A male science professor at the University of Oxford is facing criticism from fellow academics for reportedly wearing large “plastic breasts” while teaching.
Matt Rattley, a lecturer in biochemistry at Oxford’s St. Hilda’s College, went viral this week after a video was posted on X with him talking about imposter syndrome. Rattley, who lists “they/them” pronouns on LinkedIn, has a long, wispy beard and appears to wear prosthetic breasts.
Oxford professor Michael Biggs told the British magazine Spiked that there is “a strong case that Mr Rattley is creating a degrading and offensive environment, especially for female students, which would constitute sexual harassment.”
Biggs added that adults should not bring “their sexual interests” to work, but that they should be free to do what they want in private.
Rattley has been a non-stipendiary lecturer at St. Hilda’s since October 2023, according to the college. St. Hilda’s was initially founded as an all women’s college back in 1893. The college did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a video pulled from his LinkedIn that has been viewed over 2.5 million times, Rattley discussed creating a website and the problem of “imposter syndrome.”
“The problem I’m running up against is some imposter syndrome — classic. Basically, what does it mean to be an expert in something? Because it’s really not obvious to me at what point I could describe myself as an expert in something. I have expertise in things,” he said. “I’ve been teaching plenty. My chemistry is pretty solid, but I think I still have this feeling that declaring myself an expert in something is a little bit uncomfortable.”
Photos from his social platforms show Rattley frequently wearing dresses and with painted nails.
LinkedIn.
Journalist Jo Bartosch wrote in an article published Wednesday that no one in Rattley’s department has publicly addressed the controversy.
“No one in his male-dominated department has publicly criticised his sexist sartorial choices, and he has been pictured and filmed at professional events looking as though he has wandered in from a stag do,” she wrote.
Bartosch added that the university will not tell Rattley to dress appropriately to work, but will go after critics of transgender ideology. She added that it was insulting to female students and teachers that the university allowed Rattley to wear his fake breasts while teaching.
“Ultimately, a university is not a stage, nor a fetish club,” she wrote. “It is a place of learning, where young people ought to be able to study without being forced to navigate someone else’s exhibitionism.”
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