Today's theme was for the FFB bloggers to talk about a feminist and/or fashion related thing we learnt from someone else, something that changed the way we thought about something or the way we behaved. I had planned to structure this post much differently, but over the past few days I've been thinking a lot about what I have learned from other academics and not all of it is good....
Recently an adjunct English teacher published a book about his experiences In the Basement of the Ivory Tower, and last week salon published an article including excerpts from Professor X's book. I agree that many universities face problems with grade inflation and that the reliance on the labor of adjuncts is probably tied to this. The renewal of adjuncts' contracts is often tied to whether or not their courses fill, and anecdotal evidence suggests that if an instructor has a reputation as being a hard-ass who is willing to fail people students are unlikely to enroll in his/her courses. Perhaps another factor is that adjuncts often make somewhere in the range of $2500-$3500/course/semester. Most often the universities that they work for do not provide any health care benefits. This means that some adjuncts teach classes at multiple institutions in order to make ends meet or so that they can keep a toe-hold in academia while they finish their dissertations (often the fact that they are teaching multiple classes impedes progress) or while they continue holding on to the (slim in the Humanities) hope that they will get a tenure-track job.
However, I balked at certain aspects of Professor X's argument - such as the idea that giving a failing grade to a student impedes progress (ok, perhaps it does sometimes, but I think sometimes it can serve as a wake up call, a call to action, and let's face it, if you don't complete entire sections of one of my exams, I am not going to feel at all guilty about giving you the failing grade that you deserve on it). I also nearly went batshit crazy over the following passage:
"The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 1975, 31 percent of college teachers were female; by 2009, the number had grown to 49.2 percent. There are more women teaching in college than ever, and it is quite possible that their presence, coupled with our discovery of the postmodern narrative, has had a feminizing effect on the collective unconscious of faculty thought. Strong winds of compassion blow across campus quads. Women are more empathetic than men, more giving, simply more bothered by anyone’s underdog status. Many of the female adjuncts I have spoken to seem blessed and cursed by feelings of maternity toward the students. Women think about their actions, and the consequences of their actions, in a deeper way than do men. Women may not be quite as inclined to sigh and, with a murmured "fuck it," half-angry and half-miserable, possessed by the fatalism of someone throwing the first punch in a bar fight, mark an F in the grade book. I administer grades fairly, but how difficult it is."
What a crock. I'm sure that many female faculty do have maternal feelings toward their students, but I'm sure plenty of them do not. When I was an undergraduate, the toughest grader that I had was a female professor. I grade more strictly than many men I know if shop talk around the metaphorical water cooler can be trusted. I am more than willing to help students, to give them a chance to improve, to incorporate revision into my classes when possible because it helps students to learn more than because it boosts their grades, but I am also more than willing to register a 35% on an exam or refuse to accept a paper that's turned in randomly one month late. Though I admit I might give it 5 extra points if the student has a cool nickname or throws in a battery diagram. I jest....
I think that empathy and compassion can be powerful teaching tools. Alas, I'm not always the most empathetic and compassionate person. Maybe I've never exactly thrown the first punch in a bar fight, but I will throw down this gauntlet. What percentage of adjuncts are women? (Right now I don't know the answer to this question, but I'm on a mission to find out.) Because the percentage of female faculty at R1 and R2 schools sure as shit isn't 49.2%. Currently, women make up about 37% of faculty in history departments in the United States. In 2007, women made up 12-13% of faculty members in chemistry departments. In English, women have reached parity nationwide.
So unfortunately, for Professor X, I would suggest that his argument lacks sufficient evidence (and his nickname isn't really cool enough to warrant bonus points). Has the post-modern narrative entirely restructured the way zoology and calculus exams are administered and graded?
While we cannot conduct a very scientific study here, I am interested in your anecdotal evidence. Academics, do you find female faculty members to be maternal toward their students? Non-academics, were you mothered by your female instructors? No names, but who do you remember as being the hardest grader that you had in your classes?
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Showing posts with label female academic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label female academic. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Professor Mix-a-lot Does Women's History
Hello. My name is Ray, and I'm addicted to mixing patterns. When putting in my schedule and course request for spring of 2012 earlier this week, I asked to teach either a graduate readings seminar on early modern Europe or an upper level course on mixology.
On a more serious note, what I'll probably actually end up teaching next spring is a couple of survey courses and an upper level course on women in pre-modern Europe.
Strange. If you had told me back when I started graduate school that I would teach a course on women's history, I would have laughed in your face. A class that I TA'ed for early in my grad student career was taught by an older, white, male faculty member, and he repeatedly asked me (the only female TA in the class) if I wanted to give parts of lectures about women in modern American history. I kept telling him no, and he kept saying, "oh, yeah, because you do the early stuff...." To which I kept responding that no, it was that I didn't do women's history.
After dabbling in radical feminism, I had over time lapsed into apathy before slowly coming to the more moderate brand of liberal feminism that I began grad school with. And part of that meant to me at the time was that I could choose what I wanted to do with my life, what I wanted to focus my studies on, what I wanted to write my dissertation on, and at that point what I wanted to research had nothing to do with women. It surprised me to encounter such entrenched gendered assumptions on the part of a faculty member. Surely he had seen women come through the PhD program before and not work on women's history; surely he noticed some of his female colleagues didn't specialize in the history of women!
Less than a year and a half later I had defended my MA thesis, made the jump from early America to early modern Europe and the Atlantic World, and somehow issues of gender were slowly becoming increasingly salient to my new research. I won't give you the details, but part of that meant was that my choices had changed and my repeated claim that I didn't do women's history was no longer true -- even though I'll be the first to admit that it still rubs me the wrong way that someone would assume that just because I am a woman and a historian that I must be a women's historian. While I still consider myself primarily a historian of Spain and of early modern Europe, I came to the conclusion that it would be a disservice to the actresses, female troupe managers, and women audience members I research to not be a women's historian, as well.
So there you have it. My confession. I'm a women's historian. And a pattern mixing addict. I apologize for neither.
P.S. Were you expecting me to reveal my name?
(Dress - Nine West (remixed), Cardigan - Population, Tights - We Love Colors (remixed), Boots - John Fluevog Bondgirls (remixed)
On a more serious note, what I'll probably actually end up teaching next spring is a couple of survey courses and an upper level course on women in pre-modern Europe.
After dabbling in radical feminism, I had over time lapsed into apathy before slowly coming to the more moderate brand of liberal feminism that I began grad school with. And part of that meant to me at the time was that I could choose what I wanted to do with my life, what I wanted to focus my studies on, what I wanted to write my dissertation on, and at that point what I wanted to research had nothing to do with women. It surprised me to encounter such entrenched gendered assumptions on the part of a faculty member. Surely he had seen women come through the PhD program before and not work on women's history; surely he noticed some of his female colleagues didn't specialize in the history of women!
Less than a year and a half later I had defended my MA thesis, made the jump from early America to early modern Europe and the Atlantic World, and somehow issues of gender were slowly becoming increasingly salient to my new research. I won't give you the details, but part of that meant was that my choices had changed and my repeated claim that I didn't do women's history was no longer true -- even though I'll be the first to admit that it still rubs me the wrong way that someone would assume that just because I am a woman and a historian that I must be a women's historian. While I still consider myself primarily a historian of Spain and of early modern Europe, I came to the conclusion that it would be a disservice to the actresses, female troupe managers, and women audience members I research to not be a women's historian, as well.
So there you have it. My confession. I'm a women's historian. And a pattern mixing addict. I apologize for neither.
