Re: academic freedom

vadebonc who-is-at montana.edu
Wed, 4 Aug 1999 14:06:27 -0600 (MDT)

Mary, Paul, Folks -

I think about the historical context of Western Civilization in a
general sense, and then consider, as well, our own American history and
culture. Groups that have been oppressed, folks who have been marginalized
- Blacks, women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, working class folks, folks
whose first language is "other" than English and others - continue to
struggle for their voices in a social context that has institutionalized
the -isms. From general bureaucratic structure, to the structure of
schooling, from the language we use, to the way we think about folks who
are the same and folks who are different from ourselves racism, sexism,
classism, and other -isms saturate the social context.

I want to say gently and respectfully from one human being to
others that it is folly to think that the act of a member of the group of
"oppressors" joining a group of the "oppressed" has the same meaning as its
inverse. For a male to seek entry into a site for females is not the same
act as a female seeking entry into a site for males given our history, our
socially constructed gender roles, and our association of power with the
male standard / norm and our construction of "female" as "other" than that.

While I wish that we could all work and live together I recognize
that folks who are different from me - who don't share my privileges of
being white and middle class for example - may need a space for gathering
and learning to speak that excludes me. I remind myself and others that
this space is granted and respected in the hopes that in the future we will
all be able to sit at the same table and both speak to and hear each other.

This conversation is messy and so important. Perhaps, messy
defines important, yes?

Jennifer

_______________________________________________

Jennifer A. Vadeboncoeur, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
Montana State University
120 Reid Hall, Department of Education
Bozeman, MT 59717
Office: (406) 994-6457
Fax: (406) 994-3261