University department removes the word 'field' over racist 'connotations'
References including "field work" and "going into the field" may have connotations for descendants of slavery and immigrant workers "that are not benign", the school of social work at the University of Southern California wrote in a letter to staff and students.
Under the change, phrases including "field work" and "going into the field" will no longer be used, according to a letter from the school of social work at the University of Southern California (USC).
Explaining the decision, it said: "We have decided to remove the term 'field' from our curriculum and practice and replace it with 'practicum'.
To my mind they need to go further. The word "University" has connotations too. For example, it implies that the whole institution embodies a subtly covert opposition to diversity. The Diversity of Southern California would be an obvious improvement.
Yet this does not go far enough either. It embodies a connotation where only Southern California is permitted to be diverse. Another improvement would be to dispense with the hierarchical arrogance of defined location and simply refer to the institution as the Diversity, allowing students to find it as best they can. Or not.
7 comments:
'Magnetic practicum' doesn't seem to have the impact now...
This is what happens when diversidee studes get the notion that they're going to be clever one day...
"Work" seems a bit iffy.
If only there was a euphemism?
Back in the day, only the underclass - the serfs, the slaves, worked. The Nobs just played about.
I guess we should rename the continent of Africa because that was where all the poor victims came from?
If the term "practicum" was thought of by a white person, then it might be thought to represent a privileging of Eurocentric Greco-Roman epistemology over the sensibilities of indigenous peoples.
If, on the other hand, it was thought of by a dumb spic or a negro, then they probably don't know how to pronounce it.
They'll do anything except hand over their houses to the Indian tribes who lived on the land before Heap Big White Man appeared.
Will it ever end, this lunacy?
Scrobs - and what about the singer, Frank Ipracticum?
Doonhamer - 'work' is a bit iffy. The only way round it as far as I can see is to tell the students to have nothing to do with it. For some, that may be their intention anyway.
DJ - and of course where so many local traders plied their trade for so many centuries.
Sam - the word is certainly an odd choice. Almost as if someone was quietly making fun of his or her colleagues by coming up with it.
dearieme - even Elizabeth Warren doesn't seem keen on that idea.
James - not in my time unless something big occurs.
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