Anti-misogyny research could be lost as University of WA overhauls school of social sciences

World-leading research aimed at reducing misogyny and violence against women is at risk of being lost as the University of WA overhauls its school of social sciences. UWA earlier this month announced a “proposal of change” for the discipline, which included the axing of 16 jobs and removing anthropology and sociology as undergraduate majors. In addition many academics are at risk of being moved to “teaching-only” roles, which they say will reduce the quality of their teaching and stifle their research. Media and communications lecturer Tauel Harper said his research informed his teaching, and the proposal to move him to “teaching only” was devastating. “My research is my life’s work,” he said. Dr Harper’s research includes investigating “incels”, which is short for “involuntary celibate” and describes a cohort of men who hold dangerously misogynistic views. Cases of violent extremism under the incel banner have increased, particularly in the US. Dr Harper’s research on incels has been used by the WA Parliament, the Victorian Police Department and the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet. Asian Studies are also set to be moved to “teaching only”, with academics raising concerns over the halting of research on China and the wider Indo-Pacific region given its increasing strategic importance. A UWA spokeswoman said demand-driven research — which included health, social care, the environment and media and communications — would “continue to be developed and supported through nationally competitive research grants and industry funding”. “The University of Western Australia recognises the importance of social sciences as a multidisciplinary study critical to addressing societal challenges,” the spokeswoman said. “Our proposal for the school of social sciences recognises this by strengthening the school’s focus on the scientific and practical application of social sciences skills and research and equipping students with these practical, transferable skills for a career in social sciences.” Cowan MP Anne Aly said the move would disadvantage students as well as researchers. “If you want to produce students who will be able to find work in relevant fields, you need to have research informing the teaching so they are ahead of what the trends are and able to find work,” she said.