Be Your Sister’s Keeper: Personal Experience of Travelling a Lonely Journey in Academia
Neoliberal universities are farcical and absurd places where black women are marginalised intentionally or unintentionally to discourage them and others from significant accomplishments on the academic ladder. Black woman marginalisation takes variegated forms, and it has its roots in patriarchy an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate
2024-02-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.uct.ac.za/new_dut/index.php/ajims/article/view/1429 |
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| author | Duduzile Mzindle |
| author_facet | Duduzile Mzindle |
| author_sort | Duduzile Mzindle |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Neoliberal universities are farcical and absurd places where black women are marginalised intentionally or unintentionally to discourage them and others from significant accomplishments on the academic ladder. Black woman marginalisation takes variegated forms, and it has its roots in patriarchy and identity confusion. Whilst access is created by the system, there is very little support to enable black women to survive and succeed as they climb the bureaucratic ladder in neoliberal universities. The journey is worsened when one climbs the ladder and leaves sisters behind who choose to be ‘campers’ in these universities. Be your sister’s keeper is a biblical term that speaks to the fact that we need to practice ethics of care among ourselves. This is a qualitative self-study that I narrate my thirty-eight years of lived experiences, and it reflexively evaluates my lonely journey in academia. I use this platform to conscientise my African sisters about the challenges that they are likely to encounter in neoliberal universities. Caring for one another is an African term rooted in ‘ubuntu’ African philosophy that has prevailed over the ages. I argue that as black women, we need to create spaces where we can offer another not only a shoulder to cry on but encourage each other to navigate the academy and its mazes. I am convinced that my experiences and personal journey in academia add a voice to novice academics who must still navigate the bureaucratic ladder. I discuss cultural stereotyping and patriarchy, workplace oppression, and gender-based violence (GBV).
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6f54da692d13403eb15bafe2c4fe9e5c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2663-4597 2663-4589 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-6f54da692d13403eb15bafe2c4fe9e5c2025-02-08T20:55:12ZengResearch and Postgraduate Support DirectorateAfrican Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies2663-45972663-45892024-02-016110.51415/ajims.v6i1.1429Be Your Sister’s Keeper: Personal Experience of Travelling a Lonely Journey in AcademiaDuduzile Mzindle0Durban University of Technology, South Africa Neoliberal universities are farcical and absurd places where black women are marginalised intentionally or unintentionally to discourage them and others from significant accomplishments on the academic ladder. Black woman marginalisation takes variegated forms, and it has its roots in patriarchy and identity confusion. Whilst access is created by the system, there is very little support to enable black women to survive and succeed as they climb the bureaucratic ladder in neoliberal universities. The journey is worsened when one climbs the ladder and leaves sisters behind who choose to be ‘campers’ in these universities. Be your sister’s keeper is a biblical term that speaks to the fact that we need to practice ethics of care among ourselves. This is a qualitative self-study that I narrate my thirty-eight years of lived experiences, and it reflexively evaluates my lonely journey in academia. I use this platform to conscientise my African sisters about the challenges that they are likely to encounter in neoliberal universities. Caring for one another is an African term rooted in ‘ubuntu’ African philosophy that has prevailed over the ages. I argue that as black women, we need to create spaces where we can offer another not only a shoulder to cry on but encourage each other to navigate the academy and its mazes. I am convinced that my experiences and personal journey in academia add a voice to novice academics who must still navigate the bureaucratic ladder. I discuss cultural stereotyping and patriarchy, workplace oppression, and gender-based violence (GBV). https://journals.uct.ac.za/new_dut/index.php/ajims/article/view/1429African philosophycareer developmentgender identityneoliberal universitiesUbuntu |
| spellingShingle | Duduzile Mzindle Be Your Sister’s Keeper: Personal Experience of Travelling a Lonely Journey in Academia African Journal of Inter-Multidisciplinary Studies African philosophy career development gender identity neoliberal universities Ubuntu |
| title | Be Your Sister’s Keeper: Personal Experience of Travelling a Lonely Journey in Academia |
| title_full | Be Your Sister’s Keeper: Personal Experience of Travelling a Lonely Journey in Academia |
| title_fullStr | Be Your Sister’s Keeper: Personal Experience of Travelling a Lonely Journey in Academia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Be Your Sister’s Keeper: Personal Experience of Travelling a Lonely Journey in Academia |
| title_short | Be Your Sister’s Keeper: Personal Experience of Travelling a Lonely Journey in Academia |
| title_sort | be your sister s keeper personal experience of travelling a lonely journey in academia |
| topic | African philosophy career development gender identity neoliberal universities Ubuntu |
| url | https://journals.uct.ac.za/new_dut/index.php/ajims/article/view/1429 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT duduzilemzindle beyoursisterskeeperpersonalexperienceoftravellingalonelyjourneyinacademia |