Legal academics defend Professor Kathleen Stock

Professor Kathleen Stock

Professor Stock, a philosophy academic, has been targeted by activists for her views on gender identification.

The letter notes that while not all its signatories agree with the views of Professor Stock, they are “convinced of the importance of making space within universities and within public life for respectful debate and discussion”.

“As legal scholars it is essential to our practice that we teach students how to criticise arguments. We also teach them that one way to respect and take seriously ideas and arguments is to challenge them where they may seem weak, so that if people ultimately come to agree with these positions they do so on the basis of the strongest grounding.”

Professor Stock has looked at the question of whether self-identified gender should replace sex in all legal, political, and social contexts.

The letter adds: “She may be correct that there remain important contexts where it is sex rather than gender identity that matters, or she may be mistaken. We recognise that these matters are deeply, personally important for many people who disagree with her, as they are for many of those who agree with her. The views and concerns of all those with an interest in this question need to be treated seriously and respectfully. However, unless she and others involved in this debate are permitted to raise their concerns on this matter, and to offer reasoned argument without fear of harassment, the danger remains that public policy in respect of gender identification will be made without adequate reflection and scrutiny.”

The signatories from Scottish universities are:

• Dr Arianna Andreangeli, senior lecturer in European Law, University of Edinburgh Law School
• Professor Robert Black QC FRSE, professor emeritus of Scots law, University of Edinburgh Law School
• Professor Douglas Brodie, professor of employment law, University of Strathclyde
• Professor John W Cairns, University of Edinburgh Law School
• Dr Peter Candy, early career fellow in legal history, University of Edinburgh Law School
• Anna Christie, lecturer in banking, corporate & financial law, University of Edinburgh Law School
• Professor Pamela R Ferguson, professor of Scots law, University of Dundee
• Dr Michael Foran, lecturer in public law, University of Strathclyde
• Dr Chris Gill, senior lecturer in public law, University of Glasgow
• Dr John MacLeod, senior lecturer in private law, University of Edinburgh Law School
• Dr Christopher McCorkindale, senior lecturer in law, University of Strathclyde
• Maeve Malone, lecturer and researcher in intellectual property law and healthcare law and ethics, University of Dundee
• Dr Alasdair Peterson, lecturer in private law, University of Glasgow, School of Law
• Professor Andrew Steven, professor of property law, University of Edinburgh Law School
• Professor Adam Tomkins, John Millar Professor of public law, University of Glasgow
• Scott Wortley, lecturer in commercial law, University of Edinburgh