Identity of Speakers
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Kathleen Parker
Faculty/Staff
Invited for non-academic lectureKathleen Parker is a columnist for the Washington Post.
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
University-sponsored lecture/address/panel
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Incident Political Orientation:
Right-of-spectrum -
Incident Responses:
Rally or Protests
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- No protest Occured
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
In July 2016, a petition to remove journalist Kathleen Parker from the school’s fall lecture schedule circulated at Elon University in North Carolina. The petition gathered more than 300 signatures from students and alumni.
The petitioners took issue with Parker’s 2008 book, “Save the Males: Why Men Matter, Why Women Should Care.” In the book, Parker contends that the feminist movement has assaulted maleness and fatherhood and made enemies of men. The petitioners claimed that the book blames victims of rape for their tragedies.
“Parker’s journalism is more than just her opinion,” the petition said. “It’s a consistent attack on all of the things Elon has been working towards – ending sexual assault, increasing diversity and creating a safe and encouraging environment for all students regardless of gender, race, ethnic background or sexual orientation.”
A university spokesperson responded that, “while some may disagree with the views of speakers, we believe there is great value in holding our personal beliefs up to the tests of those who hold different perspectives.” The university did not accept the petition, and Parker gave her lecture as scheduled on October 4, 2016.
