Dr Zuleyka Zevallos

Let's talk about the racism by "Vieno Vehko," pseudonymous assistant prof from a USA Midwestern university. This article is not simply about "millennials." It is about Whiteness & how White academics expect to teach students like themselves https://twitter.com/timeshighered/status/1019825664722178048?s=19 … #marginsci

The fact that "Vehko" doesn't use racial/ cultural words to describe Susie is the first clue that, not only is Susie White, but Vehko is too. As you'll see in this thread, White people only remark on the race for #POC. But Vehko is also policing Susie's White femininity.

Susie irks Vehko for being "entitled" but also for "elaborately made-up brown eyes." Here's a norm of femininity in academia & how we know Vehko is a WW: anyone wearing make up or 'non-conforming' clothes is breaking gender norms. Susie is White & wears makeup which Vehko resents

What is Louis doing in this White woman's classroom, Vehko wants to know? While White Susie is entitled & is presumed to spend hours on Netflix & social media, Black Louis is failing because he has to work fulltime. MANY students have to work to survive, but #POC often struggle

Class & race intersect: Vehko, who you'll see identifies as an older (White) woman, is incensed that a Black man would work fulltime rather than focus on studies. This bias reflects White privilege: Vehko could focus on study b/c that's life as a middle class White woman

Louis is also sexualised in a way none of the other students are in this op ed ('handsome Black man') and otherised, in classic Whiteness tactic. He's not a threat to Vehko's whiteness because he's soft spoken.