ASA002 A03
Week 1
During my reading of Professor Valverde's “Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia”, I felt helpless and angry. This text really highlighted the amount of oppression and discrimination that not only her, but also thousands of other women of color academics have undergone.
As a straight Asian male, I must say that while I have felt microaggressions, racism, and discrimination, but comparing my experiences with Professor Valverde's words, it seems that my struggles were not even a hint of what her and other academia have gone through. As much as I identify myself as an 'ally' of those who are marginalized, I am humbled every time to hear about someone else's personal strife and fight in life. Women are truly incredible beings.
I was particularly baffled and upset at the fact that when Professor Valverde requested for another maternity leave, it was denied since she had already received an "disability-related extension". That is an absolute outrage. It got me thinking about the thousands of other women-of-color academia that might have been unfairly treated just for their decision to be a mother.
My question would be:
How in the world has issues such as discrimination in academia still not been addressed? How are these cases being allowed to be slipped through the legal cracks?
1. Valverde, K. (2013). "Fight the Tower": A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia, 12(2). 367-419. Retrieved October 1, 2017
2. Maternity_001. Kosovo 2.0 (2016) Retrieved October 1, 2017, from http://kosovotwopointzero.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Maternity_001.png
Great insight and question. I am actually revising a piece I have done on the so-called disability of being a mother. It is outrageous indeed, and unless we change our mindsets about what it means to be human and treat others humanely, laws will never touch the books.
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