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Jo Phoenix vs. transgender people

Jo Phoenix is a British criminologist, sex segregationist, and anti-transgender activist. Phoenix co-founded the Gender Critical Research Network at Open University.

Background

Joanna Beatrice Mackay “Jo” Phoenix was born on May 9, 1964 in Sheffield and moved to Texas as a child. Phoenix has two siblings. Via The Telegraph:

From a young age, she “vaguely knew” she was “different”, but didn’t have the words for it until a friend came out as a lesbian aged 15 and Prof Phoenix said to her: “I’m one of those, too.” She too came out to her friends and family, describing it as a “train wreck”.

At age 15, Phoenix was sexually assaulted by two students, who eventually pled guilty. Phoenix ran away for a time, then moved to Shropshire in the UK at age 18 to stay with extended family.

According to The Durham University Centre for Sex, Gender, and Sexualities, Phoenix attended Bristol University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1988 and a master’s degree in 1991. Phoenix was admitted to the doctoral program at Keele University. Phoenix was named a lecturer at Middlesex University in 1997. In 2000, Phoenix was named a lecturer at Bath University. In 2007, Phoenix joined Durham University. Phoenix joined The Open University in 2016 and resigned in 2021.

From 1999 to 2021, Phoenix was an officer of Systemdirect Limited. In 2009, Phoenix was an officer in the British Society of Criminology.

Phoenix has been in a relationship with artist Pj Buchanan of SkyDog Glass since 2005.

Anti-transgender activism

Phoenix is associated with anti-trans groups A Woman’s Place UK, LGB Alliance, and Sex Matters.

In 2018, the UK government announced plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to allow people to make a legal gender change without documenting medical transition steps. In October 2018, The Guardian published a letter signed by Phoenix and 53 other academics claiming harassment over their research into “transgender issues.” After an announced gender critical conference at OU was canceled, Phoenix reportedly became more isolated at OU. In 2019 a colleague said having Phoenix in the department was like having “a racist uncle at the Christmas dinner table.”    

In 2019, Phoenix and 5 others launched the Open University Gender Critical Research Network. On or around 17 June 2019 a document called ‘Open Letter from OU staff: Response to the launch of the Gender Critical Research Network’ was published on Google Docs and signed by 368 OU staff members and postgraduate researchers. Phoenix filed a formal grievance with OU alleging bullying and harassment due to gender critical beliefs. In December 2021, Professor Phoenix resigned and made a formal claim of constructive unfair dismissal. The case revolved around whether gender critical belief was a philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010. The Tribunal found that Phoenix was harassed via the “racist uncle” comment and the open letter. The Tribunal determined that Phoenix experienced direct discrimination after they found that gender critical views are “protected belief.”

Phoenix became a cause célÚbre among anti-transgender activists and academic freedom activists. In 2021 Phoenix raised £231,510 via CrowdJustice to support the harassment complaint.

Phoenix contributed a chapter titled “Sex, Gender, Identity and Criminology” to the 2023 anti-trans book Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader.

References

Sex Matters (16 May 2024). Learning from the Jo Phoenix case. https://sex-matters.org/posts/publications/learning-from-the-jo-phoenix-case/

Moss, Rob (13 March 2024). OU agrees settlement in gender-critical belief case. Personnel Today https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/open-university-agrees-settlement-in-gender-critical-belief-case-ou-phoenix/

Rees, Gwyneth (28 January 2024). Professor Jo Phoenix interview: ‘The tactics in the tribunal were the same as in my rape case.’ The Sunday Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/28/professor-jo-phoenix-interview-transgender-tribunal/

Sodha, Sonia (28 January 2024). Vindictive, cowardly leaders bowed to the gender bullies and failed Jo Phoenix. The Observer https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/28/jo-phoenix-open-university-court-victory-gender-sex-based-womens-rights

Blackman, Tim (26 January 2024). A statement from Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University regarding the recent employment tribunal judgment. News From The Open University https://ounews.co/around-ou/ou-speaks-out/a-statement-from-professor-tim-blackman-vice-chancellor-of-the-open-university-regarding-the-recent-employment-tribunal-judgment/

[uncredited] (24 January 2024). Professor wins unfair dismissal claim over gender views. Christian Action, Research, and Education https://care.org.uk/news/2024/01/professor-wins-unfair-dismissal-claim-over-gender-views

Smith, Joan (January 23, 2024). Jo Phoenix wins tribunal case over gender-critical views. UnHerd https://unherd.com/newsroom/jo-phoenix-wins-tribunal-case-over-gender-critical-views/

Siddique, Haroon (22 January 2024). Open University academic wins tribunal case over gender-critical views. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/22/open-university-academic-wins-tribunal-case-over-gender-critical-views

UK Judiciary (January 2024) Joanna Phoenix Employment Tribunal, Case No: 3322700/2021 & 3323841/2021 https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Joanna-Phoenix-v-The-Open-University-Employment-Tribunal-Reserved-Judgment.pdf

LGB Alliance (Dec 12, 2023). Sticks and stones: Why language matters in the fight for equality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m6Qshg-Weo

Stock, Kathleen (17 June 2021). The new network for gender-critical academics. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/the-new-network-for-gender-critical-academics/

Sawer, Patrick (3 December 2021). Professor ‘vilified’ over accusations of transphobic views quits Open University. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/03/heartbroken-professor-accused-transphobic-views-quits-open-university/

Woolcock, Nicola (4 December 2021). Jo Phoenix, academic likened to racist for her trans views, resigns from Open University. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jo-phoenix-academic-likened-to-racist-for-her-trans-views-resigns-from-open-university-p2gk0t0fc

[uncredited] (10 November 2021). Update on actions taken following VC statement on GCRN and academic freedom. OU News https://ounews.co/around-ou/update-on-actions-taken-following-vc-statement-on-gcrn-and-academic-freedom/

Reisz, Matthew (September 10, 2021). Professor clashes with journal over trans women in study sample. Times Higher Education https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/professor-clashes-journal-over-trans-women-study-sample

[uncredited] (5 June 2021). A backlash against gender ideology is starting in universities. The Economist https://www.economist.com/international/2021/06/05/a-backlash-against-gender-ideology-is-starting-in-universities

Turner, Camilla (26 November 2021). Toby Young’s free speech campaign takes on university for silencing gender-critical scholars. The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 December 2021.

