Thread by @EgyptsBeer

I found this really powerful because this is, in part, the result of my, and others, self preservation in academia. Since I opted out of academia (after five years of rejection, natch) I am able to speak more freely. So let me say some truths about the experience🧵

https://twitter.com/itsdeenasaur/status/1392196031245438978

It starts in grad school. If you study the Modern Middle East, you come to quickly realize that Israel/Palestine is a hotwire topic that can enrage colleagues and split departments. I was lucky. My department was not riven by conflict and I never had to "pick" sides. 2/18

But I did learn quickly that was not the case everywhere, someone else can spill that tea. Also, since I studied Egypt, it was not the very basis of my career. On the whole, I say, like everything else in academia, the faculty are doing the best they can. 3/18

But you also learn in grad school that there are organizations and lists you can end up on, if you are too "anti-Israel" in your teaching. If you don't believe me, look it up. Some wore their designation with pride (tenured faculty mostly), I was scared. 4/18

Ok. So I managed to get out of grad school with out courting any controversy and now I face the reality of job interviews. 5/18

If you teach on the Mod. Middle East, you will be asked in every single interview how you would teach Israel/Palestine and other "controversial topics." Not unreasonable because ME Studies is built on interest in this "dangerous" area and I/P is what most Americans know. 6/18

But it is also a great way to filter out anyone who is unwilling to give a "diplomatic" answer on the issue. Again, this is not all departments, but when you are looking for a job, and trying to stay in a profession, you don't want to take that risk. 7/18

Now add on top of that social media. I never used Twitter or facebook in grad school, and part of it was I was worried I would say something and deny myself the opportunity of gainful employment. Some of that was my anxiety, but some of it was real. 8/18

Look at the case of @stevesalaita. If you don't know, look it up and tell me about "cancel culture" and academic freedom. That happened right when I was entering the job market and was a clear marker. 9/18

I met and dined with him once and he is wonderful and everything you would expect from an erudite academician. But he has very little chance of ever becoming a professor again. After these tweets, probably so do I. 10/18

I met him at a dinner after he spoke at Bryn Mawr, where I taught for a few years. I also taught at Towson. So I made it through interviews. I want to state clearly the faculty at each of those places were wonderful and supportive and I could not ask for better colleagues. 11/18

The administration also was supportive. That is why I held on to the idea of being a tenured professor for so long, I had really great experiences. Also teaching students is insanely rewarding, difficult, and inspiring. Especially on Israel/Palestine.12/18

The most common response from students when I taught on the topic, was they did not feel well-read enough to comment. Which again goes back to Deena's tweet. I tried, but I knew deep down that I had to always be careful in the words I chose. 13/18

Another reason they stayed quiet was guilt in not having as strong of an opinion as others in the class did. They feared they would say something wrong. Who can blame them, when I felt that way. 14/18

Don't get me started on BDS. If the "stay away" signals weren't clear enough, they became fluorescent when Larry Hogan, the governor of Maryland, the state I was in, signed an anti-BDS executive order. I recall letting my mask down a little, and then regretting that. 15/18

Let me close with all the standard provisos about this being my experience and not representative of all people/departments/universities. Also, note that this isn't meant to say that I'm not a professor because "omg I was censored by the the overly sensitive mob." 16/18

The academic market is brutal, and growing more so by the day. I just wanted to say something like this for all those who wish they could but don't want to lose their job in a perilous job market and as a way to try to explain my own reticence. 17/18

I hope it is also another sign that the academic freedom all scholars value is dying a slow death as the professoriate is filled with more and more precarious faculty. 18/18
#FreePalestine #WeStandWithPalestine #WeStandWithGaza