I’m starting get to get seriously angry. Now I’m not getting funded for my Texas conference because the administration doesn’t believe that it’s a serious conference that will count for my tenure. Of course, I’m already tenured but who cares about a small detail like that. Also, I would never try to use conferences to seek tenure or promotion. My CV leaves no doubt as to my very active research agenda.
The conference is very respectable. And I mean VERY. But it’s a feminist conference, so I’m guessing that is what makes it sound not good enough to attend.
I’m not angry about the money. I’m fortunate to have a good financial situation. What angers me is the complete lack of support for what everybody I know considers to be a spectacular scholarly achievement on my part.
I know I’ll get the funding eventually but it’s the attitude that is so annoying.
Clarissa's Blog 
Given Illinois’ sub- third world state government and your achievements they probably assume you only want to go to make connections in your search to relocate.
Their thinking is probably something like “Why spend money on somone who’s going out the door?”
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I think you are right. I’ve been under the suspicion of wanting to leave since I got here. Even though I didn’t want to leave.
But after 8 years of constant “well, you’ll leave anyways”, I feel like they have started to convince me.
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Yes. This suspiciously sounds like a “back door” attempt to squelch feminist criticism. Very troubling.
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It’s a really respectable conference, too. Every time, it’s attended by leading Hispanic artists who present their work. The attendees are all serious, legitimate scholars.
Seriously, can’t I be trusted to know which conferences it makes sense for me to speak at at this stage in my career? Do I look like an idiot who can’t make this decision for herself?
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No. You don’t seem like an idiot at all. And I venture to say that the administration doesn’t think so either. I’m sure they know the conference is legitimate. This sounds like a maneuver from a cultural conservative standpoint but masked in concern for academic legitimacy.
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Yes, they did it because it is a feminist conference.
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I’m going to campus today to yell at them. Freaks.
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