Academic Misfits: Questioned Belongings in Higher Education

Academic Misfits: Questioned Belongings in Higher Education presents powerful narratives, exploring the experiences of academics who want their voices to be heard. It highlights aspects of the academic world that need to be and should be changed to allow for more equitable experiences. Internationally placed contributors share personal stories of the various ways they have been made to feel out of place in the career path of academia, including accounts of discrimination, careerism, injustices, and the weight of bureaucracy. This book will connect individuals with shared experiences, helping others find comfort, strength, and community in their feelings of misfitting. The authors advocate for more inclusion and independence within academia, where individuals aren’t forced into categories and are instead given the freedom to think differently and focus on the value they can bring. This book is for all those involved in academia, especially those interested in a future that does not eject talented individuals because they might not fit in. Established field experts are encouraged to foster and take part in developing a sustainable and accepting research environment while doctoral students and PhD candidates are empowered to challenge the barriers, limits, and unfair treatment that is the status quo.