Teaching and Writing (as) Academic Activism

Abstract

Employing subjective experiences in academia obviously questions central academic concepts such as objectivity and value-neutrality. The article challenges these taken for granted values by reflecting on the experience of producing and disseminating scientific knowledge with personal engagement. In a dialogical style, the article argues for the relevance of “academic activism” which draws on subjective experiences as incorporated in the process of knowledge-making. Regarding both writing this article and teaching the course “Researching Social Change” the authors exemplify how scholars can practice “academic activism” to gain knowledge and become part of social change themselves.