Exhausted with the unfair academic environment
Does anyone else feel exhausted and deeply discouraged by the state of academia?
I’m a PhD candidate in archaeology, and what wears me down is not the competition itself, but the feeling that academic recognition is often disconnected from quality, intellectual honesty, and genuine scholarship. I have spent years reading extensively, writing articles that I truly believe are careful and rigorous, and dedicating myself to my field. Yet my work often goes unnoticed, while others who flatter those in positions of power, exaggerate or distort their findings to make them seem more exciting, and sometimes have only a superficial grasp of their own subject, are constantly rewarded by what can feel like a narcissistic academic environment.
I find myself thinking about this situation over and over again, every single day, and it has started to affect my ability to write my dissertation. I feel trapped in this cycle and powerless to break out of it. Of course, we do what we do for the sake of science and because we care deeply about our work—but how long can someone keep going when they constantly feel invisible and pushed to the margins?
How can someone cope with this situation? I really need to stop thinking of it so I can finish the phd.
@thoughtfulOwl898
😔
I'm sorry to hear about the unfairness of this and the unjust behaviour.
I understand how you feel
I would finish top of my class and the boys would have to do resits but still got all the advantages because they talked about sport.
Dont let narrow minded people stop you finishing what you gave put your heart and soul into 💙
Hi, I feel the same as you and totally agree with it, but then my mum talked to me in a way that made me regret telling her but the shock made me feel numb after that.
let me talk to you the way my mother would.
Are you here to impress people or to study. They have their methods that work and in the real world it's worse. The point is, are you getting above average, do they lower your score and if yes and no respectively it has nothing to do with you continue doing what you're supposed to do and don't get into trouble. If you think it works observe and try to use their tactics to your advantage the right way. You have priorities, if they aren't affecting them grow up and fend for yourself.
That's what mum would say, but I felt numb it was like the unfair treatment was nothing compared to her words but I had to accept that the world will never be fair. Just do what's necessary cause if you dwell on it it would affect your health all for nothing.
Hi, I feel the same as you and totally agree with it, but then my mum talked to me in a way that made me regret telling her but the shock made me feel numb after that.
let me talk to you the way my mother would.
Are you here to impress people or to study. They have their methods that work and in the real world it's worse. The point is, are you getting above average, do they lower your score and if yes and no respectively it has nothing to do with you continue doing what you're supposed to do and don't get into trouble. If you think it works observe and try to use their tactics to your advantage the right way. You have priorities, if they aren't affecting them grow up and fend for yourself.
That's what mum would say, but I felt numb it was like the unfair treatment was nothing compared to her words but I had to accept that the world will never be fair. Just do what's necessary cause if you dwell on it it would affect your health all for nothing.
😲 Your mom has her own survival strategy, and it seems so true in reality. If I feel uncomfortable somewhere, I just simply walk away—just like I did months ago, even though it meant losing a lot. But your situation and thoughtfulOwl's are completely different from mine. Although the words can be sharp, maybe finding a way to remind yourself to focus on your own life is the most important thing.
Hi,
I would like to premise this with I am not in academia, I did my BA thesis and graduated while in a different country. I did some research a while back like years ago and yes I believe that the field is full of those people.
If I were you, I would just finish what you are doing, it's too late to go back now, just finish and get your degree, you can then worry about the rest later.
If you think about it, much of life doesn't make sense anyway, you are doing what you like to do, if you were to leave, or do something differently, you can worry about it once you are "out" and it's over with. Don't question it too much, just get it done.
@thoughtfulOwl898 also if you have reached this point, very few people get to that point, you are obviously very intelligent, and that is enough to show for it. Maybe focus on people outside your industry or situation, someone who will surely appreciate you for who you are and what you have accomplished so far, even coming here to get validation could work for you
@thoughtfulOwl898
When I was in a sales job, part of my training told me that people do not really buy things, they buy the feelings that they associate with things.
People value themselves first and foremost. They hold nothing in life as more important than their feelings....even though most of them are not even aware that they think and behave this way.
When you graduate and seek a job, your actual academic skills will not come first. How you make the interview team feel, how you make the hiring manager feel....that will be the deciding factor.
People actually have a powerful tendency to DISlike those with ability. Such persons are a threat to the status quo.
Were you not required to take some mandatory courses outside of your major, for example Psychology?