Mridul Wadhwa
Mridul Machindra Wadhwa (born 1978) is an
Background
Mridul Wadhwa was born in India in 1978. She lived in Pune until 30, where she ran a successful business with her husband, then emigrated to the United Kingdom, where she earned a master's degree in education from the University of Edinburgh in 2005. She permanently moved to Scotland in 2009. She became involved in women's rights activism in Scotland as a student, and has spoken about her focus on giving voice to women from marginalised backgrounds, including migrant and racialised women.[3][5][1] She is a trans woman.[6]
Career
Equality and anti-violence sector
Wadhwa has worked in the equality and anti-violence sectors in Scotland since leaving university in 2005. She was the information and education officer and children's services team leader at Shakti Women's Aid from 2008 to 2017, a training and volunteer coordinator at Rape Crisis Scotland from 2014 to 2018, and the manager at Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre from 2018 to 2021. She was also a board member of YWCA Scotland and of the Equality Network from 2017 to 2021. Wadhwa became Chief Executive Officer of Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre in 2021.[2][7]
Political career
Wadhwa stood as one of three Scottish National Party candidates for the Craigentinny/Duddingston ward at the 2017 City of Edinburgh Council election, but was not elected.[8][9][10]
In October 2020, Wadhwa sought SNP candidacy for MSP for
Harassment
Wadhwa began receiving abuse in 2019, while working as the director of the Forth Valley rape crisis centre in Stirling.
Articles criticising Wadhwa were published on the websites of
On 13 August 2021, the Scottish Green Party issued a statement in solidarity with Mridul Wadhwa after the abuse, denouncing the spread of misinformation about the crisis centres and resulting abuse which posed a threat to survivors and workers at the centre.[16][17] By Autumn 2021, as a result of the harassment and following police advice and consultations with security experts, the ERCC ended their open door policy, and installed both an intercom system for access and a reinforced inner door.[7]
Guilty Feminist podcast comments
In an interview on the Guilty Feminist podcast,[18] Wadhwa stated:
So we might have fear of men of a certain ethnicity, we might have fear of trans people, and it could be linked to an experience of trauma. I think it is, it is okay to hold those things as long as you are willing to acknowledge that, in support, we will accept that ... the other thing is that sexual violence happens to bigoted people as well. And so, you know, it is not discerning crime. But these spaces are also for you. But if you bring unacceptable beliefs that are discriminatory in nature, we will begin to work with you on your journey of recovery from trauma. But please also expect to be challenged on your prejudices.
Wadhwa's comments were criticized, including by
Discrimination claim for 'gender-critical' beliefs
In May 2024, an employment tribunal gave a decision in favour of Roz Adams, who was
The disciplinary process, which the tribunal described as "completely spurious and mishandled", began after Adams sought clarity on how to respond to a survivor who asked the sex of a non-binary employee.[23][24][25] The investigation upheld the allegations of misconduct against her without action at which point Adams resigned and began working for Beira's Place.[24] The employment judge said that Wadhwa, the Centre's CEO, had been involved in the disciplinary process, and referred to Wadhwa as being behind a 'heresy hunt' against Adams which was "somewhat reminiscent of the works of Franz Kafka".[24][25] Compensation for Adams will be determined at a later hearing.[24]
Awards
Wadhwa received the "Outstanding Campaigner Award" of the Equality Network in 2015[26]
References
- ^ a b c Greer, James (19 October 2020). "Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre manager announces MSP bid for 2021". Brig News. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Welcome to Mridul Wadhwa, our new CEO". Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Mridul Wadhwa on giving a voice to marginalised women". Scottish National Party. 12 May 2018. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "Women's rights activist launches landmark bid to become the first trans member of any of Britain's parliaments". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ Deshmukh, Chaitraly (20 November 2017). "International Transgender Day: 5 trans people prove why all is not lost". Mid-Day. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ Carrell, Severin (12 December 2022). "JK Rowling launches support centre for female victims of sexual violence". theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Ramsay, Adam (17 October 2022). "How anti-trans activists forced Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre into lockdown". Open Democracy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2017/04/council-elections-2017-craigentinnyduddingston/
- ^ https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/26406/ward-14-craigentinny-duddingston-results-2017
- ^ https://www.thenational.scot/news/18855332.this-independence-about-snp-minority-members-plea-empathy/
- ^ https://www.thenational.scot/news/18855332.this-independence-about-snp-minority-members-plea-empathy/
- ^ https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/every-snp-candidate-aiming-stand-22836484
- ^ a b c Gordon, Tom (12 August 2021). "Outcry over plan to educate 'bigoted' rape survivors about trans rights". The Herald Scotland. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ Ross, Jamie (8 February 2021). "Transphobia Is Wrecking Scotland's Golden Opportunity for Independence". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ a b Allsopp, David (15 August 2021). ""Ask Rape Crisis Scotland – a manufactured trend". Trans Safety Network. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Gordon, Tom (13 August 2021). "Greens defend rape centre boss in 'bigoted' survivors row". The Herald. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "Scottish Greens condemn abuse aimed at rape crisis centres". 13 August 2021. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "Creating Our Own World with Kemah Bob and Mridul Wadhwa". The Guilty Feminist (Podcast). Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ Sanderson, Daniel (12 December 2022). "JK Rowling says she's rich enough to take the flak as she launches women-only support service". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ Meighan, Craig (12 December 2022). "JK Rowling opens 'women-only' centre for sex abuse survivors in Scotland". The National. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ Davidson, Gina (12 December 2022). "JK Rowling launches new women-only sexual abuse support centre". LBC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ wadhwa, mridul (12 August 2021). "Statement". edinburghrapecrisis. ERCC. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e McCool & Gordon (20 May 2024). "Rape centre worker wins tribunal over gender-critical beliefs". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ a b Wade, Mike (20 May 2024). "Victory for worker in rape centre gender row". thetimes.co.uk. The Times. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Outstanding Campaigner Award". Equality Network. September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.