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Fury as woke Newcastle uni bosses tell researchers not to use classic Geordie greeting ‘because it’s sexist’
Seven-page guide insists: 'Avoid patronising or gendered terms, such as girls, pet, or ladies'
RESEARCHERS at Newcastle University have been told not to use the Geordie greeting “pet” — after woke bosses called it sexist.
It is deemed off-limits in an “equality and inclusion toolkit”.
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The Tyneside slang — as used in the title of TV comedy classic Auf Wiedersehen, Pet — is a term of endearment in the same way as “dear” and “love”.
But university diversity chiefs appear to compare anyone using it to Viz’s Geordie comic character Sid the Sexist.
Their seven-page guide insists: “Avoid patronising or gendered terms, such as girls, pet, or ladies.”
Produced by a 13-strong inclusion team, it also warns the terms “man up” and “bossy” are “incredibly sexist”.
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The guide was printed alongside a 44-term glossary of genders and orientations.
It includes “agender”, “gender-variant” and “bigender” — describing those who have at least two gender identities or have merged several.
Former Cabinet minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke blasted the guide as a “laughing stock”.
The Tory MP said: “This is another example of elite universities degrading and diminishing their standing on the world stage, where they think these woke issues are more important than the quality of education they’re delivering.”
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Newcastle University said: “We have not banned these terms.
"Our researchers asked us to help them use more inclusive language in their work and we’re proud that this guide supports them to do that.”
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