Week 1

Victor Martinez
Section 002
Week 1

This reading was very powerful, and I found myself with an incredible respect and admiration for Professor Valverde. Nobody deserves to be demeaned and harassed for any reason, be it sex or race. When I was younger, I tried to believe in the institutions, such as schools, but this reading shows just how ugly the world of academia actually is. Academia is still riddled with unimaginable bigotry while masquerading as an egalitarian ideal. It’s sickening what Professor Valverde was subjected to during her appeal for tenure, and it displays great strength of character that she was able to overcome these trials and tribulations.

A feature that cannot be understated was the strength that Professor Valverde displayed, and how she was able to create a support network in spite of everything against her. The solidarity she displayed when meeting with Dr. Wang, was especially potent. The two were women who had been unfairly persecuted by hateful bigotry, yet they were able to keep going to pursue their goals. This is a very admirable trait that should really speak to activists, and really anyone going into academia. The road is not an easy one, and it is easy to fall into despair, but Professor Valverde demonstrates that you can overcome it.

Question: “What are the methods that are available to people in academia, so that they may go about constructing a support system to stand against oppression?”

References:

Valverde, K. (2013). Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia. Seattle Journal for Social Justice, 12(2).

[Shirley Chisholm Quote]. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2017, from http://rightswithoutfreedom.weebly.com/civil-rights-photo-gallery.html