Academic Aunties: A Conversation with Dr. Ethel Tungohan
Aug 10, 2023
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Dr. Ethel Tungohan, host of the Academic Aunties podcast, discusses the hidden curriculum in academia, the need for community and open expression, challenges faced by non-tenured academics, recognizing and valuing caregiving roles, and the importance of prioritizing inner voices.
Recognizing academia as just a job and prioritizing individual well-being in navigating the academic journey.
Challenging toxic norms in academia and promoting a kinder and more caring academic environment.
Highlighting the challenges faced by academics, particularly women and racialized individuals, in balancing caregiving responsibilities with academic work and the need for institutional support.
Deep dives
Academic entities podcast: Building Community in Academia
Dr. Ethel Tonga-Home discusses her work as the producer and host of the Academic Annie's podcast, which aims to create a space for predominantly women of color to share their experiences and give each other advice on navigating academia. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing that academia is just a job and that individuals should prioritize their own needs and well-being. Through conversations on the podcast, Dr. Tonga-Home aims to challenge toxic norms in academia and promote a kinder and more caring academic environment. She also highlights the need to redefine notions of productivity and make time for joy and personal fulfillment within one's academic journey.
Academia as a Job: Challenging Norms and Expectations
Dr. Tonga-Home reflects on her own journey into academia and discusses the pressure that is often placed on individuals to conform to certain expectations and career pathways. She encourages listeners to recognize that academia is just a job, and that individuals should not feel compelled to sacrifice their well-being and personal lives for the sake of their academic careers. By challenging these norms and expectations, Dr. Tonga-Home promotes a more balanced and fulfilling approach to navigating academia.
The Impact of the Pandemic on Caregiving Responsibilities and Academic Productivity
Dr. Tonga-Home explores the challenges faced by academics, particularly women and racialized individuals, in balancing caregiving responsibilities with academic work during the pandemic. She highlights the inequities in caregiving roles and the need for institutions to provide support and understanding. Dr. Tonga-Home also emphasizes the importance of redefining productivity and creating a more humane and caring academic environment that values the well-being of academics as individuals.
Creating Community and Unpacking the Hidden Curriculum
Dr. Tonga-Home discusses the importance of building a community and fostering conversations that challenge the hidden curriculum in academia. Through her podcast, Academic Annie's, she aims to provide a space for academics, predominantly women of color, to openly discuss their experiences and offer advice to one another. By shining a light on the diverse experiences within academia, Dr. Tonga-Home hopes to demystify the hidden curriculum and promote a more inclusive and supportive academic culture.
Redefining Success and Prioritizing Self-Care in Academia
Dr. Tonga-Home encourages academics to redefine their notions of success and prioritize self-care. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own needs, setting boundaries, and finding joy in both personal and professional pursuits. By challenging the traditional markers of success in academia and embracing a more holistic approach, individuals can create a fulfilling and balanced academic journey.
You’ve probably heard by now that there’s a hidden curriculum in academia. But it’s called hidden for a reason—only some [privileged] people are in the know about what it contains. And when you can’t find the answers you need, earning your degree is much harder than it should be. Today, higher education podcast host Dr. Ethel Tungohan of the Academic Aunties joins Dr. Christina Gessler, the producer and host of the Academic Life, to talk about why they are so passionate about bridging this knowledge gap. This episode explores:
The importance of seeing the structural barriers and gatekeepers.
Why the problem is not you, it’s them.
How being left out of important conversations harms women, first gen students, and people of color in academia.
Some advice that can help you survive and thrive in academia.
Our guest is: Dr. Ethel Tungohan, who is Associate Professor of Politics and Social Science at York University. She received her doctoral degree in Political Science and Women and Gender Studies from the University of Toronto. Her research looks at migrant labor, specifically assessing migrant activism. Her work has been published in academic journals such as the International Feminist Journal of Politics; Politics, Groups, and Identities; and Canadian Ethnic Studies. Dr. Tungohan specializes in socially engaged research and is actively involved in grassroots migrant organizations such as Gabriela-Ontario and Migrante-Canada. She is the host of the Academic Aunties.
Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is a freelance book editor. She has served as content director and producer of the Academic Life podcast since she launched it in 2020. The Academic Life is proud to be an academic partner of the New Books Network.
Listeners to this episode may also be interested in:
Care Activism: Migrant Domestic Workers, Movement-Building, and Communities of Care, by Ethel Tungohan
Containing Diversity: Canada and the Politics of Immigration in the 21st Century, by Yasmeen Abu-Laban, Ethel Tungohan, and Christina Gabriel
Welcome to The Academic Life! On the Academic Life channel we are inspired and informed by today’s knowledge-producers, working inside and outside the academy, and around the world. Find us on Twitter: @AcademicLifeNBN.
