Make your voice heard

Academia is built on structures which keep those with power in power. As a consequence, many of us are positoned as 'different' (e.g. for reasons to do with race, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, class). This also means we are often silenced or marginalised. There are systems and cultures in place which enable this to happen. The aim of this blog is to provide a space where we can challenge these power structures and speak out against these inequalities. This blog is for anyone who has experienced or witnessed, is experiencing or witnessing, inequality in academia (irrespective of position). This is a site where we can make our voices heard. This is intended as both a way to realise that we are not alone in our experiences and as a mechanism through which we can challenge these power structures. Tell your stories here by using the posts below.
The blogs below list some of the topics that have been raised in conversations I have had and through personal experience. If there are other topics that you think need to be included please let me know.

Anonymity on this blog

While email addresses are not displayed or available to me, a user name is shown if you log in, so keep your identity confidential and be creative with your user name! Or you can post as anonymous. (I would also caution against publicly naming your institution or department). ...... If you would prefer not to log in, email me your story, and I can add it to the blog. lookingforequality@gmail.com

Thursday 7 April 2011

Short term contracts

A friend of mine is on a short term contract. she is expected to teach enormous hours, carry out a full admin load. she is given no mentoring or support or research advice. and her research is something that she does in her spare time. she has to do this if she wants to compete on the job market.  Short term, temporary contracts are usually exploitative and in the interests of the institution.  But is there an inequality dimension to this too?
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1 comment:

  1. Unknown7 April 2011 at 12:01

    I can empathise with this. I am on a short term contract, have a teaching load, admin load and supervise PhD students. I love my job, but I have little support from the senior management. The research I do (on diversity) isn't considered scholarly enough. The prizes I have won for my work, the way I have raised the profile of my school in the UK and overseas is of no value. The teaching I have done is of no value. The admin I have done is, you guessed it, of no value. One day I really hope to get a lectureship - where the next round of problems will no doubt begin.

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