What’s Current: Massey University cancels ‘Feminism 2020’ event following complaints from trans activists

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  • New Zealand’s Massey University announces it will no longer host an event titled, “Feminism 2020,” in partnership with Speak Up for Women, after receiving complaints from trans activists. According to spokeswoman Ani O’Brien:

“The staff and students of Massey were never at any risk from our event nor from the speech of the four women speaking at it. We are a group of women wanting to talk about our rights. This should not be controversial in 2019.”

  • One of the world’s largest child pornography websites, Welcome to Video, has been shut down by U.S., South Korean, and British authorities. The site’s administrator, a 23-year-old Korean man, was arrested along with 337 users based in 38 countries. 
  • Elevated testosterone levels significantly increase athletic performance among women, even when given over a short period, research confirms. The findings come as the IAAF announced on Monday it would impose an upper limit for testosterone levels on trans female athletes competing in certain events.
  • Simone Biles set a new world championship record in women’s gymnastics after earning two additional medals on Sunday. Biles is the most decorated gymnast with 25 total medals.
  • Three high school students in Maine were suspended for bullying after posting notes in the bathroom reading, “There’s a rapist in our school and you know who it is.” The ACLU filed a motion in the district court on behalf of the students in a bid to overturn their suspension.
  • A study finds that men overestimate perceived threats against them, which they use to rationalize unethical conduct. Professor Petra Nieken, one of the study’s authors, explains:

“Either you work harder to increase your performance or you reduce the performance of your opponent. All activities to reduce performance of others are referred to as sabotage. Men systematically overestimate the sabotage level directed against them. For this reason, their own sabotage level also is higher. Women, by contrast, realistically assess the sabotage level.”

Genevieve Gluck

Genevieve Gluck is a writer and advocate for women's sex-based rights and creator of Women's Voices, an audio library dedicated to bringing awareness to feminist texts and speeches.