‘I’m speechless at the hatred’

James Ritchie has resigned as women's officer at TUU after the student body campaigned for him to resign. Photo: LinkedIn. Source: Supplied

A MALE university student has stepped down from his position as women's officer at the Tasmania University Union (TUU), after students campaigned for a woman to be put in the role instead.

James Ritchie claims he was "democratically and constitutionally elected" to the role at the northern campus in student by-elections last month.

But a change.org petition started by the University of Tasmania's Women's Collective this week called for Mr Ritchie to be disqualified or resign. The petition attracted more than 1,000 signatures.

"In what have historically been male-dominated institutions, with a persistently patriarchal culture, it is important that women's rights, needs, interests and concerns in the university context are voiced through someone elected to directly represent them," the petition reads.

In a statement announcing his resignation on Wednesday, Mr Ritchie wrote he has been ridiculed for standing up for women's rights and is "speechless at the hatred" directed towards him.

"It breaks my heart to see the bitterness and unwillingness to engage in mature and rational debate about women's issues. I may not be a woman, but I am under no illusions as to the challenges women face," he wrote.

TUU President Heidi La Paglia told news.com.au the job description did not specify the role had to go to a woman.

"It didn't include the original clause, which was that the candidate must sign a statutory declaration to say they identify as a woman," Ms La Paglia said. That was a mistake, she confirmed to news.com.au.

On Tuesday, the TUU student council agreed the clause should exist in the job description and the position should be held by a woman.

This decision upholds a 2000 ruling by the university's Anti-Discrimination Officer that the Women's Officer must identify as a woman "on the grounds that the role exists to advocate for women as a group who experience oppression in relation to men," the change.org petition states.

Ms La Paglia says the female student body wants to be represented by a woman, not a man.

"Because the position is a representative position, it does need to be held by someone who represents women.

"I'm sure [Mr Ritchie's] intentions were good and it's great that he wants to stand up for women. But there are other ways to do it.

"There's a difference between standing up for women's issues and taking a women's representative position."

Mr Ritchie said his capacity to address issues such as women's safety on campus and greater female participation is now limited.

"The awareness campaigns I intended to run surrounding domestic violence, sexual violence and particularly the #HeForShe campaign would now be ... problematic."

Mr Ritchie said women's issues needed to be faced with the support of men, citing Emma Watson's now famous UN speech.

Emma Watson helps launch the HeForShe global campaign as the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. Courtesy: You

"Emma Watson called for male leadership in addressing women's issues and ... expressed that men are not the problem but rather the solution.

"What kind of example and precedent does this set for other men interested and eager to speak out against female discrimination and injustice?" Mr Ritchie said.

Tasmania's anti-discrimination commissioner Robin Banks told AAP there was no legal reason why a man could not occupy the role of women's officer.

Mr Ritchie could not be reached for comment. The UOT Women's Collective has been contacted for comment.

Mr Ritchie's full resignation letter can be read here.

What do you think? Can a man be appointed to a role representing women? Comment below and let us know.

rebecca.sullivan@news.com.au

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