Do Feelings in Academia Matter?

This is a question popped into my mind today when I was in class invigilating.

I thought: Do our feelings matter in this context? What signs and clues in this context that show the significance or insignificance of our feelings?

First sign in the system is the action of demoting the academic staff from higher to lower level positions in the academic ladder every period of time because as it is being said: this is the academic system. It has been like this for long time. We have to accept it as it is.

Second sign is the gossip, gaslighting and badmouth talking that happen behind closed doors. Like you are in a meeting, one to one, and suddenly a staff comes in without asking permission just to hear what is being talked about and go spread rumors.

Third sign is the change in teaching and exams schedules suddenly without prior notice or information. This forces you to adapt, burry your painful feelings aside and move on in the system.

Fourth sign is the deadly silence that happens in meetings. When managers assign tasks, gives instructions and delivers feedback, you see most of the other staff in the meeting room accept, agree, nod their heads and look down fearfully.

Fifth sign is the formality and serious protective shield majority are wearing during our daily interactions. Many focus on work, fulfil the job responsibilities and leave.

So if these signs exist in academia, then where do our feelings reside? This confirms that we are human machines working to fulfill a task and go home. Don’t add. Don’t contribute. It is not needed. It is not required. Because the language of feelings in the first place doesn’t exist in this context.

I hope this blog somehow encourage conversations around this question: Do Feelings Matter in Academia?