Sawer, Patrick; Southworth, Phoebe (3 December 2021). Professor ‘vilified’ over accusations of transphobic views quits Open University. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/03/heartbroken-professor-accused-transphobic-views-quits-open-university/

Griffiths, Sian (May 21 2021). ‘The culture of fear on campus is real. People are afraid to speak out’. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/there-is-a-culture-of-fear-in-universities-say-criminologist-jo-phoenix-and-lawyer-rosa-freedman-cancelled-for-transphobia-c2b6zv98j

Bindel, Julie (August 11, 2021). The University of Essex abandons its faculty to ideologues. UnHerd https://unherd.com/newsroom/the-university-of-essex-abandons-its-faculty-to-ideologues/

Bindel, Julie (19 May 2021). Stonewall and the silencing of feminist voices at universities. The Spectator https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/stonewall-and-the-silencing-of-feminist-voices-at-universities/

Staff report (19 May 2021). University of Essex apologises to professor over trans-rights cancellation. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-57170095

Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Phoenix, Jo; Gacek, James (13 February 2020). ‘It’s Complicated’: Canadian Correctional Officer Recruits’ Interpretations of Issues Relating to the Presence of Transgender Prisoners. The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice. 59 (1): 86–104. doi:10.1111/hojo.12354

Fazackerley, Anna (14 January 2020). Sacked or silenced: academics say they are blocked from exploring trans issues. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jan/14/sacked-silenced-academics-say-they-are-blocked-from-exploring-trans-issues

Kathleen Stock and 53 co-signers (October 18, 2018). Academics are being harassed over their research into transgender issues. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/16/academics-are-being-harassed-over-their-research-into-transgender-issues

Selected anti-trans writings by Phoenix

Phoenix, Jo (2024). Biological Sex, Gender Criticism and Feminist Criminology. The Philosophers’ Magazine https://philosophersmag.com/biological-sex-gender-criticism-and-feminist-criminology/

Phoenix, Jo (February 2023). Rights and Wrongs: How gender self-identification policy puts women at risk in prisons. Macdonald-Laurier Institute https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230117_Rights_and_wrongs_Phoenix_PAPER_FWeb.pdf

Phoenix, Jo (September 26, 2023). Gender diverse prisoners and sex-based patterns of offending: Jo Phoenix. McDonald-Laurier Institute https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/gender-diverse-prisoners-and-sex-based-patterns-of-offending/

Phoenix, Jo (2023). Sex, Gender, Identity and Criminology. In Sullivan, Alice; Todd, Selina [Eds.] (2023). Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader. Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9781032261195

Phoenix, J. (2022) “What Do We Stand For? Criminology, Academic Amnesia and Politically Induced Ignorane” 1 January 2022, https://jophoenix.substack.com/p/what-do-we-stand-for 

Freedman, R. and Phoenix, J. (2021) “When Feminists Fight Back”, The Spectator, 12 June, (When feminists fight back | The Spectator) 

Phoenix, J, (2021) “Is transphobia an academic critique?”, The Critic, 12 October, Is transphobia an academic critique? | Jo Phoenix | The Critic Magazine 

Phoenix, Jo (November 2020). Written evidence submitted by Professor Jo Phoenix [GRA1380] https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/17493/pdf/

Media

TalkTV (Aug 23, 2024). “Bullying Culture Has Thrived At Universities” Calls To Reenact Protection Of Free Speech Law. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Xc8XQfLSI

Committee for Academic Freedom (Feb 29, 2024). “You Can’t Talk About Your Research”: Prof. Jo Phoenix Talks About Her Fight for Academic Freedom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV7739Y4T-c

GBNews (Feb 11, 2024). ‘They said I contributed to trans murder’ | Academic forced out for gender critical views WINS case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF9O_2R6rxY

The XX Files (Jan 23, 2024). Prof. Jo Phoenix on BBC Woman’s Hour discussing winning her case against Open University. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uUvI-_tZ0Q

GBNews (Dec 12, 2021). Professor Jo Phoenix resigns from her Open University post after row about gender critical comments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG0_3y8dLi0

GBNews (Nov 7, 2021). Professor Jo Phoenix harassed and bullied over transgender issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh-dj50xoGo

Cambridge Radical Feminist Network (Mar 25, 2021). In Conversation with Jo Phoenix: Best Bits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqpZ9Ey2E60

Woman’s Place UK (May 18, 2019). A Woman’s Place is Made to Last: Jo Phoenix (15 April 2019, Leicester). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY_fHMkwRnI

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Open University (open.ac.uk)

  • Jo Phoenix
  • https://www.open.ac.uk/people/jbp4 [archive]

Substack (substack.com/=)

CrowdJustice (crowdjustice.com)

University of Reading (reading.ac.uk)

  • Jo Phoenix
  • reading.ac.uk/law/our-staff/jo-phoenix

X/Twitter (x.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)