Welcome to the VICE Guide to Life, our imperfect advice on becoming an adult.Imagine this: you’re in a classroom and your professor says or does something that leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth—or worse. Maybe they keep mixing up you and the only other Black, Latinx, Asian, or Native student. Or maybe one of your fellow students makes a sexist joke and, instead of shutting it down, your professor joins in. I'm sure you have had your own scenario, or have had a friend tell you about their own.
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Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, and otherwise offensive incidents are common in college classrooms. A 2015 study conducted on the University of Illinois Urbana campus surveyed nearly 4,800 students of color and found that over half experienced stereotyping in the classroom, while nearly 40 percent reported feeling uncomfortable because of their race. These incidents can impact how safe you feel going to class—not to mention speaking up. Yet, they often go unaddressed because professors have so much power in the classroom. They control the books you read, the content of the lectures and, importantly, your grade. Considering the immensely uneven dynamic between you and your professor, how do you go about expressing that something wasn’t OK? What if you get in trouble? What if it makes the situation worse?Throughout my many years as a university teacher, I have seen the worst that academia has to offer: professors who make jokes about disabilities; overt sexual harassment. Sometimes I’ve been on the receiving end. Here are some tips from a freshly minted doctor who spent the last eight years teaching and learning in various college classrooms. Every professor is different, so use your best judgment above all.The student teacher relationship is inherently uneven. Instructors, lecturers, and professors are positioned as public authority figures in college classrooms with little external oversight. While many scholars critique this relationship, the fact remains that the person at the front of the room customarily has a tremendous amount of power. For that reason, some professors may get defensive if critiqued—after all, it’s always touchy to tell someone you don’t think they’re doing their job well. One way to mediate this potential sense of public failure and get your professor to listen to you is going to their office hours for a private discussion.
Prioritize your privacy
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A few years ago, I was lecturing about feminist social movements. During discussion, some of my students felt I had supported transphobic remarks. After class, they told me how my comments landed. Initially, I felt defensive and ashamed, but the privacy they afforded me by approaching me in a one-on-one manner gave me ample space to apologize and grow.Behind closed doors, your professor may be more open and willing to talk, and will hopefully change their behavior going forward. Try writing a quick, respectful email. For instance, “Dear Professor ____. I hope this email finds you well. I am interested in discussing some recent classroom dynamics. Would it be possible to attend your office hours or otherwise meet? I have some concerns and would like to address them with you privately.” Tell them that you’re happy to keep it between you two and that what you want more than anything is to resolve the issue, and you might just get them to open up.Once you’re in the door, stay calm. Don’t get me wrong: If your professor was racist, misogynist, transphobic, etc, you have every right to be angry. While your indignation is likely appropriately placed, however, it might not be the most productive thing to bring with you to a meeting. So, take a deep breath and leave your anger at the door.During this conversation, you might want to explicitly blame your professor because they were the one who made you uncomfortable. But focusing on shame isn’t always the best strategy. In a lot of cases, it exacerbates an already heightened defensiveness. Instead of fixating on what this person did wrong or what their intentions might have been, try describing how their actions negatively impacted you. For instance, you could say something like, “Hi Professor ___. I want you to know that I appreciate the readings and your lectures. However, some of the recent comments you made about [women, people of color, trans folks] have made me uncomfortable. I want to participate in discussions, but these comments have affected me and distracted me from doing well in class.” (Keep in mind that you don’t need to get specific about exactly how or why they've affected you because you’re already making yourself vulnerable.) Make sure you clarify that your intention is to further your education and cultivate classroom community, not necessarily critique your teacher as a person or professional.
Stay calm in one-on-one meetings
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Find an ally to support you at school
Know how to use Title IX
While the classroom should be a democratic, healthy, and safe place to learn, it frequently fails to live up to that standard, forcing students to do the work of ensuring a better education for themselves. Though this reality is unfair, having a strategy can be a helpful starting point for how to ensure your classroom welcomes everyone; especially you.