P.S. Were you expecting me to reveal my name?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Incognito
I have thought about writing this post for months, but when The Worst Day of the Month passes, it no longer seems necessary. We have discussed how different situations and different expectations impact our sartorial choices: For job interviews, we don suits; for the first day in the classroom, we at FA tend to wear our blacks/grays or a blazer and save our patterns and florals for later in the term. We've discussed that when one is on campus, even on non-teaching days, it might be a good idea to look professional, or at least keep a blazer handy, in the event you run into your students or have an impromptu meeting. But how do you dress yourself when it's the dead of winter and you have five extra pounds of water weight in your stomach and (mostly) in your chest and when you look into the mirror you think, I should just stay home and hide?
dress - Loft (remixed)
cardi - Sparrow/Anthro (remixed)
tights - Eloise/Anthro
scarf (hair) - Tie Rack (remixed)
scarf (neck) - Chicago boutique (remixed)
earrings - Corcoran Gallery, DC (remixed)
ring - Folger Gift Shot, DC (remixed)
wellies - Capelli via Marshalls (remixed)
Hiding always seems like the best option, seeing as there are a number of things that are out of the question: all of my bras save for 1, my favorite little jacket that buttons across the chest, anything form-fitting across the chest or belly, most pants because they just make me feel awful and with snowboots or wellies, they look particularly ridiculous, and of course particularly anathema items like pencil skirts.
But what you should not do is stay home and hide. And let's face it, most of us can't--we have work, teaching commitments, meetings, family responsibilities, and research to do. You should get dressed in something at least semi-structured that's still comfortable. This outfit is a modification of one I wore back in October. The difference in cardigans is very important. The pink summer weight GAP cardigan would have highlighted my + 1 cup size chest. The ruching and roomier chest on the Sparrow cardigan (worn here) hides, minimizes, and still adds color. And remember that knit or wool allows more mobility than, say, a blazer.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Friend Friday 1/14: Polyvalent Perspectives
Both SFE and I (LHdM) are participating in Modly Chic's Friend Friday today. To see a full list of participants and learn more about Friend Friday pop over to Katy's fabulous blog.
How do you determine what you will wear that day?
LHdM: A number of factors determine how I'm dressing on any given day. I tend to dress more conservatively during the first couple of weeks of a semester, when I'm still setting the tone in my classrooms. I tend to up the professional factor when I have a department meeting (unless it's at 8am on Friday when I can expect half of my department will be in jeans and sweatshirts) or a meeting with an administrator. My mood, the weather, and the fact that I don't like to repeat items from the day before too often also play roles in my sartorial choices. Case in point, yesterday I wore a blazer when I probably usually would have worn a cardigan.
SFE: 3 factors influence this decision: For whom will I be performing (self, students, faculty, committee, visiting scholar)? Weather (will it start out 40 and drop to 0)? Mode of transport (bike, bus, train, car)? After that it's whatever I feel like because if I don't like what I've chosen for the day I will go batty! And if I regret the ensemble I wore for teaching I'm ridiculously self conscious and off my game. This is why I developed the mantra, "when in doubt listen to the advice of the Devil wearing Anthro," because most of the dresses and skirts I own from Anthro are forgiving, flattering, and fun to wear. I might be bored with it, but I won't be uncomfortable.
The Devil's in the Details: SFE copycats LHdM's palette from Monday
Dress - Moth/Anthro - (ebayed & remixed)
long-sleeve tee - LOFT cardi - Banana Republic (remixed)
leggings - LOFT (remixed)
scarf - H & M (remixed)
wellies- Capelli via Marshalls (remixed)
Owl Necklace - Etsy/gifted
Do you plan outfits out in advance for a whole week, month, weekend?
LHdM: With rare exceptions, I almost never plan outfits in advance. Occasionally, I'll try to figure out an outfit the night before (see 8am dept. meetings above), and I'll plan outfits when I'm traveling or for job interviews, conferences, and other professional activities of that nature. However, even when I do plan my outfits, I often end up wearing something else, as I did for my dissertation defense.
SFE: Rarely--it really has to be AN EVENT. Even when traveling I really don't plan outfits, rather I pack things so I have choices. I do find it important to plan outfits for higher stakes situations, such as giving public presentations or defending my doctoral exams. In fact, I waited until after I took my exams to take a Friday to get my hair cut, go to Anthro, and have lunch with myself. I planned my outfit around the purple sweatercoat I purchased and paired it with the Most Versatile Dress I've Ever Owned. Sometimes, thinking about self-fashioning takes the pressure off. Oddly, weddings work that way, too.
Do you have any specific way of tracking outfits and items already worn so you don't repeat?
LHdM: Aside from the blog, no not really.
SFE: Same here. Sometimes SME will say, "You're wearing black, again?"
How do you discover new combinations of items in your closet? (Trial try-ons? Hanging items together?)
LHdM: I draw tons of inspiration from magazines, tv, and other bloggers. I'll see things on blogs or in magazines that I love and then I'll try to think if there's a way to put an LHdM spin on them with what I have in my own closet. I do occasionally try hanging items together, and every now and then I'll try on a bunch of different outfits -- usually for a special occasion or to procrastinate from some heinous task, such as grading lots of papers for a survey class.
SFE: Usually by trial and error. If I buy a new piece, especially a skirt or a cardi, I'll come home and see how it coordinates with everything else in my closet. Outfits can also be built around tights, scarves, and earrings. I also tend to draw inspiration from the same places as LHdM (blogs, paintings, BBC miniseries, and Vogue). But because of my height and shape I tend to copycat texture combination and palette rather than specific pieces. For example, if I wear a fitted blazer with skinny jeans tucked into riding boots (paired with one of my colorful scarves) I will look like a flamboyant jockey who stopped training, but if I see such an outfit on, say, Academichic I might think, "Huh. Teal on the top really brings together neutrals + black."
Trying out a new accessory: The Owl Necklace was a gift from a member of SFE's cohort to mark the occasion of the entire cohort advancing to candidacy. It was decided, over a pint, that SFE is the owl in the middle--the little one.
To streamline the process for 2011 what is one new thing you can do to cut down your dressing time?
LHdM: Holy shit, if I would just put laundry away in a timely manner my dressing habits would be revolutionized! I often do a load of laundry and then let it sit in the basket for a week. Then I will want to wear something, but realize it's crumpled up in the basket and have to figure out something else. I don't roll with the ironing.
SFE: SME and I need to put shit away (part of cutting down on anxiety, too). There are at least 3 times a week when I cannot find black tights, black slip, or black camisole because it's lost in a basket or drawer of black lycra.
So we're curious: how did you determine what you're wearing today? And what are your plans for this weekend?
How do you determine what you will wear that day?
LHdM: A number of factors determine how I'm dressing on any given day. I tend to dress more conservatively during the first couple of weeks of a semester, when I'm still setting the tone in my classrooms. I tend to up the professional factor when I have a department meeting (unless it's at 8am on Friday when I can expect half of my department will be in jeans and sweatshirts) or a meeting with an administrator. My mood, the weather, and the fact that I don't like to repeat items from the day before too often also play roles in my sartorial choices. Case in point, yesterday I wore a blazer when I probably usually would have worn a cardigan.
(Shirt - Zoe D. (remixed), Blazer - George (thrifted months ago and only wearing now for the first time), Skirt - Anthro (remixed), Boots - John Fluevog Bondgirl (remixed)
SFE: 3 factors influence this decision: For whom will I be performing (self, students, faculty, committee, visiting scholar)? Weather (will it start out 40 and drop to 0)? Mode of transport (bike, bus, train, car)? After that it's whatever I feel like because if I don't like what I've chosen for the day I will go batty! And if I regret the ensemble I wore for teaching I'm ridiculously self conscious and off my game. This is why I developed the mantra, "when in doubt listen to the advice of the Devil wearing Anthro," because most of the dresses and skirts I own from Anthro are forgiving, flattering, and fun to wear. I might be bored with it, but I won't be uncomfortable.
