This week, I read the article “Academic Symbiosis: A Manifesto on Tenure and Promotion in Asian American Studies” which is written by Wei Ming Dariotis. As a matter of fact, the term “academic symbiosis” is a brand-new concept to me; but after digging into its deeper meaning, I strongly agree with the author’s opinion. Quoted by Dariotis’s saying, “Academic symbiosis, as a ‘minority discourse,’ is a conversation about sharing and supporting.” Symbiosis itself is a metaphor using in ecosphere to describe the relationship between species.
image: https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/pricket-picket-picture-id175707018?s=612x612
In my perspective, academia in college is a place helping teenagers to grow into an adult, through sharing specialty in a certain aspect and supporting everyone’s career path. In this regard, it’s a perfect opportunity to know people in college and build relationship, no matter what gender or race they are, just like symbiosis between different species. Also, as applying the metaphor of the friendship between two Asian Alien men in “Star War”, the concept of “symbiotic relationship” could be properly reflected and established in the stage of higher education. In academia, not only the friendship between students but also the one between faculty, as Dariotis mentioned, “deserves attention because it reflects the promises of higher education: valuing symbiotic relationships that endure great change and conflict”. College is a place for higher education. If the faculties act as moral injustice to Asian women faculty’s tenure and promotion, there’s no need to say the education quality of students. Therefore, only if everyone becomes open-minded and value symbiotic relationships, can they truly overcome the dark side of academia and survive.
Question: How to maintain symbiotic relationships in a long-term?
References:
Valverde, K.-L. C., & Dariotis, W. M. (2020). Fight the tower: Asian American women scholars resistance and renewal in the academy. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
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