OUP stands by book on gender critical feminism after author backlash

Oxford University Press (OUP) is standing by a book by Australian academic Holly Lawford-Smith entitled Gender-Critical Feminism after an open letter to senior leadership by “members of the international scholarly community” with links to OUP expressed “deep concern” about the book. 

In it, the authors warned that the “distorted and unsubstantiated claims” made about gender in the book could have “dangerous consequences” for the trans community. 

They wrote the very title was a “dog whistle”, saying: “Gender-critical feminism is not a scholarly field, but a co-ordinated polemical intervention, unsubstantiated by peer-reviewed research in the fields of gender, sexuality, queer, and trans studies, that promotes itself by the deliberate sowing of public ‘controversy’ without being held accountable for very real and dangerous consequences of these discourses for entire demographics of human beings.”

They went on to request, “as people whose names and intellectual labours are associated with Oxford University Press and its reputation”, a clear and detailed account of what measures have been taken to ensure the scholarly quality of the book and what further steps the press is taking to make itself accountable for the consequences of its publication. 

Now, OUP has replied confirming the publication of the book will go ahead. It said: “At OUP, our mission and unwavering focus on scholarly integrity guides everything we do. It underpins our commitment to publishing a wide spectrum of peer-reviewed research globally, from different disciplines and viewpoints. This inevitably includes a breadth of perspectives on complex and potentially sensitive topics. 

“While there is considerable discussion about some of the positions held by gender-critical feminists and their perspectives on a variety of issues, we are confident that the title in question offers a serious and rigorous academic representation of this school of feminist thought.”

Eugenia Zuroski, an associate professor of English at McMaster University, who was instrumental in setting up the open letter, wrote on Twitter following the release of OUP’s response: “This is a real embarrassment [for OUP] and every author, reader, and employee who takes the press seriously. More importantly, it is a massive betrayal of every transgender person associated with the press.

“Clearly, presses [like OUP] are willing to humiliate themselves and their name for profit, and do not feel at all beholden to the scholarly communities that have served and supported them. But scholarly communities will take care of ourselves. With or without the UPs.”

In a letter from OUP m.d. David Clark addressed to Zuroski and colleagues, shared by her on social media, he said that every academic title published by OUP is assessed by the Delegates of the Press, and undergoes a rigorous review process to ensure its scholarship quality. 

“This book is no exception,” it continued, stating it was thoroughly reviewed, including a round of supplementary reviews with experts in particular areas. 

It added: “We recognise that there is considerable and passionate debate about some of the positions held by gender-critical feminists and their perspectives on a variety of issues. We are confident that Gender-Critical Feminism offers a serious and rigorous academic representation of this school of feminist thought. As you rightly state, we have also published other titles on topics such as transgender rights and tackling prejudice, to further contribute to academic debate. 

“We will continue to represent a wide range of feminist philosophy in our publishing and a wide range of books on philosophy and gender, featuring authors who are trans and gender non-conforming. The press does not advocate through its publications for any particular views, political positions or ideologies. Equally, what we publish is not reflective of – nor influenced  by – the personal views of our employees.”

The book will be published in the UK on 12th May.