The Devil's in the Details: SFE copycats LHdM's palette from MondayDress - Moth/Anthro - (ebayed & remixed)
long-sleeve tee - LOFT cardi - Banana Republic (remixed)
leggings - LOFT (remixed)
scarf - H & M (remixed)
wellies- Capelli via Marshalls (remixed)
Owl Necklace - Etsy/gifted
Do you plan outfits out in advance for a whole week, month, weekend?
LHdM: With rare exceptions, I almost never plan outfits in advance. Occasionally, I'll try to figure out an outfit the night before (see 8am dept. meetings above), and I'll plan outfits when I'm traveling or for job interviews, conferences, and other professional activities of that nature. However, even when I do plan my outfits, I often end up wearing something else, as I did for my dissertation defense.
SFE: Rarely--it really has to be AN EVENT. Even when traveling I really don't plan outfits, rather I pack things so I have choices. I do find it important to plan outfits for higher stakes situations, such as giving public presentations or defending my doctoral exams. In fact, I waited until after I took my exams to take a Friday to get my hair cut, go to Anthro, and have lunch with myself. I planned my outfit around the purple sweatercoat I purchased and paired it with the Most Versatile Dress I've Ever Owned. Sometimes, thinking about self-fashioning takes the pressure off. Oddly, weddings work that way, too.
Do you have any specific way of tracking outfits and items already worn so you don't repeat?
LHdM: Aside from the blog, no not really.
SFE: Same here. Sometimes SME will say, "You're wearing black, again?"
How do you discover new combinations of items in your closet? (Trial try-ons? Hanging items together?)
LHdM: I draw tons of inspiration from magazines, tv, and other bloggers. I'll see things on blogs or in magazines that I love and then I'll try to think if there's a way to put an LHdM spin on them with what I have in my own closet. I do occasionally try hanging items together, and every now and then I'll try on a bunch of different outfits -- usually for a special occasion or to procrastinate from some heinous task, such as grading lots of papers for a survey class.
SFE: Usually by trial and error. If I buy a new piece, especially a skirt or a cardi, I'll come home and see how it coordinates with everything else in my closet. Outfits can also be built around tights, scarves, and earrings. I also tend to draw inspiration from the same places as LHdM (blogs, paintings, BBC miniseries, and Vogue). But because of my height and shape I tend to copycat texture combination and palette rather than specific pieces. For example, if I wear a fitted blazer with skinny jeans tucked into riding boots (paired with one of my colorful scarves) I will look like a flamboyant jockey who stopped training, but if I see such an outfit on, say, Academichic I might think, "Huh. Teal on the top really brings together neutrals + black."
Trying out a new accessory: The Owl Necklace was a gift from a member of SFE's cohort to mark the occasion of the entire cohort advancing to candidacy. It was decided, over a pint, that SFE is the owl in the middle--the little one.To streamline the process for 2011 what is one new thing you can do to cut down your dressing time?
LHdM: Holy shit, if I would just put laundry away in a timely manner my dressing habits would be revolutionized! I often do a load of laundry and then let it sit in the basket for a week. Then I will want to wear something, but realize it's crumpled up in the basket and have to figure out something else. I don't roll with the ironing.
SFE: SME and I need to put shit away (part of cutting down on anxiety, too). There are at least 3 times a week when I cannot find black tights, black slip, or black camisole because it's lost in a basket or drawer of black lycra.
So we're curious: how did you determine what you're wearing today? And what are your plans for this weekend?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
30/30 Finally! Finals & Finale
I wore my last 30x30 outfit on the first day of finals week, which also happened to be the day that I gave my first final exam here. My students had a take-home essay and a paper revision due for the final exam, and although they were turning them in online I went into campus just in case there were any issues/disasters. Thanks to Murphy's Law, because I went in for the afternoon, everything went off without a hitch.
Here are some things I have learned doing this challenge. I am pretty good at remixing - years on a grad student budget will do that to a person. I do not have the time to take photos on a daily basis -- much less write up a post. That's okay because I have never envisioned this blog as a daily outfit log or journal. While I post some of my outfits, I've never felt the need to post all of them, and my goal all along had been more to invite discussion on particular issues that have to do with the intersections of sartorial choices and other issues, particularly those having to do with the strange workplace that is academia. I certainly enjoy and appreciate comments on particular outfits and welcome those! However, I want to get back that original mission along with the outfit photos. If you are only here for the outfits, you may just want to scroll down to the last line....
As an academic I self-fashion myself into and perform the role of researcher, writer, instructor, colleague, advisor, and often all on the same day. There are few jobs that involve dealing with so many sensibilities on a regular basis. Not only am I dressing to teach my classes, but I'm also dressing to meet with colleagues and occasionally administrators. Some of them may have particular feelings and expectations about the dress of their students and colleagues. Just read the comments on any Chronicle article about attire or hotness, there are clearly academics who believe that students and fellow faculty in miniskirts or baggy pants aren't politically aware. Some think that a hint of cleavage or a visible tattoo are indicators of an academic lightweight and/or an unworthy colleague. Yet, others consider the ability to flaunt tattoos and to show a hint of cleavage or to wear trackpants one of the perks of working in academe. Negotiating this can be fascinating and problematic. SFE has blogged about her longer hair being a potential marker of her youth and thus potentially one of her inexperience as a teacher in the classroom. I have blogged about my reticence in wearing skinny jeans or shorter skirts on campus. Herr Doktor and I have dialogued about visible piercings in the academy.
Ultimately who defines what is professional attire in the academy? Is it women and men and genderqueers with some semblance of agency? Or are we only barely managing to push against an entrenched patriarchal framework that is part of the legacy of academia's long domination by white men in tweed jackets? So that's your final exam prompt readers. You have 1 hour and 50 minutes.
On another note, make sure to stop by tomorrow because we'll be having an awesome giveaway!
30x30 Items: 4. Plaid Dress - Rabbit Rabbit + 25. Velveteen Blazer - Rafaella + 27. Spectator Oxford Pumps - r2
Accessories: Amethyst Tights - We Love Colors, Polka Dot Tights - Target, Belt - from this dress
Ultimately who defines what is professional attire in the academy? Is it women and men and genderqueers with some semblance of agency? Or are we only barely managing to push against an entrenched patriarchal framework that is part of the legacy of academia's long domination by white men in tweed jackets? So that's your final exam prompt readers. You have 1 hour and 50 minutes.
On another note, make sure to stop by tomorrow because we'll be having an awesome giveaway!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
13/30: Substitutions and Other Infractions
As I mentioned a few days ago, when I began the 30x30 the unseasonably warm weather had lulled me into a false sense of security. While I was in San Antonio the temperature dropped significantly, it snowed, and has continued to be cold, misty, icy, and more wintry precipitation is on its way this week. I decided to sub in a few warmer items for items that I had not yet worn.
Substitution 1. Turquoise 90 WPM Dress - Shabby Apple Black Pants - New York & Co.
Substitution 2. Grey Dress - Target - Melon Ruffle Cardi - New York & Co.
Substitution 3. Purple Moccasins - Me Too Duck Boots - Ugg
I wore this outfit last week. This is about as casual as I go in the classroom these days, and unfortunately, the fact that several of my students had done the day's reading - a whopping six pages - reminded me of why that is. As A-Dubs and Rad have both mentioned, this is the part of the term when students tend to be the most burnt out, stressed out, and the most likely to engage in disruptive or inconsiderate behavior. While some students might not consider failing to have done the reading particularly disruptive, when a third of the class is absent and/or hasn't done the reading, it does not create an environment conducive to productive discussion and learning. And in my classroom that often leads to a quiz.
