Week10_Kelly Wang_ASA 114

Nancy Abelmann's chapter, "Anthropology, Asian Studies, and Asian American Studies" in the book Displacements and Diasporas discusses the micropolitics of academic localities as well as the miscommunication between these academic localities. Abelmann expresses how she believes colleges and universities need to also foster faculty and administrative training since "professionals need to be given the time, safe spaces, and collaborative settings in which to collectively rethink - with open minds - the transforming systems of our times" (p. 266). I also agree with Nancy's call to action and believe that in an area such as ethnic studies, theories and concepts in the class are everchanging. Having a collaborative setting among faculty and administrators is what can lead to open discussions about the institutionalized micropolitics in higher education, such as the politics of official knowledge. Education should be a practice of freedom, however, it is currently not group neutral since the dominant group is what selects what is taught as well as what stories are told. Relating to the pedagogy of the oppressed, having faculty and administrative training is what can help free the student body from only being taught hegemonic ideologies as well as tackle institutionalized racism.