Food For Thought
Nov. 22nd, 2008 06:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fersakynI had a good conversation with a friend who's been done with his Ph.D. for a number of years, so he has some perspective on the whole writing-a-dissertation process. He reminded me that whatever happens with the political fall-out of the mess that is my dissertation committee, I need to keep in mind, however counter-intuitive it seems right now in the hierarchized world of being ABD, that I need to OWN my dissertation. In other words, I have to draw the line in the sand somewhere. I have to make a decision about how valuable I find this prof's input, and how far I'm willing to bend over backwards to meet her expectations. If those expectations are too much, then I need to cut her loose.
I heard a slightly less assertive version of this from my chair. She pointed out that though I was badly blindsided by how very negative and personal that prof got in our "conversation," I need to remember that I'm working my way up to being colleagues with her soon. That is to say, I need to be able to "woman up" and defend my project.
However, there is still a power imbalance. After all, my dissertation needs the approval of all three of the committee members. I suppose if that prof is willing to compromise, then what might happen is that she will sign off on the diss but not write a letter of rec for me if she still disagrees with my project. However, that situation will most likely sink my chances of getting a tenure-track job at a research university. Right now, I'm not sure I care if that ends up the case. I just want to get this dismal cloud of rain and gloom that's my diss to blow over!
I heard a slightly less assertive version of this from my chair. She pointed out that though I was badly blindsided by how very negative and personal that prof got in our "conversation," I need to remember that I'm working my way up to being colleagues with her soon. That is to say, I need to be able to "woman up" and defend my project.
However, there is still a power imbalance. After all, my dissertation needs the approval of all three of the committee members. I suppose if that prof is willing to compromise, then what might happen is that she will sign off on the diss but not write a letter of rec for me if she still disagrees with my project. However, that situation will most likely sink my chances of getting a tenure-track job at a research university. Right now, I'm not sure I care if that ends up the case. I just want to get this dismal cloud of rain and gloom that's my diss to blow over!
