Top universities are skewing curriculums to make their courses more welcoming to transgender and non-binary students.
A number of Russell Group institutions are trying to embed ‘queer perspectives’ into courses, a Daily Mail audit shows.
The word ‘queer’ was once considered offensive but has now been ‘reclaimed’ as an empowerment term by transgender activists and the gay community.
The idea comes from the movement to ‘decolonise the curriculum’, which involves adding more ethnic minority writers to courses.
However, last night campaigners said including transgender theory in course content could result in the ‘subversion of reality’.
Warwick University has a so-called ‘Queering University Programme’ which advises lecturers to ‘include trans and gender diverse content in teaching’.
Meanwhile, Exeter University has produced a booklet written by students for academics, advising them to ‘include trans people in the curriculum’ as part of a ‘trans inclusion booklet’.
It said there should be ‘more coverage of academics and theorists who are transgender’ as ‘this will show that transgender identities are normal’.
A number of Russell Group universities are incorporating ‘queer perspectives’ into their courses, a Daily Mail audit shows (file photo)
UCL’s Bartlett architecture school (pictured) published a paper in 2023 highlighting architect’s reliance on single-sex toilets and suggesting ‘queer methodologies’ to be embedded in teaching
In 2023, University College London’s prestigious Bartlett architecture school produced a research paper called ‘Queering the Bartlett curriculum’.
The paper highlights criticism of architects’ ‘reliance’ on single-sex toilets, claiming they are associated with ‘violence’ and suggests ‘queer methodologies’ could be embedded in architecture teaching.
This year, Leeds University’s medical school published research advocating ‘queering the curriculum’, asking: ‘Why is your medical curriculum straight?’ It suggests medical students learn about ‘non-traditional pregnancy and birth’ as well as ‘diverse family structures’.
Last night, Stephanie Davies-Arai of the campaign group Transgender Trend said: ‘This shows that queer theory – which claims that objective biological reality is a social construction – has become a virus that is damaging education and freedom of inquiry.’
An Exeter spokesman said its booklet is ‘being reviewed’ but gives ‘practical advice’ about being ‘more inclusive’ and is ‘not designed to prescribe teaching practice.’ A UCL spokesman said: ‘We are continually listening to our community.’
Leeds and Warwick did not respond to requests for comment.
