A03
Week 1: Fight the Tower!
This week’s reading was definitely a page-turner, as Professor Valverde advertised in class. Within the first pages, I was already immersed in her unbelievable story. Although I have always known that workplace discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, and disability existed, I have never truly researched it and gotten a personal account of such a case. Thus, reading from a first person perspective for this particular situation helped me gain a deeper understanding of this injustice and also provided me with some idea of how to fight against it, if I were to come into contact with it later in my career path. Professor Valverde’s narrative was full of shocking moments, but what caught my attention specifically was the fact that even her fellow department members turned against her and tormented her work life. In an Ethnic Studies department, it is easy to assume that everyone would be on the same team, fighting from the same perspective, as minorities in a westernized institution. Thus, I was especially dismayed to read that Professor Valverde not only suffered prejudice from her superiors, but also from those whom she presumed was in her corner. However, as I read on, I was even more surprised at her resolve, to stand her place in her tenure battle. From reading this narrative, I can say that I’ve been inspired to speak out and stand my ground on issues that I am passionate about. I remain hopeful, as Professor Valverde does, that women of color may persevere and someday become an immovable force in – not just academia – but in all social institutions.
Question:
Along with your tenure denial, did you receive reasons as to why you were denied?
References:
Valverde, K. C. (2013). Fight the Tower: A Call to Action For Women of Color in Academia. Seattle Journal for Social Justice, 12(2).
Jenkins, L. (2016, March 17). Serve the People at the Bottom: Yuri Kochiyama - Asian American Writers' Workshop. Retrieved April 05, 2017, from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/296674694184466703/
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