How do you deal with this part of the semester when motivation is low and burn out is high (for students and faculty alike)? American academics, are you looking forward to this Thanksgiving break as much as I am? Have any of you who are doing 30x30 swapped out items because of the weather?
Substitution 1. Turquoise 90 WPM Dress - Shabby Apple Black Pants - New York & Co.
Substitution 2. Grey Dress - Target - Melon Ruffle Cardi - New York & Co.
Substitution 3. Purple Moccasins - Me Too Duck Boots - Ugg
30x30 Items: Sub 1. Black Pants - New York & Co. + 15. White Button Down - Zoe D. + Sub 2. Melon Ruffle Cardi - New York & Co. + 30. Grey Slouchy Boots - Steve Madden
How do you deal with this part of the semester when motivation is low and burn out is high (for students and faculty alike)? American academics, are you looking forward to this Thanksgiving break as much as I am? Have any of you who are doing 30x30 swapped out items because of the weather?
Monday, November 8, 2010
Giveaway Winners and 1
Before I forget I want to announce the winners of our Fluevog Artwork Giveaway. They are #14 Clare of Between Laundry Days and #33 Suzanne! I'll be in touch soon to figure out how to get you your loot!
Even though this challenge wasn't technically starting until today, I began the remixing madness on Friday. I wore my first 30x30 outfit Friday to spend the day grading student papers at home, harassing my foolish dog, and then going out on the town to drink some wine with some awesome women who are also faculty members at my university. We get together about twice a month for dinner and drinks, and I feel very grateful for their friendship and camaraderie.
Forgive me for not being overly verbose today, but I still have a shit ton of grading to do. And I want to meet my word count goal for the day for the article draft I'm working on. How was your weekend? Are any of you NaNoWriMo-ing or trying to steal the energy of that event and channel it into your academic writing like I am?
Even though this challenge wasn't technically starting until today, I began the remixing madness on Friday. I wore my first 30x30 outfit Friday to spend the day grading student papers at home, harassing my foolish dog, and then going out on the town to drink some wine with some awesome women who are also faculty members at my university. We get together about twice a month for dinner and drinks, and I feel very grateful for their friendship and camaraderie.
30x30 Items: 7. Dark Wash Bootcut Jeans - Express + 16. Black & White Striped Top + 21. Yellow Embellished Cardi - New York & Co. + 29. Red Mary Janes - John Fluevog
Accessories: Cameo Necklace - Etsy (remixed), Socks - Target (remixed)
Monday, September 6, 2010
Hairography
The Fall term has not yet begun for me and I've been scrambling to finish my syllabus. Here's how I've been doing my hair most days:
I really like my hair--it's dark and wavy and generally looks good even when I don't do much to it. It tends to photograph either darker or lighter than it actually is and in the sun it looks a bit auburn. It suits me. But it also can convey the sort of en deshabille look that Yeats pathetically obsessed over in Maud Gonne for years. Which is not exactly tantamount to academic authority:
There is a lot of talk about how we dress/accessorize differently for teaching or conference-ing than we do for parties, dates, dinner, etc. But I also tend to treat my hair differently. When I'm in the classroom I want it to look tidy, organized, and professional. For that reason I tend to straighten my hair or pull it back/up. Outside of the classroom it can often be found in the messy knot (refer to Figure 1) or down with a scarf wrapped around it. And the other night it looked fantastic when I fastened a massive hair pin to it on a warm and rainy evening when Shakespeare's Masculine Ending and I went to a bar for a friend's birthday.
1. Hair Pin - Anthro
/gifted
2. Earrings - Anthro/gifted
Obviously, the hair pin is not appropriate for teaching, but it made me really happy to attach it to my humidified hair and wear out for drinks.
I have an appointment to get my hair cut on Wednesday and I'm thinking about what I want to do. It's below my shoulders now and I'd like to grow it even longer. I am currently a childless, dissertating woman in her late-20s, but I also realize that those days are numbered and I might not have the opportunity to have long, Mad-Woman-In-The-Attic-cum-granola-girl hair in the relatively near future. But I also know that I do look older and more professional when it's at my shoulders. If I cut it, not only will I spend less time styling it this fall, but it also means I could wear it down on those first few weeks of the term, you know those weeks when we don our spectacles, blacks, and blazers.
I am not just concerned about the discourse of long, wavy hair--that it conveys youth and carefree-ness--but that in the classroom long, wavy hair makes me look more like one of my students and I really do think that my students desire that their instructors set themselves apart from them. I think difference is one of the major ways that authority gets conveyed (LHdM: Do any of your female students have hair as short as yours?). Last week, Prof E-Jo at In Professorial Fashion wondered about projecting authority to graduate students. In my experience, the performance of authority is much more important to undergraduate students than it is to graduate students--in fact, they seem to desire it more.
By the way, here's the rest of the non-academic outfit that I wore on rainy, humid night:
1. Top - Bordeaux/Anthro
2. Skirt - H & M
3. Scarf - Street vendor in Santiago, Spain
4. Umbrella - FishsEddy, New York
* Note on the blazon-like photos: I'm a little camera shy and am still trying to figure out how comfortable I feel with presenting the entirety of me to the interwebs. For now I'm going to be a bad Early Modern feminist and continue to photographically catalog my parts instead of the whole.
I really like my hair--it's dark and wavy and generally looks good even when I don't do much to it. It tends to photograph either darker or lighter than it actually is and in the sun it looks a bit auburn. It suits me. But it also can convey the sort of en deshabille look that Yeats pathetically obsessed over in Maud Gonne for years. Which is not exactly tantamount to academic authority:
There is a lot of talk about how we dress/accessorize differently for teaching or conference-ing than we do for parties, dates, dinner, etc. But I also tend to treat my hair differently. When I'm in the classroom I want it to look tidy, organized, and professional. For that reason I tend to straighten my hair or pull it back/up. Outside of the classroom it can often be found in the messy knot (refer to Figure 1) or down with a scarf wrapped around it. And the other night it looked fantastic when I fastened a massive hair pin to it on a warm and rainy evening when Shakespeare's Masculine Ending and I went to a bar for a friend's birthday. 1. Hair Pin - Anthro
/gifted2. Earrings - Anthro/gifted
Obviously, the hair pin is not appropriate for teaching, but it made me really happy to attach it to my humidified hair and wear out for drinks.
I have an appointment to get my hair cut on Wednesday and I'm thinking about what I want to do. It's below my shoulders now and I'd like to grow it even longer. I am currently a childless, dissertating woman in her late-20s, but I also realize that those days are numbered and I might not have the opportunity to have long, Mad-Woman-In-The-Attic-cum-granola-girl hair in the relatively near future. But I also know that I do look older and more professional when it's at my shoulders. If I cut it, not only will I spend less time styling it this fall, but it also means I could wear it down on those first few weeks of the term, you know those weeks when we don our spectacles, blacks, and blazers.
I am not just concerned about the discourse of long, wavy hair--that it conveys youth and carefree-ness--but that in the classroom long, wavy hair makes me look more like one of my students and I really do think that my students desire that their instructors set themselves apart from them. I think difference is one of the major ways that authority gets conveyed (LHdM: Do any of your female students have hair as short as yours?). Last week, Prof E-Jo at In Professorial Fashion wondered about projecting authority to graduate students. In my experience, the performance of authority is much more important to undergraduate students than it is to graduate students--in fact, they seem to desire it more.
By the way, here's the rest of the non-academic outfit that I wore on rainy, humid night:
1. Top - Bordeaux/Anthro2. Skirt - H & M
3. Scarf - Street vendor in Santiago, Spain
4. Umbrella - FishsEddy, New York
* Note on the blazon-like photos: I'm a little camera shy and am still trying to figure out how comfortable I feel with presenting the entirety of me to the interwebs. For now I'm going to be a bad Early Modern feminist and continue to photographically catalog my parts instead of the whole.
