Ziqi Yin: Week Two readings for ASA 002

In the article Investigating Discrimination: Injustice Against Women of Color in the Academy, Cross et al. have conducted the study in the University of South Carolina in order to explore the tendencies of career development in white academic employees, ones of color and Asian American females as a separate category. I liked the study because its statistics is evidence for institutionalized racism as well as the entire ‘blackbox’ tenure procedure.

I found the results of the study shocking. The authors have estimated that ‘92% were awarded tenure’ at the university in comparison to ‘55% of female and minority faculty members’ (100). I understand that the authors have aimed to explore how exactly racism is constructed in the tenure process. However, I believe that the main issue is its closed procedure. Additionally, no explanations are provided to the participants, yet allowing racism to happen.

I found it also interesting that racism occurs more often among the senior administration representatives. In case of grievance, as the example showed, the grievance is sent to the president who in the exemplary case defended the tenure deniers, yet showing racist behavior. I also consider it helpful that the authors provided an additional reading, which is the media source called the Chronicle of Higher Education, at the end of the Conclusion.

Conclusively, I liked the article because it provides significant evidence about racism in academic surroundings. I have always thought that in academic surroundings, racism is least likely to happen; therefore, the article findings changed my perception of the university world. I also found it important that the authors tell the audience that making the information about racism public contributes to the solution of the problem.

 Work Cited

Cross, David et al. “ Investigating Discrimination: Injustice Against Women of Color in the Academy.” Class Readings, 2019, pp. 96–109.