Thread by @DrPetra

Today’s #ResearchTip is we all know it’s wrong if supervisors say “suffering is a badge of honour for a PhD”. But PhDs regularly tell each other suffering’s an inevitable part of a doctorate. Stopping them - or others - seeking help.
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #gradschool

So suffering should not be a badge of honour OR an inevitable part of doing a #PhD
Sometimes it will be challenging. But it should also have high points. If you are struggling without help or being made unwell or unhappy by your peers, supervisor or PI - ask for help!

You may feel afraid, exhausted or underconfident. That may lead you to be negative about your #PhD and assume you cannot seek support or none will be available. This hopelessness is a vicious cycle. There may not be people immediately available to help but help is still there

Every week I run training with graduates at different unis in different countries and at every session they have genuine problems we need to solve - and a lot of fears because other #PGRs told them bad things might happen. All of this is stressful and disempowering for students

Remember if you are hearing bad things about doctoral study or reading a lot of scare stories on social media it does not mean it will happen to you, or that it is the norm, or acceptable. Ask for advice, reassurance and assistance.

When we tell one another suffering is the norm for a #PhD, even if we’re complaining how much we hate it, it reinforces the idea of students struggling alone and implies you are powerless and trapped. For minoritised scholars this can be especially dangerous.

There’s a risk raising this issue that it seems like people in crisis are dismissed or not believed. Or that universities or staff that are are toxic, abusive or harmful should be allowed to get away with it. That is why challenging the idea it’s a badge of honour is important

If we say it’s normal and therefore acceptable it places people at risk. It also means “suffering is normal, don’t complain” could be one person’s finding a literature review tricky and saying nothing while someone else fears to report racist abuse or ableist exclusions

Talking about inequalities, harms, difficulties and toxic practices (including a lack of supervision and bullying) IS important and it’s the way to seek help and raise awareness. Suggesting “suffering is inevitable as a heroic or good thing” is harmful

This #ResearchTip is always a challenging one as it risks being misinterpreted as either nobody should complain, or that there aren’t structural barriers and harms in academia that can do real and lasting damage.

It’s no secret that my #PhD was a struggle and I suffered during it for many reasons. What didn’t help me were people saying suffering was a natural part of it, a “badge of honour” as I couldn’t differentiate whether that meant finding analysis difficult or being made homeless

I did ask for help, it mostly wasn’t given. This was still explained at times as character building. But led to no advantages or opportunities. So for me it isn’t about not saying you’re suffering but being told this is both fine and natural and nothing can be done anyway

What would have helped me is people stating my being told to suck it up or celebrate the hardships were wrong. And accommodations made. Plus meaningful assistance given. My peers, instead, responded mostly with “we’re all finding things difficult” or “it’s a sign you can survive”

Latterly I find the sharing of the “suffering is a badge of honour” toxic (whoever shares it) as when teaching, supervising or advocating the “suffering” I see people experience (which is frequently beyond horrific) is not helped by universities and often is caused by them.

It feels to me that “suffering is a badge of honour” is really code for “we will not adequately support or pay you and may cause you pain but it’s all part of the PhD process”. Which is why it troubles me when students are encouraged to buy into it - and endorse or repeat it