Friday, August 20, 2010
(Almost) One Year Later
Our blog has also grown in terms of readers, and we thank each and everyone of you for reading. We have been blown away by your thoughtful and kind comments. And we are even grateful to the lurkers.
Next week we will celebrate our one year blogiversary with some giveaways, as well as the first panel of participants in our Back to School Conference. In the meantime, here are some of the posts that I think are most telling in who we have been and who we want to continue to be as Fashionable Academics:
On the Perils of Fashion
From Filene's Basement to Your Friend's Basement
Men with PhDs without Corduroy Jackets
Old like a fine wine, you mean....
Channeling My Inner Coco
Self-Fashioning: What Fashion Means to Me
Pierced Academics in Dialogue
Stylish Butch or Fashionable Femme
Wonder Women
Harem Pants and Gendered Assumptions
We look forward to another year of posting. We hope you look forward to another year of reading!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Harem Pants and Gendered Assumptions
As I mentioned previously, while in Europe, I became obsessed with finding a pair of harem pants. On our last evening in Italy, we were strolling around Trastavere and lo and behold there they were. In a stall in a small market in Trastavere, Italy a girl from Texas, who has lived in the Midwest for years, found a pair of harem pants made in Nepal. The merchant kindly left so that I could try them on in the back of his stall. They fit. I bought them.
These pants are so incredibly comfortable, and I've already worn them about five times. I've only managed to take outfits photos once, though.1 These photos were from right after the move -- before our moving truck and furniture arrived and before I got sick of the gendered assumptions that it seems everyone I've met (outside the university) makes.
My neighbors, the clerk at the BMV, the furniture sales person, the cable guy, and pretty much everyone else we've transacted moving business with has asked where we're moving from. The next question is to M. "Oh, you must have been transfered?" "Where will you be working?" Ok, I love my husband, and I wish we both had tenure-track jobs in an awesome city, but right now I'm the one with the fucking job. Just because I'm a woman and I have a ring on my finger doesn't mean that he's the one who is employed or that his job is the one we moved for.
As we all know, the economy sucks, and I'm grateful to have a decent salary and benefits for the year. I'm glad that I could get benefits for my spouse and support us both and keep Bailey in kibble and rawhides. I'm also grateful that it looks like the university I'm a visiting professor at this year has a course for M. to teach in the spring semester. I know the situation could easily be reversed. He could be the one with the job, and I could be the one essentially living on a spousal fellowship for the year. But it is not, and I am not. I'm on the verge of screaming at the next well-intentioned but gender biased person who asks him about his job.
M. thinks that I'm overreacting. He doesn't see what the big deal is about correcting the (possibly) sexist assumptions of strangers who he is unlikely to ever cross paths with again. I call bullshit. Partly on him. Mostly on them. I wonder what Wonder Woman would think...?
Have you ever experienced a similar situation or felt that people were making inaccurate assumptions about you based on your gender?
These pants are so incredibly comfortable, and I've already worn them about five times. I've only managed to take outfits photos once, though.1 These photos were from right after the move -- before our moving truck and furniture arrived and before I got sick of the gendered assumptions that it seems everyone I've met (outside the university) makes.
1. Harem Pants - Market in Trastavere, Shirt - H&M, Sandals - Market in Florence, Sunnies - Oscar de la Renta (thrifted and remixed)
My neighbors, the clerk at the BMV, the furniture sales person, the cable guy, and pretty much everyone else we've transacted moving business with has asked where we're moving from. The next question is to M. "Oh, you must have been transfered?" "Where will you be working?" Ok, I love my husband, and I wish we both had tenure-track jobs in an awesome city, but right now I'm the one with the fucking job. Just because I'm a woman and I have a ring on my finger doesn't mean that he's the one who is employed or that his job is the one we moved for.
Have you ever experienced a similar situation or felt that people were making inaccurate assumptions about you based on your gender?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
"It's short for ... Bob."*
Well, yesterday I interrupted my normally scheduled program of revising my dissertation for a couple of hours to go see my hair stylist at the Aveda salon (and a trip to the grocery). I really, really like my stylist, and I completely trust her with color and scissors, and she rocked the hell out of my wedding updo, so I'll be grateful to her forever (or at least whenever I thumb through my wedding album). When I went in, I told her that I either wanted to continue with the coppery highlights and get a sling bob, or to go brown and get a pixie. I asked her opinion, and did mention that I'm not sure I'll have time to get my hair cut again before my defense, and she fell in with the majority of those who voted on my poll a couple of weeks ago. So we went with the bob.
It was pretty windy when I got home, but my photographer managed to get a couple of good shots of my casual outfit for work and errands and my hair.1
I do feel like this style is more me -- part chic and part tomboy. Interestingly, though, as I was flipping through some recent magazines while at the salon, I noticed that almost all the celebrities and models featured had long hair. From 2005 (when I last cut long hair short) and up until this year, I've had very few female students with hair shorter than mine. I could count them on one hand. My favorite show LOST features no female characters with hair shorter than shoulder length. Indeed, Sun's hair grew several inches during the first 50 days on the island.... It's refreshing to see more of a variety of hair styles among female style bloggers, but I can't help but wonder if most women don't still consider their hair their "crowning glory."
In the 1920s, women asked themselves the question of whether or not to bob their hair. Trips to the barber (women's hairstylists were late to the cutting game) sometimes ended with angry parents, broken engagements, or divorces and wrecked homes, as women had their tresses clipped. Of course, many of these women or "flappers" also drank, smoked, danced, drove cars, went to jazz clubs, and to petting parties. The term flapper itself was a derrogatory one, possibly originating from the word flap, a seventeenth-century English word for prostitute, or possibly refering to a young bird. But let's get back to hair.2 Do you or do you know people who still associate short hair on women with subversion, sexual permissiveness, or even as a marker of sexuality?
2. Please note that I'm not a specialist in modern American history. On flappers see, Angela Latham, Posing a Threat: Flappers, Chorus Girls, and Other Brazen Performers of the American 1920s (2000) and Liz Conor, The Spectacular Modern Woman: Feminine Visibility in the 1920s (2004).
* Black Adder II "Bells" -- If you like Monty Python, I highly recommend the Black Adder series. It's some funny shit.
It was pretty windy when I got home, but my photographer managed to get a couple of good shots of my casual outfit for work and errands and my hair.1
1. Dress - BCBG (old)
Tights - We Love Colors
Cardi - August Silk (remixed)
Flats - Steve Madden (remixed)
I do feel like this style is more me -- part chic and part tomboy. Interestingly, though, as I was flipping through some recent magazines while at the salon, I noticed that almost all the celebrities and models featured had long hair. From 2005 (when I last cut long hair short) and up until this year, I've had very few female students with hair shorter than mine. I could count them on one hand. My favorite show LOST features no female characters with hair shorter than shoulder length. Indeed, Sun's hair grew several inches during the first 50 days on the island.... It's refreshing to see more of a variety of hair styles among female style bloggers, but I can't help but wonder if most women don't still consider their hair their "crowning glory."
In the 1920s, women asked themselves the question of whether or not to bob their hair. Trips to the barber (women's hairstylists were late to the cutting game) sometimes ended with angry parents, broken engagements, or divorces and wrecked homes, as women had their tresses clipped. Of course, many of these women or "flappers" also drank, smoked, danced, drove cars, went to jazz clubs, and to petting parties. The term flapper itself was a derrogatory one, possibly originating from the word flap, a seventeenth-century English word for prostitute, or possibly refering to a young bird. But let's get back to hair.2 Do you or do you know people who still associate short hair on women with subversion, sexual permissiveness, or even as a marker of sexuality?
