Week 1 Alex Shimotake A03

The article "Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia" by Professor Caroline Valverde brings forward the topic of discrimination of women of color within the workplace and its devastating effects. Within the topic of prejudice and social justice, workplace discrimination is one that is quite common within the discussion, especially pertaining to the wage gap. However, smaller nuances of discrimination within the workplace are often glossed over when the rallying cry lacks a wide system of support, such as in the case of Professor Valverde. Of course, being aware that gender and race discrimination exists, it is no surprise that women of color are the most targeted within any realm and the statistics are not surprising either. What is lesser known, then, is the extent to which this type of discrimination can reach when the racist, patriarchal mentality disseminates even to the victims themselves, and the extremity of its effects on the individuals who are forced to confront these issues in their personal lives. Even within Asian American Studies, as a group she once thought would work together and protect against this type of institutional harassment, Professor Valverde experienced the effects of the mob as they turned against her. And while that in and of itself may not be such a surprising fact, the severity of this issue cannot be ignored. In a research study, this is just another statistic of institutionalized discrimination. However, within the personal narrative, this is a life or death situation. That is something we can only understand by hearing and listening to the stories of people such as Professor Valverde. This is why it is important to hear the voices of these women of color and to hear their first hand experiences. It is also important to stand behind these women so they can speak loudly and have the support of a large community so they can’t be so easily dismissed.

How does the discrimination of being a woman of color in academia differ from that of other professions?

References:

Valverde, K. C. (2013). Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia. Seattle Journal for Social Justice, 12, 367.

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