My Alimah journey: From isolation to empowerment

• In Event: Roundtable Session 1
  In Refereed Roundtable Session: Sharing the mist: An interdisciplinary journey of international women doctoral students

Proposal

There’s an African proverb, “if you want to go far, go alone; if you want to go further, go together”, which aptly defines my experience with Alimah International network. Whilst navigating the PhD academic journey I found myself yearning for a sense of community, support and friendship beyond my own individual program. This longing was pacified when by chance, I responded to an email invitation to join an international women’s group composed of doctoral students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines world over. In this autoethnographic piece, I explore how this interdependent and symbiotic exchange experience has shaped my journey as a woman in academia.
What struck me during my first encounter with the group was its diversity, in terms of expertise, cultural differences and the various stages in the PhD process. Rather than feel isolated, I was able to gain a more holistic understanding of this journey as well as insights on how to navigate my own, as I drew inspiration and camaraderie from my fellow group members. We were able to create a safe, reflexive space to share our wins and losses, advice and ways to navigate through challenges. This polyvocal interaction coerced a deeper reflection on how our shared narratives can change over time and have the potential to transform each one of us.
One of the most transformative elements of the group was the opportunity to engage with accomplished female academics, who served as guest speakers. Their reflections on how they navigate work-life balance, gender dynamics in the workplace and doing impactful research was eye-opening. My most memorable talk was by Dr Noro, who spoke about carrying out research that has a meaningful impact on people’s lives by going beyond academic publications. These sessions enabled me to reframe my approach to the PhD journey, and to look beyond the singular pursuit of academic accolades but consider the broader impact my work can have, especially in my own community.
Ultimately, this evocative autoethnographic piece highlights how my involvement in the Alimah international network has culminated into a space of mutual support and understanding, that fosters a sense of community, where nothing is too insignificant to discuss and that we are never alone in our struggles and successes. As we share our stories, celebrating each other's successes, and offering emotional support, we have built a powerful network of women who are committed to lifting one another up and paving the way for future generations of scholars.

Author

• Rumbidzai Winnet Nyawasha, University of Zimbabwe