Week 1 - Anna Le, sect. 4

As someone who inspires to attain her doctorate degree and someday give back to society in the form of professorship, it was disappointing to hear that women of color are not given fair treatment and opportunity in academia. What is even more shocking and terrifying is the result of the corporatization of higher education system and "Survivor-like" mentality that exist in academia, that of which happened upon Caroline Valverde. Despite my aspirations of entering into academia, I grow more increasingly wary of my decision to do so. One reason is the downfall state of higher education when it comes to attaining tenure and the dispensable labor force. It is already a challenging struggle for graduates to find a secure place in academia, but after reading, Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia, it was disheartening to hear that the struggle only worsens for women of color. It makes me re-think my decision and doubt my own capabilities of being able to join, what seems to be an exclusive-club of intellects/academics that excludes women of color. The second reason is the doubts I already had about joining such an exclusive club. Other than the doubts I had about my own abilities and financial insecurity/instabilities, there was this quiet yet persisting fear that I would not be taken seriously because I was an Asian woman trying to pursue a field that seemingly had very few representations of others like me. My family had forewarned me not to pursue psychology as a major, out of a belief that it was dominated by White men and that I would never be taken seriously. I thought I had proved them wrong when I was admitted to UC Davis and had received outstanding grades in my psychology courses, but after reading this article, maybe I was only fooling myself and reaching too far.

My question is: How prevalent is work-place bullying in academia, especially when it comes to people of color? Is Dr. Caroline Valverde’s personal experience unique or reflective of other
POCs in academia?

References:

• Valverde, K. L. C. (2013). Fight the Tower: A Call to Action for Women of Color in Academia. Seattle J. Soc. Just., 12, 367.

• [Looking down from an ivory tower.]. (2016, November 19). Retrieved from https://www.vnews.com/Sunday-Perspectives-Balmer-6209232