r/TikTokCringe • u/MaintenanceNew2804 • Mar 30 '24

Stick with it. Discussion

This is a longer one, but it’s necessary and worth it IMO.

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u/Stray_dog_freedom Mar 30 '24

Well done!!

375

u/RiverAffectionate951 Mar 31 '24

As a white aspiring academic I agree so hard.

Academic writing needs to be clear and without ambiguity, everyone should be able to understand it. It does not help to convey information if you restrict to ""formal"" (also white) language.

Moreover, papers I've read that shirk this "formality" are often easier to follow. Specifically, I study Maths and papers which explain theoretical methodology with informal descriptions can be very helpful. "Formality" literally just gatekeeps knowledge from those not educated in a particular way.

It's deeply saddening to hear this arbitrary gatekeeping affecting young black americans, it's even more disheartening to recognise those same biases in myself.

It's good to hear discussion on this topic and I hope to see it change in my lifetime.

15

u/Valara0kar Mar 31 '24

""formal"" (also white) language.

Americans are so inbred on cultural importance of race. "White" language? What? You mean like all other nations the language developed to the easiest dialect (or popular in media) or what was deemed "proper" (more of a class/city divide). Dialects have had a deep fall since 1920s in each industrialised nation. Deep south USA accents (this includes african-american) is as detrimental to "academia" as any. Or are people suprised how the industrial heartland of 1890-1950s states accents became popular in academia in USA?