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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

UK lecturer loses appeal after being sacked for calling women ‘females’

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A University of Derby senior lecturer, Russell Cherrington, lost his appeal after being dismissed for using language deemed "misogynistic" and "transphobic."
  • An employment tribunal upheld the university's decision, citing Cherrington's consistent use of "females" instead of "women" and other inappropriate remarks.
  • Cherrington argued his comments were protected under freedom of expression, but the tribunal found his language constituted "gross misconduct."

A senior lecturer at the University of Derby, Russell Cherrington, has failed in his appeal against dismissal, with an employment tribunal affirming the university's decision to terminate his employment. The tribunal found Cherrington's language to be "misogynistic," "transphobic," and "divisive," upholding the university's stance that his conduct amounted to "gross misconduct."

misogynistic

— Employment TribunalDescribing the language used by the lecturer.

The case originated from complaints by four students on the university's Film and High End TV programme, which followed poor results in the National Student Survey. Cherrington, who taught film studies, was suspended in December 2023. An investigation in 2024 detailed instances of what the tribunal described as inappropriate and unprofessional language.

Key findings by the tribunal included Cherrington's consistent referral to female students as "females," which the tribunal deemed misogynistic. He also described a student's music video, stating the lead actress was "not attractive enough for the role." Cherrington did not deny using the term "females," explaining he did not know students' names, and did not believe his comment on attractiveness was harmful.

transphobic

— Employment TribunalDescribing the language used by the lecturer.

Further accusations involved Cherrington allegedly telling a student, "If you had worn that nail polish back in the day, you would have been called a p**f." He was also accused of using "transphobic" language by referring to a transitioning student as a "troublesome trans kid." Cherrington denied the latter remark, though he admitted using the student's situation as an example of support regardless of background. He also denied allegations of being "ableist" after allegedly commenting that universities were "becoming a care home for people with disabilities."

divisive

— Employment TribunalDescribing the language used by the lecturer.

Despite having a "previously unblemished disciplinary record," Cherrington was dismissed in April 2024. The tribunal noted that potential positive accounts from students were not weighed against the allegations of misconduct.

only, or almost exclusively, referred to women in the class as ‘females’

— Employment TribunalDetailing one of the reasons for the finding of misogyny.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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