I recently stumbled upon this article from The Daily Star reporting that lecturers at the University of Manchester gave a warning about the ‘disturbing’ content of The Handmaid’s Tale to their students. I was initially confused why anybody would bother reporting on what is standard practice in universities across the country, but as I read more of the article I realised how sinister The Daily Star’s reporting really was. 

The article claims that the warning, which said ‘Content Warning: This week’s novel contains disturbing passages (rape, violence, and suicide)’ is for the sake of ‘snowflake students.’ This is wrong, the warning is not for sheltered kids who cannot face the real world, it is for the benefit of victims. 

The right-wing media loves to paint a picture of ‘triggered lefties,’ but many people experience traumatic events, which can lead to PTSD and, yes, triggers. That is who trigger warnings are for, survivors. Of course, people with trauma have to face their triggers sometimes, triggers are often unavoidable, but there is absolutely no reason why they should have to read graphic depictions of rape (which, let’s be clear, The Handmaid’s Tale does include). 

Any university student knows that most classes are not mandatory, and we all miss classes for all sorts of reasons, from scheduling conflicts to hangovers. This is not school we are talking about, university students are adults who have every right to be given the information required to decide whether or not they want to read a single book from the hundreds that are recommended over the course of their degree.

Furthermore, The University of Manchester is far from the only university in the country to give students content warnings about graphic texts. Staff at King’s College London and even here at The University of Birmingham have given similar warnings, which are generally supported by students. 

Marissa Lay, an English student at King’s said ‘Studying English involves learning about, understanding and considering different points of view. Content warnings allow for a more inclusive learning environment that respects the views of vulnerable students’ 

Chelsie Henshaw, a French and English Literature student at The University of Birmingham also commented ‘Personally, I think content warnings are a great idea as they allow students to be prepared for upsetting material.’

When asked about the issue of content warnings, a spokesperson from the University of Birmingham said ‘Our priority is to support students to engage both critically and creatively with the content of lectures and seminars. If the nature of the material being discussed might itself, without advance notice, stand in the way of students’ engaging with it then we indicate this in our preparation materials. This is just one of the ways we enable our students to prepare for, and engage in, their learning.’

Universities have a duty of care to students. There is no reason students should have to read something that could force them to relive the worst moments of their life. The Daily Star article uses terms like ‘snowflake’ and ‘offended,’ but the people who are most helped by content warnings are vulnerable young people, so if not reading The Handmaid’s Tale means they avoid a mental health crisis then who are they hurting by not reading just one book?

The Daily Star’s article then inexplicably switches focus to Desmond, a TV sitcom that has apparently been described as ‘racist.’ The Star’s source for this is that BritBox, a platform that airs the show, has stated it includes ‘racial stereotyping.’ To complain that a platform airing a show, or for that matter, a lecturer teaching a book, is somehow shielding people from the content they are promoting is laughable. The switch between two completely unrelated stories in my opinion shows right-wing media’s desperate attempt to make everything appear to be an attack and turn the general public against marginalised individuals. 

In reality, content warnings hurt no one, people who are happy to read The Handmaid’s Tale or watch Desmond are still absolutely allowed to, and these warnings can help people who need it. Content warnings are not an attack on art, they are honest. Films have age certificates so people are fully informed as to whether or not they should allow their child to see a film, so why shouldn’t forms of media have similar warnings to let people make fully informed decisions about what they choose to watch or read? 

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