At Center of Gravitas, Gayprof writes:
…According to anonymous testimony from one of his graduate students, this particular professor has been starting his classes by telling his women students,”In my class, you check your vaginas at the door.”
I don’t have the words to express my astoundment. Check what at the door? Since when did vaginas become detachable? Who the hell is this guy? Why hasn’t this university and my department been sued for ten million dollars for sexual harassment and creating a hostile learning/working environment? With all the shit tossed at students and junior faculty, one would think somebody would have a slam-dunk of a case. …
He later notes:
…Yet, I wonder about this most recent situation and the state of our battles against people like my senior-colleague(s). Those of us interested in social justice and fights against sexism, homophobia, and racism face an up-hill battle. The fear that has kept his students quiet makes me the most sad about this instance. None of them want to come forward with an open accusation. Those of us on the left have failed to create an environment where students feel confident enough to speak up for their own rights.
Senior-colleague and his fellow white, straight traditional historians still have all the power. The graduate students in this case knew all too well their own vulnerability. They fear discussing sexism in the classroom because senior colleague(s) could literally destroy their fragile careers as a graduate student and beyond. They see those of us who have tried to change the atmosphere in the department being labeled as”trouble makers”or the ever ready”not team players.”….
And later:
…I have simply never understood the knee-jerk hostility to being”politically correct.”Opting to chose words that are inclusive or don’t hurt another person’s feelings hardly seems like a major chore to me. For some, though, clearly this infringes on their personal liberties. To those who whine about”political correctness,”let me say this:”Yes, we are asking you to do some work. It means you will have to think more about your own race, gender, and sexuality. Live with it. We have lost our patience for your racism, sexism, and homophobia.”
Amen, Gayprof. Read the entire post here.
