I found out today that I was recognized as a Faculty Research Star at Butler University for 2019-2020. Very happy and thankful!
Margaretha Geertsema-Sligh
A blog about my professional life as a teacher and scholar
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Friday, November 13, 2020
Independent Colleges of Indiana Leadership Academy
Excited to be part of the first Leadership Academy of the Independent Colleges of Indiana. This picture was taken in March, right before the COVID shut down. Since then, we have been meeting virtually as a group. A wonderful cohort!
Monday, October 05, 2020
New Publication Alert: Media Constructions of Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp and June Steenkamp
Abstract: Almost 20 years after South Africa’s formal transition to a democracy, South Africans of all races were consumed by the murder trial of former Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, who shot his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on February 14, 2013. This article analyzes how the Times Live website in South Africa constructed identity discourse related to Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp, and her mother, June Steenkamp, from 2013 to the conclusion of his final appeal in 2018. Drawing on theories of intersectionality and news as myth, we perform a critical discourse analysis of 208 articles to illustrate how these constructions serve primarily to reassert hegemonic discourses of gender, race, class, sexuality, and ability, but also to occasionally challenge those discourses. We found that several representations conformed to established myths: Pistorius as both the Victim and Trickster, and Reeva Steenkamp as the innocent Victim. June Steenkamp was initially constructed as The Good Mother and Victim, but news coverage later presented her as a villain because of her perceived greed. We conclude that enduring news values and economic imperatives foster editorial practices that sustain existing power relations despite efforts to transform and decolonize the newsroom.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Butler University Fall Academic Workshop Focuses on Anti-Racism
Today, I attended Butler University's Virtual Fall Academic Workshop that focused on anti-racism. Several good sessions, but the highlight was the Q and A with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, moderated by Dr. Brooke Barnett of the College of Communication. Dr. Kendi argued that just as research, teaching, and service are required for promotion and tenure, diversity work should also be required. We ended the day by individually reflecting on our commitment to anti-racism through personal and professional development.