My friend in my MFA program was told by her MFA thesis reader that she “threatened” her and was banned from this woman’s office.
My friend is 100 pounds soaking wet.
This professor was 300 pounds.
Both queer women.
My friend who is white was writing a book about her friend’s experience as a young unwed mother in Nigeria—at her friend’s request.
The professor was Black and felt this was not an appropriate project.
Problem is the long-term impact was and is that a woman who is also Black and lives in the Global South now has had her ability to tell her story in her chosen way harmed, so she is the one done violence to by this professor.
This was a conflict. Not an attack. My friend existing is not an attack.
This Professor was the one in that situation with the power to abuse.
And she used it.