Does “bringing your whole self to work” truly include everyone? One researcher reflects on speech, identity, and the professional consequences of discussing her own experiences in modern academia.
Thank you so much for your support! I truly appreciate it. I also appreciate your being one of the few brave free-thinkers in our field, showing that we don't all have to agree on everything but can still have civil discussions...and try to be truly inclusive instead of just performing.
I really hope you and people who experience this start reporting to civil rights agencies or suing. It is great to write about, and helps with the process of developing your narrative, but lawsuits and legal pathways with real consequences are the only real resolution. It is an academic/ legal battle. The fake diversity and inclusion that preach tolerance yet meets others with severe intolerance is so dangerous. They are the master deceivers, or following, playing the victims while perpetuating abuse and a climate of fear. In the process we all must look at our own biases, recognize them and work on them. Thank you for sharing your story, I think many people are going through this unfortunately. Workplace abuse is prevalent.
Thank you for your comment! My essay presents a sanitized version of the emotional abuse I endured. I have reported to the DOE OCR and EEOC (got my right to sue), but I think all the agencies have been de-staffed to the point of ineffectiveness. I have tried to obtain legal representation, but I would first have to get myself formally fired. The lawyers I spoke with either have ties to the powerful university in the city, have been idealogically captured, or want a straightforward case with a big settlement.
These people are crazy and should not be in positions of responsibility. Unfortunately they are all over and there is little accountability. It's all a bit of a joke at this point but won't be when it all comes crashing down. Unfortunately there's often little easy way to deal with them other than fight fire with fire, e.g. something like public shaming of how absolutely ridiculous they are. I'm sorry you had to go through that. I wish you fortune in the future and as you said you'll sleep better knowing you're doing the right thing. There are likely endless cases like this. It needs to stop, this is not healthy diversity.
I applaud your courage to leave academia. I hope you will find greener and less ideological pastures in the private sector.
I’m curious why you chose to use “they” pronouns when your supervisor, who is male, was personally offended by your observations about gender-based differences in higher education.
I never once misgendered or dead-named this person (unlike their wife, who forgot some times). I was trying to be open-minded, polite, "live and let live." Just like I try to be respectful of everyone's different religions, I was not going to question my boss on the gender stuff. I thought my boss was my friend, and I indulge my kooky friends. And I was trying to keep my job--I knew from the beginning that anything less than obedience would lead to "swift and severe consequences!" For all my efforts, the same courtesies were not extended to me.
I’m not sure which state you’re in, but if you’re in a single party consent state, record everything. Buy a small audio recorder with a lav mic that can be surreptitiously rigged (opening of handbag, in your hair, etc). Photo or video anything that impugns this oppressive environment. This is the ammunition you’ll need to circumvent wholesale denial. Anyone who lives a lie regarding their gender will have no issue with doing the same with facts that bolster your case. Contact James O’Keefe.
That is a good idea, but I don't live in a single party consent state--so I have no recording of this person shouting profanity at me in their office. Also it was all so unexpected! I have plenty of evidence in writing, even though my supervisor tried to destroy it all by deleting the entire research group chat once they noticed I was archiving our communications :).
Please stop referring to colleges and universities as “academia”.
Academia refers to the global community of students, scholars, researchers, and institutions dedicated to higher education and the pursuit of knowledge.
What happened to you (and is happening to many others) defies education, learning or understanding. It more closely resembles ignorance and intolerance.
This result while tragic is symptomatic of a systemwide problem: a sheer distain for independent thought. These institutions coerce students and teachers to conform and obey or else suffer professional suicide and ruination.
These institutions no longer represent the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment. They are the gateway back to a new dark age—an Orwellian society.
The irony is women ARE a discrete oppressed group based on our sex. Gender identity ideologues have banned even discussion of sex-based social hierarchies and inequities that continue to disadvantage women in our work lives as “hate”, in their effort to erase the sex category entirely. I was similarly witchhunted and ultimately fired from my job for asserting that I am a lesbian as traditionally understood (same sex attracted) and for stating, during a discussion of abortion rights initiated by the Executive Director, that restrictions on abortion harmed women as a sex. Banning a discussion of sexism is about as sexist as you can get.
Did this life experience affect your social-political viewpoints? I’m wondering if the entire ‘eco-system’ of Leftism within America academics has lost a member — for cause? :) Or, if - like most female intellectuals - you will carry on as if institutional Leftism remains the only way possible, a default understanding of how the world works?
