I actually wouldn't be studying British and North American Studies, if I went to Germany. They had been recommending the program to me, but the program that I would apply to is Literatures and Literary Theory, which would focus on (as well as the obvious) film, plays, and western cultural criticism. The whole program sounds amazing, and part of my interest in doing it in Germany is the climate toward political correctness, and how that effects the social media and the study of literature in Germany. In my undergrad, I paid a lot of attention to orientalism, political correctness, and representations of women and minorities in western media and literature. I'm really interested in the climate of these things in Germany, and I think that it would help flesh out (or even redirect) my studies.
Have you visited yet? What did you think of the social climate of the department? That is more important in many ways than the social climate of the town, since you'll probably be spending most of your time with people from the department.
I did visit it, and it seems really nice. I didn't get to meet many faculty (I was only able to go during my spring break, which was also their spring break). But the English faculty seemed pretty nice, although I think I would have to also work with the Latin American Studies profs. in order to work on my stuff.
What is the percentage of minority students in the school, and in the department? Have you spoken to any of them about how they feel about the school and/or department? I have no idea. It wasn't something that I had ever considered until it came up with them, and at the moment my response was more like "ohh...okay, then." I don't know any poc who go there, but you're right, I should find some and ask.
Do you want to go on for a Ph.D. and if so, what country do you want to do that in? It can be difficult to do your MA and Ph.D. in different countries. I do want to eventually go on for a Ph.D. I'm not sure what country I would do it in; that depends on whether or not I put down roots in Germany.
Thank you for all of your advice. It definitely gives me a lot to think about.
I have no idea. It wasn't something that I had ever considered until it came up with them, and at the moment
I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom on this that says you should consult with poc before deciding. I'm in a discipline where I'm a distinct minority (>6% of the members of the professional association have the same ethnicity as me). That means that there often isn't a poc to talk to in those departments, only in other places on campus. But you know what? Though I'm one of three minority students (out of 80) in my department, no one ever makes me feel different because of my skin color/background. Graduate school is very different from undergrad (and I say this having attended a PWI where minorities self-segregated heavily). As long as you get along with your fellow students and the program's faculty, it really doesn't matter how other poc feel. I know for sure that friends of mine would not be comfortable in my department and at my university. But that doesn't mean that I'm uncomfortable here. Make sense?
And, at any rate, you'll stand out as a poc in Germany too, and possibly deal with entirely different racial attitudes. Just something to keep in mind.
I was going to say the same thing. I'm straddling two departments - one has a lot of poc and one has virtually none. But it doesn't matter; I feel just as at home in both departments. Sometimes it feels strange to be the only poc, particularly because I went to a historically black college for undergrad, but I feel included with the others and there aren't any awkward racial moments or hair-touching or any of that stereotypical nonsense that people believe comes with being the diversity person in the department.
Also, good point about sticking out in Germany. I was only in Germany for a couple of days, but while I was there I attracted some unsavory attention for being a black woman.
Have you visited yet? What did you think of the social climate of the department? That is more important in many ways than the social climate of the town, since you'll probably be spending most of your time with people from the department.
I did visit it, and it seems really nice. I didn't get to meet many faculty (I was only able to go during my spring break, which was also their spring break). But the English faculty seemed pretty nice, although I think I would have to also work with the Latin American Studies profs. in order to work on my stuff.
What is the percentage of minority students in the school, and in the department? Have you spoken to any of them about how they feel about the school and/or department?
I have no idea. It wasn't something that I had ever considered until it came up with them, and at the moment my response was more like "ohh...okay, then." I don't know any poc who go there, but you're right, I should find some and ask.
Do you want to go on for a Ph.D. and if so, what country do you want to do that in? It can be difficult to do your MA and Ph.D. in different countries.
I do want to eventually go on for a Ph.D. I'm not sure what country I would do it in; that depends on whether or not I put down roots in Germany.
Thank you for all of your advice. It definitely gives me a lot to think about.
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I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom on this that says you should consult with poc before deciding. I'm in a discipline where I'm a distinct minority (>6% of the members of the professional association have the same ethnicity as me). That means that there often isn't a poc to talk to in those departments, only in other places on campus. But you know what? Though I'm one of three minority students (out of 80) in my department, no one ever makes me feel different because of my skin color/background. Graduate school is very different from undergrad (and I say this having attended a PWI where minorities self-segregated heavily). As long as you get along with your fellow students and the program's faculty, it really doesn't matter how other poc feel. I know for sure that friends of mine would not be comfortable in my department and at my university. But that doesn't mean that I'm uncomfortable here. Make sense?
And, at any rate, you'll stand out as a poc in Germany too, and possibly deal with entirely different racial attitudes. Just something to keep in mind.
Reply
Also, good point about sticking out in Germany. I was only in Germany for a couple of days, but while I was there I attracted some unsavory attention for being a black woman.
Reply
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