Tricky Moments address issues of boundary violating remarks and acts during situations of teaching and learning. Reading through them can therefore have a (re-)traumatizing effect on people who have encountered violence and discrimination before (racism, sexism, ableism, etc.). The following Tricky Moment depicts a fictional situation inspired by actual experiences.
Careful!
This is about:
Describing the situation
A female student gets into a conversation with a male professor of hers in the hallway. The professor enquires about her study success. Excitedly she relates her experiences and notes that she is encountering difficulties with a female teacher who is regularly late for class and often postpones appointments at short notice. A little while later the professor meets the teacher mentioned and asks her how she is. She responds by telling him that she has been assuming responsibility for the care of her mother for several months now, presenting her with great challenges. Showing understanding, the professor suggests that they jointly search for solutions at the next department meeting.
What happend here?
Viewing/regarding the situation from different perspectives
During an informal hallway conversation with a professor, the student voices criticism about one of her female teachers. Upon meeting the teacher the next time, the professor raises the issue. Following her explanations concerning her difficult situation he seems to react in an understanding and supportive manner.
The female student criticizes her teacher during a casual hallway conversation with one of her professors. Apparently, the student has not previously tried to directly inform her teacher about her discontentment. In speaking to her professor, she creates a situation where they talk about someone who is not present. This could be understood as calling on the professor for solutions. It may be that the course does not feature the possibility for feedback or that the teacher-student relationship lacks the necessary trust to be able to directly address the problem.
What is the student’s motivation? Is she interested in finding solutions or in discrediting a teacher?
The professor receives information about a female colleague for whom he is in no way responsible. Later, during the conversation with her, the professor is not interested in finding common ground but immediately offers a solution at departmental level which would result in “involuntary outing”. Unsolicited advice is always uncalled for, no matter its intention.
The conversation between professor and female student – possible perspectives and reactions:
- The professor is honored by the trust the student puts in him and consequently feels that becoming active is justified.
- The professor thinks he is being used by the student and tries to remain loyal to his colleague.
- He is uncomfortable with the fact that he involuntarily received possibly sensitive information about a colleague.
The conversation between professor and female teacher – possible perspectives and reactions:
- The professor refers his colleague’s situation to the department head because he does not feel responsible for it, or because he is overwhelmed by it.
- He feels licensed to offer a solution to his female colleague.
The female teacher is desperately trying to find a solution for her current care-obligations since she finds herself in a fixed-term contract. However, when the professor approaches her the situation is highly uncomfortable. She would rather not (have to) discuss her private life with the entire department. Added to this, she dreads negative consequences in relation to her working situation since the professor does not seem to be sufficiently informed.
One of the things that renders this situation confusing and tricky is the fact that actual transgressive behavior is disguised as a kind gesture.
Care Work
- The necessity of long-term care within families often arises unexpectedly, confronting relatives with many questions.
- Women are still responsible for the lion’s share of care work, both in the private as well as the professional sector. More than 80 percent of care workers are women. For mobile services such as home health care this number rises to over 90 percent. Women also perform most of the private care for relatives. The same is true for both private and institutionalized child care in which women also carry the main burden. Only around 2 percent of kindergarten teachers are men. And even though couples theoretically may share child care obligations, evenly distributed parental leave periods remain the exception. 90 percent of all single parents are female. (BMSGPK 2022)
- The concept of ‘Care’ can encompass many things. It can mean to aid, to be mindful, to provide custody, to foster and to be prudent. Therefore, it denotes both a distinct attitude towards the world and other human beings as well as specific ‘care-work’ such as nursing, child care, washing and cleaning or preparing food. University routines can create barriers for teachers and students with extensive care-obligations in relation to children or family members. For this reason, it is important to explore flexible support schemes also in the context of teaching. (Diversity-Glossary, University of Freiburg)
What if?
How could their actions (have) influence(d) the situation?
The female student acts in a transparent manner and offers the teacher honest feedback. Being in direct exchange with the teacher creates a chance for developing understanding of her situation. Mutually acceptable solutions may be found on this basis.
Conversation with female student: The professor asks the student whether she has discussed her discontentment directly with her teacher because he wants to remain loyal to his colleague.
Conversation with female teacher: The professor asks the teacher if she needs help and to what extent he could be of help. He extends the offer to look for solutions together.
The teacher informs both her students and the department head about possible irregularities in her timetable. She expresses willingness to offer make-ups for cancelled lessons. She is aware of the fact that her current situation may be challenging and unsatisfactory for students.
Becoming active, doing what and how?
Ideas to act on for successful situations of teaching and learning
Links
for further reading and exploration
- Frauen haben oft das Nachsehen (RESSEL 2021) [available in German only]
- Sozialministerium baut geschlechtssensible Buben- und Burschenarbeit weiter aus (BMSGPK 2022) [available in German only]
- Unter Kolleg_innen [available in German only]
- Vereinbarkeit von Pflege und Beruf/Studium | Arts for Care [available in German only]
- ...when problematic situations arise...
Have you experienced a similar situation?
You are not alone. Here you can forward your experiences with discrimination directly to the Working Group on Equal Opportunities (AKG) or ask for possible courses of action. Your information will be treated confidentially.