This is heartbreaking. And damming - putting the hypocrisy of DEI in full display. Be strong and do not give up!
Thank you so much for your support! I truly appreciate it. I also appreciate your being one of the few brave free-thinkers in our field, showing that we don't all have to agree on everything but can still have civil discussions...and try to be truly inclusive instead of just performing.
I really hope you and people who experience this start reporting to civil rights agencies or suing. It is great to write about, and helps with the process of developing your narrative, but lawsuits and legal pathways with real consequences are the only real resolution. It is an academic/ legal battle. The fake diversity and inclusion that preach tolerance yet meets others with severe intolerance is so dangerous. They are the master deceivers, or following, playing the victims while perpetuating abuse and a climate of fear. In the process we all must look at our own biases, recognize them and work on them. Thank you for sharing your story, I think many people are going through this unfortunately. Workplace abuse is prevalent.
Thank you for your comment! My essay presents a sanitized version of the emotional abuse I endured. I have reported to the DOE OCR and EEOC (got my right to sue), but I think all the agencies have been de-staffed to the point of ineffectiveness. I have tried to obtain legal representation, but I would first have to get myself formally fired. The lawyers I spoke with either have ties to the powerful university in the city, have been idealogically captured, or want a straightforward case with a big settlement.
These people are crazy and should not be in positions of responsibility. Unfortunately they are all over and there is little accountability. It's all a bit of a joke at this point but won't be when it all comes crashing down. Unfortunately there's often little easy way to deal with them other than fight fire with fire, e.g. something like public shaming of how absolutely ridiculous they are. I'm sorry you had to go through that. I wish you fortune in the future and as you said you'll sleep better knowing you're doing the right thing. There are likely endless cases like this. It needs to stop, this is not healthy diversity.
I applaud your courage to leave academia. I hope you will find greener and less ideological pastures in the private sector.
I’m curious why you chose to use “they” pronouns when your supervisor, who is male, was personally offended by your observations about gender-based differences in higher education.
Good question...
I never once misgendered or dead-named this person (unlike their wife, who forgot some times). I was trying to be open-minded, polite, "live and let live." Just like I try to be respectful of everyone's different religions, I was not going to question my boss on the gender stuff. I thought my boss was my friend, and I indulge my kooky friends. And I was trying to keep my job--I knew from the beginning that anything less than obedience would lead to "swift and severe consequences!" For all my efforts, the same courtesies were not extended to me.
I’m not sure which state you’re in, but if you’re in a single party consent state, record everything. Buy a small audio recorder with a lav mic that can be surreptitiously rigged (opening of handbag, in your hair, etc). Photo or video anything that impugns this oppressive environment. This is the ammunition you’ll need to circumvent wholesale denial. Anyone who lives a lie regarding their gender will have no issue with doing the same with facts that bolster your case. Contact James O’Keefe.
That is a good idea, but I don't live in a single party consent state--so I have no recording of this person shouting profanity at me in their office. Also it was all so unexpected! I have plenty of evidence in writing, even though my supervisor tried to destroy it all by deleting the entire research group chat once they noticed I was archiving our communications :).
Please stop referring to colleges and universities as “academia”.
Academia refers to the global community of students, scholars, researchers, and institutions dedicated to higher education and the pursuit of knowledge.
What happened to you (and is happening to many others) defies education, learning or understanding. It more closely resembles ignorance and intolerance.
This result while tragic is symptomatic of a systemwide problem: a sheer distain for independent thought. These institutions coerce students and teachers to conform and obey or else suffer professional suicide and ruination.
These institutions no longer represent the pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment. They are the gateway back to a new dark age—an Orwellian society.
The irony is women ARE a discrete oppressed group based on our sex. Gender identity ideologues have banned even discussion of sex-based social hierarchies and inequities that continue to disadvantage women in our work lives as “hate”, in their effort to erase the sex category entirely. I was similarly witchhunted and ultimately fired from my job for asserting that I am a lesbian as traditionally understood (same sex attracted) and for stating, during a discussion of abortion rights initiated by the Executive Director, that restrictions on abortion harmed women as a sex. Banning a discussion of sexism is about as sexist as you can get.
Did this life experience affect your social-political viewpoints? I’m wondering if the entire ‘eco-system’ of Leftism within America academics has lost a member — for cause? :) Or, if - like most female intellectuals - you will carry on as if institutional Leftism remains the only way possible, a default understanding of how the world works?