I have read Gill's article and have the utmost sympathy for her, as well as
a terrible feeling of dismay that always occurs when this kind of thing
happens within a group of people you would generally trust.
I think Sarah's concerns are valid, however, without trying to be too
theoretical, I wonder though, how much one can make a seperation between
homophobia and the use of homophobia as a 'tactic' (or indeed between any
prejudice and its 'tactical' use). Perhaps whether or not the harasser
thinks (s)he is homophobic is irrelevant, indeed whether (s)he is gay
likewise irrelevant- the statements (s)he makes most definately are
homophobic in intent and content. I am reminded of the excuses of comedian
Bernard Manning, who when confronted about his racist jokes, always excuses
himself by saying that he is not a racist. We may or may not be in a
homophobic discipline but we are in homophobic society, and this is what
provides the context and power for homophobic discourse. Whether the
harassment arises from personal or self-hatred or wider prejudice shouldn't
detract totally from the homophobic content of the letters and other
personal and professional violations Gill has had to endure.
I don't know what practically I am suggesting as a result of this other
than taking a lond-term preventative view as well as a short-term
protective view (which I also agree is necessary).
Thanks to Gill for her courage, and to Sarah and others for continuing this
debate.
David.
>SH: I don't
>think that the harassment Gill is facing is the product of a structural
>problem within a homophobic discipline. We are talking about one nasty
>person, who doesn't like Gill, and is therefore harassing her. Homophobia
>is a useful tool, but in this case a tool self-consciously mobilised as I
>doubt that the critical geographer harassing Gill sees herself as
>homophobic. Thus I think we need policies broad enough to encompass this
>form of inter-personal harrassment as well as those more directly caused by
>sexist, racist or homophobic attitudes. In other words policies to protect
>'us' from each other, as well as 'us' from 'them'.
>
David Wood
PhD Student ('The Rural Peace Dividend')
Department of Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Tel: 0191 222 5305
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