2. Please note that I'm not a specialist in modern American history. On flappers see, Angela Latham, Posing a Threat: Flappers, Chorus Girls, and Other Brazen Performers of the American 1920s (2000) and Liz Conor, The Spectacular Modern Woman: Feminine Visibility in the 1920s (2004).
* Black Adder II "Bells" -- If you like Monty Python, I highly recommend the Black Adder series. It's some funny shit.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Emergency Dress
This has been My Year of Conferences. I usually manage to look professional in the cold-weather months, but many of my dresses are too summery to wear behind a podium. Enter a wonderful mentor and her closet.
My mentor tracked me down half an hour before I left for the conference and asked what I planned to wear. I had two options: a green racer-back dress or a dressy top and jeans. Both were politely vetoed and she told me she'd go shopping with me once we arrived at the conference.
Once there, however, she told me she'd run home and searched for outfits I'd look good in. I tried the above dress on and she told me it was perfect: flattering *and* with sleeves and a more professional-looking back. I love this dress. As I told LHdM, it reminds me of a Baz Luhrmann Romeo and Juliet-style outfit, particularly the heart caught in the folds. At the conference, another attendee said she remembered the last time my mentor had worn it.
My mentor attended the panel and told me later that the dress was mine to keep! I then hinted that the temperature was dropping and she had a wonderful sweater, but that was pushing my luck.
I did also have to borrow a coat and a scarf from some kind lunch companions since it started snowing. In April. All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I appreciate all of the academics who helped dress AUH.
And below: a wonderful book and the two Kerin Rose rings I always wear. One is an adinkra ring with the sun and star symbol and the other is a dragonfly. These are the most comfortable rings I own and I love the contrast between the narrow and thick bands. Do you wear the same pieces of jewelry often? Has anyone ever helped dress you at a conference?
Dress: Elana Kattan
Watch: Nixon
Rings: Kerin Rose
Shoes: Naturalizer
My mentor tracked me down half an hour before I left for the conference and asked what I planned to wear. I had two options: a green racer-back dress or a dressy top and jeans. Both were politely vetoed and she told me she'd go shopping with me once we arrived at the conference.
My mentor attended the panel and told me later that the dress was mine to keep! I then hinted that the temperature was dropping and she had a wonderful sweater, but that was pushing my luck.
I did also have to borrow a coat and a scarf from some kind lunch companions since it started snowing. In April. All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I appreciate all of the academics who helped dress AUH.
And below: a wonderful book and the two Kerin Rose rings I always wear. One is an adinkra ring with the sun and star symbol and the other is a dragonfly. These are the most comfortable rings I own and I love the contrast between the narrow and thick bands. Do you wear the same pieces of jewelry often? Has anyone ever helped dress you at a conference?
Dress: Elana Kattan
Watch: Nixon
Rings: Kerin Rose
Shoes: Naturalizer
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Celebrating Good News
I'm really excited to finally be able to tell ya'll good news on the job search front. Recently I received a job offer from a Midwestern University. Although I wish the job were tenure-track, the job market has been really terrible this year, so I feel very lucky that I have landed a job as a Visiting Assistant Professor! It is such a relief to know that I will be employed. The teaching load is reasonable, and my future colleagues seem very nice. Hopefully I'll get something tenure-track next year, but for now I'm really looking forward to starting this job in August! I will be moving over the summer to my new Midwestern location and there is much to do between now and then, but, in the meantime, M. and I decided we should take an evening off to go out with friends and celebrate.
Last night we were did just that. We went out for dinner with my best friend and his husband, and then met up with a few more friends for some drinks at a wine and tapas bar. I had decided that I wanted to wear a little black cocktail dress -- even though the occasion wasn't really that formal.1 Sometimes it's nice just get dressed up and feel pretty.
Last night we were did just that. We went out for dinner with my best friend and his husband, and then met up with a few more friends for some drinks at a wine and tapas bar. I had decided that I wanted to wear a little black cocktail dress -- even though the occasion wasn't really that formal.1 Sometimes it's nice just get dressed up and feel pretty.
1. Dress - White House Black Market (repurposed bridesmaids dress and remixed)
Sandals - Steve Madden
Belt - from another dress
Earrings - Target (remixed)
Necklace - Boutique in Santiago de Compostela (remixed)
I was hoping there would be more pictures from the evening, but I was more focused on sipping wine and chatting than on forcing people to pose and M. to snap photographs.
How do you like to celebrate good news?
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Insnared with flowers, I fall on grass*
At the end of the term, I'm always more apt to wear floral patterns and pastel colors than I am in the first few weeks of the term when I'm establishing my authority in my classrooms. Since one of the institutions I work at has recently sent out some emails and a survey about a seemingly growing lack of respect among the student population as evidenced through faculty complaints about students being more apt to interrupt faculty, interrupting each other, arriving to class late, and having the tendency to get up and leave to go to the restroom during class, etc., it just seems to me like my instincts are correct. I haven't had particular problems with most of these issues. However, since one of my classes was 80 minutes and the other 110 minutes, I realize that students might need to use the restroom. I just ask that they get up and leave as noiselessly as possible when they do.
That said, when I show up on campus to give a final exam1 or for a Friday meeting for a program that I'm involved in during the last week of classes, I'm all for florals with jeans or bright crazy floral patterned tights.2 The last week of the term is (for me) the time for anti-authoritarian florals.
That said, when I show up on campus to give a final exam1 or for a Friday meeting for a program that I'm involved in during the last week of classes, I'm all for florals with jeans or bright crazy floral patterned tights.2 The last week of the term is (for me) the time for anti-authoritarian florals.
1. Shirt - New York & Co.
Tank - H&M (remixed)
Jeans - Express (remixed)
Boots - Fluevog Katrin (remixed)
Necklace - Etsy (remixed)
2. Dress - Target (remixed)
Cardi - H&M (remixed)
Tights - ModCloth (remixed)
Shoes - Kenzie Girl (remixed)
Necklace - Wendy Brandes (remixed)
Bag - Target
I actually got numerous compliments on the ModCloth tights while I was on campus. Several strangers stopped me to tell me how fantastic they are, and a Dean also remarked that she loved them and told me that she had purple tights, but had never seen tights like these. I told her about the wonders of ModCloth.
For those of you in the academy, have you noticed a particular increase in disrespectful behavior on the part of students? For those of you who are students, do you engage in the behaviors I mentioned and why? Do you dress any differently as the term winds down?
*Andrew Marvell, "The Garden"
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Dress Challenge Day 5
Monday was International Women's Day. So it was only fitting that I had coffee with a female faculty member who is a great mentor to me and then I taught about the witch-hunting phenomenon in early modern Europe. (The vast majority of those accused of witchcraft were women.) My students had some interesting documents to read and only one class discussion left in which they could prove themselves so there was a pretty exciting discussion about popular and clerical beliefs about women in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. That morning I briefly considered wearing a "witch" costume, but I decided that it was too campy. Plus, I don't have any striped or green tights (clearly something that must be remedied at some point in the near future), so I wore my Shabby Apple dress one more time instead.1
So which was your favorite? Was it #5 or was it:
Stop by this evening because when I return from administering a final exam I'm going to announce our next giveaway!
1. Dress (as blouse) - Shabby Apple
Cardi - August Silk (thrifted and remixed)
Skirt - Anthropologie (thrifted and remixed)
Tights - Target (remixed)
Shoes - Kenzie (DSW)
Sunglasses - ???
