A male Oxford University lecturer has sparked controversy after teaching students while wearing large prosthetic breasts, low cut tops and make-up.
Matt Rattley, a biochemistry lecturer at Saint Hilda’s College, has been subject to several complaints from former students, academics and a parent.
Critics claim Mr Rattley’s appearance is “degrading to women” and creates an “intimidating and uncomfortable environment”.
Some have even alleged it amounts to “sexual harassment”, while others say students and staff are “too afraid to speak out for fear of being labelled bigots”.
St Hilda’s College has received at least three formal letters of complaint regarding Mr Rattley’s appearance.
The institution was founded in 1893 for women students only, but in 2008 it opened applications to admit male students too.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, one former student said at first they thought it was “a joke” and “fancy dress” attire.
They said: “This case is one that really troubled me throughout my time as a student and that I continue to find disturbing and disillusioning.
“At first, I thought it was a joke – fancy dress. But this is everyday attire. His prosthetic boobs are enormous, exaggerated and cartoonish.
“Had I been an undergraduate in his class, I know I would have felt very conflicted and deeply uncomfortable. I’d also have felt guilt for thinking negatively of someone whose internal state I simply couldn’t know. I certainly wouldn’t have made a formal complaint.
“I have spoken about this at length with trusted friends and family who agreed the situation is outrageous, but it never felt like an option to be open and public about it because any concerns would inevitably be received as bigotry.”
Discussing the case on GB News, journalist Janet Murray revealed she believes Mr Rattley has been dressing this way for “three years”.
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She said: “So apparently this has been going on for three years, but I think I was the first person that actually went for right of reply and said, I’m writing a story for my website, could you please give us some thoughts on this.
“And what I got back was the usual sort of corporate guff, which was just kind of like, we value equality and diversity and something about self-expression or whatever. And so I posted this on social media and said my inbox is open, if anyone would like to get in touch, who works at the college or who studies at the college, really be interested to hear from you.
“So I heard from various people. Three women had written back in May to express their concern, particularly for safeguarding concerns and also to raise concerns that it may well be sexual harassment.
“I also heard from a parent who’d written a letter saying, my daughter is at this college, I hope she’s not teaching my child or coming anywhere near her at all. Another two were completely ignored.”
An Oxford University spokesman told GB News: “The University of Oxford is committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place where all members of our community feel respected, valued and able to be themselves.
“We expect everyone involved in teaching to maintain appropriate professional standards and to treat students with respect. We do not comment on individual personnel matters.
“Students who have concerns about their teaching arrangements can raise them through established university or college procedures as appropriate.”
GB News has approached Matt Rattley for comment.
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