It occurred to me today, after recent discussions on gender equity and employment, that perhaps we could all benefit by better understanding what it is like to be one another -- among other things:
- What it is like to be an adjunct
- What it is like to be in a tenure-track position
- What it is like to be a female grad student in philosophy
- Etc.
Accordingly, I would like to propose a new series, "What is it like?", for our community members to post on. In addition to official contributors, I would be happy to accept reader-submissions. The only rule is that the essays/postings must be consistent with the "safe and supportive" aims of the blog. Explaining what is hard about "being X" is fine and encouraged. However, to keep things safe and supportive, accusatory types of things -- it's hard to be an X because Y's are jerks! -- will not be approved.
I hope to kick things off with a post entitled, "What is it like to be a VAP?" That is, unless someone else beats me to it! ;)
I am curious to see the experience of people who are often seen as outsiders to academia and philosophy in particular. Could someone explain to me what is it like to be a(n outspoken) political conservative, Republican, Randian, veteran, or devout religious person, etc in philosophy? A safe forum for them to air their experiences could probably also be beneficial to all of us.
Posted by: x | 04/06/2013 at 04:22 PM
Neat idea, x. I hope some such people participate!
Posted by: Marcus Arvan | 04/06/2013 at 04:39 PM
A further proposal (perhaps Chike Jeffers may consider it?): "What it is like to focus on non-mainstream philosophy", that is, how it feels to read people no one reads/to be considered less interesting just because one does not publish on the "latest" topics.
Posted by: elisa freschi | 04/17/2013 at 03:46 AM