I suppose it was inevitable that I style the dress this way for the fifth and final wearing for this challenge. I had been wanting to wear this skirt again for a while. It's kind of tricky to remix because its color palette is a little bit odd, but I thought it worked well with the bright turquoise and the browns of the cardi and shoes. I'm glad I decided to go with tights and the extra warmth of the cardi because it enabled me to sneak in some reading outside in the sun and not feel the least bit chilly.
#1
#2
#3
#4?
How else would you style this dress?
Monday, February 8, 2010
Open Forum: Dressing for Different Sensibilities in the Classroom
Last week, this email popped into our inbox here at Fashionable Academics:
After some discussion, Ann Underfunded Humanity and I wrote back to Engineering and Technology Professor and said:
Best wishes,
Ann Underfunded Humanity and La Historiadora de Moda
Dear fashionable academics:
Over the last few years, we have seen an increase of students from the Middle East, with Muslim background, coming to our university. As a female professor in a predominately male field, I have always dressed conservatively. But, now I find myself wondering if I should only wear pants and long sleeves when lecturing. After all, it is a culture shock for these young men to see a woman in a authority, let alone dressed in a way they would never see at home.
What do you think? In order to communicate, do we need to dress for our student’s sensibilities as well as our own? How far does this go?
-Engineering and Technology Professor
After some discussion, Ann Underfunded Humanity and I wrote back to Engineering and Technology Professor and said:
Dear Engineering and Technology Professor,
Thanks so much for your email. A couple of us have talked it over and our immediate response to your first question is that you should not feel compelled to only wear pants and long sleeves while lecturing. We at Fashionable Academics are feminists, who believe that women have the right to dictate their own individual dress and personal appearances. While it's admirable that you want to take your students' cultural backgrounds into consideration, there are no doubt also impressionable young men and women in your classroom who should see a smart, capable woman in a position of authority who dresses according to her own personal preferences. After all, these men have chosen to come to the US and have no doubt also been bombarded with media images of western women. I don't doubt that they experience culture shock, but I don't think we should dress according to the standards of their culture....
Best wishes,
Ann Underfunded Humanity and La Historiadora de Moda
We also asked Engineering and Technology Professor if she would mind if we opened up her larger question of dressing for students' sensibilities here on the blog. Since she did not mind, I pose the same question to you, dear readers. To what extent should we be dressing for our students' cultural and social backgrounds and sensibilities and how far does this go?
Personally, as I've gotten a bit older and as I've spent more and more time teaching, I dress more and more for myself (although I do think about how students might perceive me because of the way I dress, especially during the first few weeks of a term). I don't like to show too much thigh in the classroom because I don't want my students thinking about how long my legs are. I don't like to dress too casually because I do want to set some boundaries between them and me, and that is one of the easiest ways. However, I don't worry about taking my nose or tongue piercings out for class. I might dress more authoritatively if I'm discussing something especially provocative, but I wear sleeveless blouses and dresses, pencil skirts, funky Fluevogs, and colorful tights. I also tell my students on the first day of class that if they have a problem with a female faculty or with reading then my class is probably not the class for them.
Most of my students at Big State School come from the Midwest, but every term I have taught there I have had several students who are ESL students coming from the Middle East, India, East Asia, Eastern Europe, etc. I respect that they may have different points of view about historical sources and historical narrative, and that they may have different expectations about the way that teachers and professors dress (as well as how women dress). Then again students from rural areas often have different expectations and sensiblities than do students from urban areas about dress, as do students who are fundamentalist Christians from those who are agnostic humanists. There are a myriad of student identities, cultures, subcultures, sensibilities, and expectations in any given college classroom. It would be impossible to dress so as to make them all happy. So for me the bottom line is that I dress so that I respect myself, so that I am confident in the classroom, and I can feel that way in an outfit like either of these:
I'm curious as to where each of you draws your own personal line between dressing for yourself and dressing for your students, though. So, again, to what extent do you think we should dress for our students' cultural and social backgrounds and sensibilities and how far does this go? Please do share your thoughts!
Personally, as I've gotten a bit older and as I've spent more and more time teaching, I dress more and more for myself (although I do think about how students might perceive me because of the way I dress, especially during the first few weeks of a term). I don't like to show too much thigh in the classroom because I don't want my students thinking about how long my legs are. I don't like to dress too casually because I do want to set some boundaries between them and me, and that is one of the easiest ways. However, I don't worry about taking my nose or tongue piercings out for class. I might dress more authoritatively if I'm discussing something especially provocative, but I wear sleeveless blouses and dresses, pencil skirts, funky Fluevogs, and colorful tights. I also tell my students on the first day of class that if they have a problem with a female faculty or with reading then my class is probably not the class for them.
Most of my students at Big State School come from the Midwest, but every term I have taught there I have had several students who are ESL students coming from the Middle East, India, East Asia, Eastern Europe, etc. I respect that they may have different points of view about historical sources and historical narrative, and that they may have different expectations about the way that teachers and professors dress (as well as how women dress). Then again students from rural areas often have different expectations and sensiblities than do students from urban areas about dress, as do students who are fundamentalist Christians from those who are agnostic humanists. There are a myriad of student identities, cultures, subcultures, sensibilities, and expectations in any given college classroom. It would be impossible to dress so as to make them all happy. So for me the bottom line is that I dress so that I respect myself, so that I am confident in the classroom, and I can feel that way in an outfit like either of these:
I'm curious as to where each of you draws your own personal line between dressing for yourself and dressing for your students, though. So, again, to what extent do you think we should dress for our students' cultural and social backgrounds and sensibilities and how far does this go? Please do share your thoughts!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Professartorialism: More Musings on Florals
I mentioned in my post yesterday that younger, female academics might want to avoid floral patterns during the first couple of weeks of the term. I no longer worry about being mistaken for an undergraduate, but I do still like to keep some distance between me and my students. I am not their peer.
When I started my job as a visiting faculty member at an institution that I love, several other faculty in various departments warned me (and others) that students often try to manipulate female faculty in ways they wouldn't try with male faculty. In part, they said (and I agree) that this has something to do with viewing female faculty, especially younger female faculty, as "nice" and as "approchable." One of the commenters on my post yesterday mentioned that it might be wise to avoid wearing anything that gives the impression that you are "soft" when you are at the front of the classroom. I didn't have any issues with my students last term, but all of the warnings made me even more conscious than I usually am about setting a certain tone. If you don't want to be pestered to take late assignments, push back deadlines, or have your grading system challenged, you have to be prepared to exude a certain demeanor. And part of the self that a professor or instructor performs includes dress. That's why I tend to dress up - especially during the first few weeks of class - but I save the floral patterns (and jeans) for later in the term or the days I'm not going into campus.
That's why I'm wearing my floral tights1 today.
When I started my job as a visiting faculty member at an institution that I love, several other faculty in various departments warned me (and others) that students often try to manipulate female faculty in ways they wouldn't try with male faculty. In part, they said (and I agree) that this has something to do with viewing female faculty, especially younger female faculty, as "nice" and as "approchable." One of the commenters on my post yesterday mentioned that it might be wise to avoid wearing anything that gives the impression that you are "soft" when you are at the front of the classroom. I didn't have any issues with my students last term, but all of the warnings made me even more conscious than I usually am about setting a certain tone. If you don't want to be pestered to take late assignments, push back deadlines, or have your grading system challenged, you have to be prepared to exude a certain demeanor. And part of the self that a professor or instructor performs includes dress. That's why I tend to dress up - especially during the first few weeks of class - but I save the floral patterns (and jeans) for later in the term or the days I'm not going into campus.
That's why I'm wearing my floral tights1 today.
1. Dress - Target (remixed)
Shirt - H&M (remixed)
Tights - ModCloth (remixed)
Shoes - r2 (DSW and remixed)
Necklace - Target (clearance and remixed)
Do you see style of dress as linked to authority and approachability as I do? As Elaine does?
