of campaign group Don't Divide Us, said: 'Ordinary people need the freedom to speak freely in the language which they, and previous generations, have grown up with,' she said. 'Yes, some language changes as society does, but a patronising linguistic putsch by the European Commission is anti-democratic, not inclusive. No HR department should have any truck with this language 'guide'.' She added: 'That's why language policing is more than 'PC gone mad' and needs active, reasoned rejection, not just eye-rolling disapproval.' Other discouraged words with 'man' in the guide include 'man hours', 'manpower' and 'mankind', which it is suggested are replaced by 'labour hours', 'human resources' and 'humanity'. The common phrase 'in layman's terms' is also singled out for criticism and three alternatives are suggested in its place: 'simply put', 'in simple terms' and 'in everyday language'. The guide also argues in favour of the words 'chair', 'spokesperson' and 'fisher', instead of 'chairman', 'spokesman' and 'fisherman'. Other banned words include 'husband' and 'wife', which make way for 'spouse' or 'partner', and 'Christian name', which has been replaced by 'first name', 'forename' or 'given name'. A previous version of the guide caused controversy in 2021 because it frowned upon the use of 'Christmas' and suggested 'holiday season' take its place. The guide was withdrawn just a month after it was first introduced by Helena Dalli, the commissioner for equality. Matteo Renzi, the former Italian prime minister, praised the document's withdrawal at the time, saying: 'It was an absurd and wrong document. A community is not afraid of its roots. And cultural identity is a value, not a threat.' In 2024, a 61-page document compiled by the the European Institute for Gender Equality attracted criticism after arguing that 'no man's land' should be replaced with 'unclaimed territory', while 'Joe Public' should instead be 'average citizen'. Titled a 'Toolkit on Gender-sensitive Communication', the bundle advised against terms such as 'pushy' and 'shrill' which 'have strong connotations that are strongly associated with only women'. Instead, the guide, which was first published in February 2019, recommended 'assertive' for the former and 'high-pitched' for the latter. Meanwhile 'virile', which is considered to be 'strongly associated with only men' should be replaced by 'strong or energetic', according to the paper's authors. The European Commission declined to comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
EU ‘bans the word man' in inclusive language guide
The European Union has advised against using a series of common words and phrases that include 'man' in the latest version of its English Style Guide. Politicians, officials and translators are now warned not to use words such as 'tradesman' and 'man-made' because they are not inclusive, in official guidance from The European Commission, the EU's executive body. The new version of the guide, issued in February, also takes aim at the phrase 'man in the street', saying 'the average person' should be used instead. 'Wherever possible, use alternatives for terms containing 'man' to mean people of all genders,' it explains. The guide was ridiculed by critics. Lord Young, the founder of the Free Speech Union, told The Telegraph: 'This sort of woke nonsense now feels completely outdated. The European Commission clearly hasn't got the memo. I think JD Vance needs to make another speech.' Alka Sehgal-Cuthbert, director of campaign group Don't Divide Us, said: 'Ordinary people need the freedom to speak freely in the language which they, and previous generations, have grown up with,' she said. 'Yes, some language changes as society does, but a patronising linguistic putsch by the European Commission is anti-democratic, not inclusive. No HR department should have any truck with this language 'guide'.' She added: 'That's why language policing is more than 'PC gone mad' and needs active, reasoned rejection, not just eye-rolling disapproval.' Other discouraged words with 'man' in the guide include 'man hours', 'manpower' and 'mankind', which it is suggested are replaced by 'labour hours', 'human resources' and 'humanity'. The common phrase 'in layman's terms' is also singled out for criticism and three alternatives are suggested in its place: 'simply put', 'in simple terms' and 'in everyday language'. The guide also argues in favour of the words 'chair', 'spokesperson' and 'fisher', instead of 'chairman', 'spokesman' and 'fisherman'. Other banned words include 'husband' and 'wife', which make way for 'spouse' or 'partner', and 'Christian name', which has been replaced by 'first name', 'forename' or 'given name'. Guide withdrawn in 2021 A previous version of the guide caused controversy in 2021 because it frowned upon the use of 'Christmas' and suggested 'holiday season' take its place. The guide was withdrawn just a month after it was first introduced by Helena Dalli, the commissioner for equality. Matteo Renzi, the former Italian prime minister, praised the document's withdrawal at the time, saying: 'It was an absurd and wrong document. A community is not afraid of its roots. And cultural identity is a value, not a threat.' In 2024, a 61-page document compiled by the the European Institute for Gender Equality attracted criticism after arguing that 'no man's land' should be replaced with 'unclaimed territory', while 'Joe Public' should instead be 'average citizen'. Titled a 'Toolkit on Gender-sensitive Communication', the bundle advised against terms such as 'pushy' and 'shrill' which 'have strong connotations that are strongly associated with only women'. Instead, the guide, which was first published in February 2019, recommended 'assertive' for the former and 'high-pitched' for the latter. Meanwhile 'virile', which is considered to be 'strongly associated with only men' should be replaced by 'strong or energetic', according to the paper's authors.
