Read on Twitter
This weekend someone posted screenshots of some my tweets on Facebook (along with positive commentary). But it made me feel rather uncomfortable and I think I finally articulated why.
I simply don't appreciate people with status & position in the community using my words & name to express their concerns about something instead of taking the time & effort to articulate their concerns on their own. It is one thing to cite a source & another to hide behind it.
It happens quite often and exposes me in ways that are frankly downright detrimental to my career and mental health.
Recently a full prof at UCLA sent a link to one of my tweets to his chair to forward to another prof rather than voice his own concerns because *he* was worried about retaliation. Of course no thought was given to my safety. I should not be used as a shield.
Anyways, I'm okay being loud about what I believe. But I'm also a postdoc, less than two years post PhD, who is still working to establish myself in the math community and who has no job security or guaranteed future in this field.
My vocal truth-telling should encourage others with more privilege and status to do the same *not* give them space to hide behind my voice.
I've said this every way I know how, but I'll say it again: I'm so tired. At some point I need people with power & privilege & security in my field to stand up for me, to make noise & make waves & push for change as vocally & as publicly as I do. Because I can only give so much.