On an unrelated note, since I'm on a shopping ban and trying to get creative with my closet, I would love some suggestions about how else to style these floral ModCloth tights! What would you wear them with?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Florals and Stripes
If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know that I've been on a shopping ban for about 2.5 weeks now. In case you've been wondering, so far it's been relatively smooth sailing because I have been avoiding temptation.
The shopping ban's main purpose was to keep my budget in line even with the added expenses of attire and beauty for my upcoming wedding. It had a few other purposes, though, as well. One of which was a sort of learning exercise. I wanted to be forced to make better use of what I already had in my closet. I had been wondering, though, if the ban would make me fall horribly behind on current trends (not that I like or wear all of them). When I read the most recent issue of Glamour, I realized that most of the trends that I would be willing to try anyway (especially for teaching attire) I'll be able to make work with what I've got. For example, jumpsuits make me look and feel like a blob, and thus, they are not something I would think too much about buying even without the shopping ban. However, mixing floral and striped patterns1 is something that I am willing and able to do.
Now, in my opinion, mixing stripes and florals is a trend that I think is translateable into classroom appropriate attire. However, I do think that female academics should approach floral patterns with a bit of caution, especially those who are younger or look quite young and especially early in the term when it is important to set the tone for the next ten to fifteen weeks. Florals can make one seem "girly," which is not always the message an instructor wants to send to her students. And -- for better or worse -- students do notice what we wear.
What do you think about this trend? And, for those readers who are academics, what do you think? Do you think I'm just a croaking Cassandra? Have you, did you, or will you wear a floral pattern on the first day of the term?
Oh, and, there's still a couple of weeks to answer our CFP.
The shopping ban's main purpose was to keep my budget in line even with the added expenses of attire and beauty for my upcoming wedding. It had a few other purposes, though, as well. One of which was a sort of learning exercise. I wanted to be forced to make better use of what I already had in my closet. I had been wondering, though, if the ban would make me fall horribly behind on current trends (not that I like or wear all of them). When I read the most recent issue of Glamour, I realized that most of the trends that I would be willing to try anyway (especially for teaching attire) I'll be able to make work with what I've got. For example, jumpsuits make me look and feel like a blob, and thus, they are not something I would think too much about buying even without the shopping ban. However, mixing floral and striped patterns1 is something that I am willing and able to do.
1. Shirt - ??? (Filene's Basement)
Cardi - Target (remixed)
Jeans - Express (remixed)
Boots - Steve Madden (remixed)
Belt - From another dress (remixed)
Earrings - Gift (remixed)
What do you think about this trend? And, for those readers who are academics, what do you think? Do you think I'm just a croaking Cassandra? Have you, did you, or will you wear a floral pattern on the first day of the term?
Oh, and, there's still a couple of weeks to answer our CFP.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Trial Run
I spent a good portion of the day yesterday at home prepping lectures for my first two classes of the semester at the small liberal arts school where I'm a visiting faculty member. I'm teaching a brand new class this term, and I'm excited, but I also have a lot of work to do for it. I required coffee and comfort.1 I did get out of the house for a couple of hours, though, to go to my salon for the trial run for my bridal hair and makeup.
I can't believe it, but I'm getting married in a week!
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I would ask if you, amazing readers, wanted to hear about my wedding and several of you said that you did. So I'll go ahead and tell you that M. and I were planning a big wedding for June, but the more we talked about our futures as two academics in the humanities who are finishing PhDs this year and facing a grim job market, the more we felt that it just wasn't a good idea to spend so much money on one day. We decided that we would go to the courthouse with our parents, my sister, and three of our closest friends, including the wonderful gentleman who blogs as thechemist-coture, and get married there. We made an appointment with the judge for the afternoon of January 22nd. Then we are having a small reception later that evening with Middle Eastern food, our wedding cake (made to 1/3 of the originally intended scale), and bubbly. It will be simple yet intimate, and much, much cheaper. If we don't end up with tenure-track jobs or even one year appointments for next year, we will have a safety net, and if we do end up winning the crapshoot and getting positions, we will have the makings of a down payment for a home.
I honestly feel like it was a terrific decision. My stress level went down immediately. I just felt as though the huge weight of the wedding albatross had been lifted off me.
Since I had already purchased my gown and since it arrived on December 23rd, I decided that I would go ahead and wear it. It might not scream courthouse, but hey you only live once! My plan was and is to donate it to charity afterward because I think it's a good thing to do and because I don't have the closet space. We had actually already paid off our photographer and since he is available next Friday, we are having pictures taken at the courthouse and at another location. So for both posterity and vanity, I will have my hair and makeup done by two ladies who are far more skilled than I could ever dream of being. Here's a sneak peek of what my hair and makeup will look like.
I'm only showing you the front of the updo. I want there to be some surprises.
I'm going with a smokey eye and a dark lip. I get my hair done at an Aveda salon here, and I love my stylist. It is so important to have a stylist whom you can trust. I also love their hair products and lotions and creams. This was my first experience with their makeup products, though. I liked them a lot. However, my makeup artist did warn me that I should bring my own mascara if I thought that I would need waterproof. I have a feeling that might be a good idea.
I can't believe it, but I'm getting married in a week!
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I would ask if you, amazing readers, wanted to hear about my wedding and several of you said that you did. So I'll go ahead and tell you that M. and I were planning a big wedding for June, but the more we talked about our futures as two academics in the humanities who are finishing PhDs this year and facing a grim job market, the more we felt that it just wasn't a good idea to spend so much money on one day. We decided that we would go to the courthouse with our parents, my sister, and three of our closest friends, including the wonderful gentleman who blogs as thechemist-coture, and get married there. We made an appointment with the judge for the afternoon of January 22nd. Then we are having a small reception later that evening with Middle Eastern food, our wedding cake (made to 1/3 of the originally intended scale), and bubbly. It will be simple yet intimate, and much, much cheaper. If we don't end up with tenure-track jobs or even one year appointments for next year, we will have a safety net, and if we do end up winning the crapshoot and getting positions, we will have the makings of a down payment for a home.
I honestly feel like it was a terrific decision. My stress level went down immediately. I just felt as though the huge weight of the wedding albatross had been lifted off me.
Since I had already purchased my gown and since it arrived on December 23rd, I decided that I would go ahead and wear it. It might not scream courthouse, but hey you only live once! My plan was and is to donate it to charity afterward because I think it's a good thing to do and because I don't have the closet space. We had actually already paid off our photographer and since he is available next Friday, we are having pictures taken at the courthouse and at another location. So for both posterity and vanity, I will have my hair and makeup done by two ladies who are far more skilled than I could ever dream of being. Here's a sneak peek of what my hair and makeup will look like.
I'm only showing you the front of the updo. I want there to be some surprises.
I'm going with a smokey eye and a dark lip. I get my hair done at an Aveda salon here, and I love my stylist. It is so important to have a stylist whom you can trust. I also love their hair products and lotions and creams. This was my first experience with their makeup products, though. I liked them a lot. However, my makeup artist did warn me that I should bring my own mascara if I thought that I would need waterproof. I have a feeling that might be a good idea.
1. Sweater dress - Target (remixed)
Shirt - Target
Tights - Target
Boots - ??? (DSW and remixed)
Earrings - Gift
I had been hesitant to (over)share about my personal life, but I decided after reading comments on a recent post that one of the things readers like is the glimpse into who we bloggers are as people. So I've shared with you a bit about the decisions that went into my upcoming wedding. I'm wondering though how you all feel about this? Too much information? Not enough? Too much personal stuff and not enough academics? Not enough style? Let me know.
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