Unequal academic freedom: women’s expertise more likely to be questioned
‘You’re not a real academic.’ This is a comment Nadia Bouras has heard often. It illustrates how women experts, particularly women of colour, are not always taken seriously. During the Annie Romein-Verschoor Lecture on 6 March, she will call for academic freedom for everyone.
Academic freedom may seem self-evident, but in practice, it is not enjoyed equally. As a woman in academia with a Moroccan background and outspoken views, Nadia Bouras knows this all too well. ‘Who do you think you are?’ ‘You shouldn’t be teaching our children.’ ‘Go back to your own country.’ She receives such comments whenever she takes part in the public debate on inclusion, inequality or the history of Moroccan migration, her area of expertise. ‘The comments are often about the substance of what I say. They’re about who I am.’
Bouras is, of course, not alone. ‘Women are more likely to have their expertise questioned than men. When people disagree with them, they often shift the focus from what the woman has said to personal traits, such as their appearance. And with women of colour, racism is added on top.’
Freedom to work
What troubles Bouras most is when people send complaints to the Rector, her manager or the academic director of her institute. Some even call on the university to dismiss her simply because they disagree with her views. ‘This has been happening since I started working at the university in 2006. It obviously affects my job satisfaction, but it also restricts my freedom to do my work. Thankfully, I receive a great deal of support, including from the university.’
Shared responsibility
In the Annie Romein-Verschoor Lecture, Bouras will explore academic freedom from the perspective of a first-generation academic and woman of colour at a Dutch university. The lecture is held annually on or around International Women’s Day and is named after the writer and commentator who devoted years to women’s emancipation.
Bouras will argue that academic freedom is not only an individual right but a shared responsibility. ‘I want the university to create space for a wide range of perspectives and different kinds of academics to take part in the academic debate. Only then can academic freedom flourish; it’s never “done”. We have to keep on talking to one another. It’s up to all of us to ensure that the university isn’t a closed stronghold, but a place for everyone.’
Future
Despite the unpleasant comments, Bouras continues because she loves her work and believes she has a job to do. ‘It matters that people like me are at the university. I see how students can recognise themselves and feel represented. And I can see the student body changing. I’m confident we’ll eventually reach a point when academic freedom is a reality for everyone.’
Register
The Annie Romein-Verschoor Lecture (in Dutch) will take place in the Academy Building in Leiden on 6 March from 19:30 to 22:00. Unfortunately, there is no more room in the Academy Building, but the lecture can be followed by everyone via a live stream.
Livestream