Why the release of four major reports on the negative impacts of gender identity ideology should compel a re-examination of our profession's seemingly selective commitment to intellectual freedom.
Thank you, Michael, for this thorough account of gender-critical issues (especially censorship) and gender ideology's impact on the field. I especially like Kingwell's "doxaholism" as a descriptor of intoxicating certainty and moralism that's too much with us these days on multiple fronts, not only on this one. The counter of *curiosity* against this kind of certitude looks especially important to me.
Thank you Craig! I was thinking of having a whole discussion about the ACRL Framework as a remedy for doxaholism, but it was already too lengthy! Another time.
The ACRL Framework can become its own magical formula for those who don't use it well, but if used in the better way in which we intended it, it can be a counter against doxaholism. Too many people want standards, formulas, and no flexibility rather than frameworks that guide inquiry and ongoing curiosity in using the information environment.
Oct 31Liked by Michael Dudley, Bridget Wipf, Sarah Hartman-Caverly
Librarians know this-- Lester Asheim, 1953-- on the ALA website-- but maybe have not read it.
The books not selected in 1953 were different than those not selected in 2024...
"Do public libraries attempt to supervise the tastes of their readers by making it a fixed policy not to buy ''objectionable'' books? It is a simple expedient and has often been applied. The public librarian often has the plausible excuse that as the funds of a library are limited, he must pick and choose, and naturally the more "wholesome" books are to be preferred."
"Feminism for Women" is so effectively banned that I hadn't heard of it, although I had heard of the other three books. I can now add it to my list of books that are unavailable in my local library consortium of 35 libraries (there's one available in Massachusetts, though).
I wanted to add a remark about the suppression of speech as well as items. A public library in Tewksbury, MA, was forced to cancel a talk about a sex differences and how they relate to sport, due to bullying of library staff. However, the residents of Tewksbury stood up for free speech vigorously, and the talk was reinstated.
I would also like to draw attention to the Library Watchers of Greater Lowell's "Make Every Week Freedom to Read Week" initiative. Every week Library Watches of Greater Lowell posts a book that has been suppressed and is probably not available in your local library. You can ask your library to purchase it and report on what happens. See more details here:
Thank you, Michael, I didn't know that the Report to the U.N. on violence against women and girls had specific concerns regarding trans-identifying males; that seems like a big deal! I also appreciated getting some more intellectual freedom policies and sources to use as "ammo" in my discussions with my superiors in the library where I work. I will say, though, that I am almost afraid of bringing these documents to the attention of the larger library community as I am concerned that they will be overwritten, as some already have been, to become more acceptable to the radical librarian activists...
I had to specifically request my university library, one of the best in the country, to purchase those books and others, on the grounds that I require them for an exclusively graduate level seminar on Gender Research. As a professor of WGS, my request had to be accepted. But the books were not ordered as a matter of course. I still don’t know if I dare actually assign any outright GC work alongside explicitly transactivist (therefore orthodox) work that is definitely on the syllabus (all of which is available in the library, no need for special orders) but the first step is to have the material in the library to begin with. Thank you for encouraging librarians to order widely.
Thank you for your comment. That is really unfortunate, I think that demonstrates a real abdication of responsibility on the part of your subject librarian. But hopefully they will recognize that the pendulum is shifting on this issue and you can try ordering them again.
Thank you, Michael, for this thorough account of gender-critical issues (especially censorship) and gender ideology's impact on the field. I especially like Kingwell's "doxaholism" as a descriptor of intoxicating certainty and moralism that's too much with us these days on multiple fronts, not only on this one. The counter of *curiosity* against this kind of certitude looks especially important to me.
Thank you Craig! I was thinking of having a whole discussion about the ACRL Framework as a remedy for doxaholism, but it was already too lengthy! Another time.
The ACRL Framework can become its own magical formula for those who don't use it well, but if used in the better way in which we intended it, it can be a counter against doxaholism. Too many people want standards, formulas, and no flexibility rather than frameworks that guide inquiry and ongoing curiosity in using the information environment.
Librarians know this-- Lester Asheim, 1953-- on the ALA website-- but maybe have not read it.
The books not selected in 1953 were different than those not selected in 2024...
"Do public libraries attempt to supervise the tastes of their readers by making it a fixed policy not to buy ''objectionable'' books? It is a simple expedient and has often been applied. The public librarian often has the plausible excuse that as the funds of a library are limited, he must pick and choose, and naturally the more "wholesome" books are to be preferred."
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/NotCensorshipButSelection
I think the first paper I ever wrote in library school (1991) was on self-censorship in collection development.
I can't thank you enough for highlighting data (library holdings) and information on the suppression of debate on sex/gender identity.
You're most welcome. With those four reports coming out in quick succession it seemed a good time to address the issue.
"Feminism for Women" is so effectively banned that I hadn't heard of it, although I had heard of the other three books. I can now add it to my list of books that are unavailable in my local library consortium of 35 libraries (there's one available in Massachusetts, though).
I wanted to add a remark about the suppression of speech as well as items. A public library in Tewksbury, MA, was forced to cancel a talk about a sex differences and how they relate to sport, due to bullying of library staff. However, the residents of Tewksbury stood up for free speech vigorously, and the talk was reinstated.
* https://insidelowell.com/local-library-cancels-event-cites-staff-bullying/
* https://insidelowell.com/un-cancelled-a-victory-for-free-speech/
I would also like to draw attention to the Library Watchers of Greater Lowell's "Make Every Week Freedom to Read Week" initiative. Every week Library Watches of Greater Lowell posts a book that has been suppressed and is probably not available in your local library. You can ask your library to purchase it and report on what happens. See more details here:
* https://insidelowell.com/make-every-week-freedom-to-read-week/
Your support is appreciated.
Thank you, Michael, I didn't know that the Report to the U.N. on violence against women and girls had specific concerns regarding trans-identifying males; that seems like a big deal! I also appreciated getting some more intellectual freedom policies and sources to use as "ammo" in my discussions with my superiors in the library where I work. I will say, though, that I am almost afraid of bringing these documents to the attention of the larger library community as I am concerned that they will be overwritten, as some already have been, to become more acceptable to the radical librarian activists...
Amazing article, thank you.
I had to specifically request my university library, one of the best in the country, to purchase those books and others, on the grounds that I require them for an exclusively graduate level seminar on Gender Research. As a professor of WGS, my request had to be accepted. But the books were not ordered as a matter of course. I still don’t know if I dare actually assign any outright GC work alongside explicitly transactivist (therefore orthodox) work that is definitely on the syllabus (all of which is available in the library, no need for special orders) but the first step is to have the material in the library to begin with. Thank you for encouraging librarians to order widely.
Thank you for your comment. That is really unfortunate, I think that demonstrates a real abdication of responsibility on the part of your subject librarian. But hopefully they will recognize that the pendulum is shifting on this issue and you can try ordering them again.