Your writing has helped me see Sudan in more humane ways. Your writing has helped me see how valuable women are to improving the STEM field to solve problems of climate change. Your writing has helped me see a clear way to combat racism. The world needs all these aspects of you, Yassmin!
Haha part of me nods vigorously and part of is like welll… what about clean water? Hahaha. Completely sabotaging myself of course. It is - but is it a career path, vocation, or is it just something one does in amongst everything else?
The amount of “why I write” essays I’ve read, and the amount of times I heard that’s it’s important to answer that question for yourself as a writer is endless. And yet, I’ve not been able to figure it out fully, but reading this is pushing me to think further and deeply about this again. It just might help push me in the right direction of what I’m trying to write and to put out into the world. I think I best know what I *don’t* want to do through writing.
As a writer AND a midwife, I can say that not thinking about the why of it is exactly why medicine can lend itself so readily to reproducing and replicating oppression in its “care.” In this regard, providers in the medical industrial complex could learn a thing or two from writers.
Haha - you know, as I was writing this I did wonder if maybe more professions could be improved if they considered the why - a fine intervention, thank you Robina!!
Definitely was NOT thinking you should have addressed that in this piece - was just adding to what you’re interrogating here! Maybe it’s GOOD writing lends itself to these questions? At the same time when I ask myself why I write, the answer is always “because I have to.” It IS as essential as the health care I provide. So we’re reaching the same conclusion anyway. 😅
Interesting topic Yassmin. How much do you think your view on the need to be useful, a career as an identity and the worth of certain careers is down to the Australian school system?
You know, it’s funny that I rarely consider the school system as a force shaping my world view 🤭 not sure who that’s a worse reflection on - me and my ego, or the schools and their lack of impact 🤣
In all seriousness… perhaps some? I know my formal education was mostly bout what is useful for getting a job, not for learning’s sake… what do you think?
I am so heartened reading this! We share parts of the same story here…
I had this same thought of WHY engineering during my civil eng degree. There was never any qualification as to what engineering was really for in the grand scheme of who does it really serve, and certainly no explainer on questioning the brief. I learned quickly that ‘biggest pay = biggest say’ in terms of the clients and internal institutional inequality. I also had my first job as 2 months in a remote iron ore mine. I was so eager to get out on site and learn, but was kept inside on the computer while the young male engineer got to go out in the car with them. With few femmes on site, none of the men new how to treat me. I’m grateful for the experience because it sent me on a path of working for a very purposeful architect who helped me channel my activism into community organising, permaculture, ecology and sustainability consulting.
It took me 7 years after graduating to end up at an engineering firm as a climate action lead for the business, ready to help the industry become more sustainable… and I lasted 9 months before burning out. I thought a position with influence was what I needed to make change and feel good about it, but truth is my joy is found at a much smaller, slower, local scale.
Today I’m a freelancer, an artist and I show up well for my family and friends. I still think like an engineer, and love so much about what I have adapted engineering to me to me. I’m an eco-logical engineer who uses the systems of knowledge underlying engineering to serve people and planet, not developers. And I will decide how I engage with the industry in a healthy way…
I loved reading this piece thank you Yassmin. I really believe pieces like this do help women working in and around STEM. Fields like engineering need art and artists. Where I live in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia I am seeing the blending of science and art in awe inspiring ways!
You inspired me to wrote this week too so thank you. To my delight I discovered on my library audio books that I could listen to "Listen Layla." Jo & I have rediscovered it.
I think I read to see the world & you have taken me to so many places. From Summer Nats, to Sudan, to crypto!
Another incredible piece. The swimsuit image? I felt that physically! Your writing IS capital I Important... in that you share ideas and stories that can improve the world... but it's also beautiful and I think beauty has its own Capital I Importance. Humans aren't just a set of opinions, or needs. We have something in us that yearns for more, for a beyond. Beauty is one of those beyonds. Thank you for sharing it.
I loved reading this. Such a wonderful sentiment to think about what purpose Allah has in store for us. As a freelance music journalist, I don't think my work is 'important' enough to change the world to be honest *but* I do love speaking to artists about their passions. It's what keeps me motivated :)
Your writing has helped me see Sudan in more humane ways. Your writing has helped me see how valuable women are to improving the STEM field to solve problems of climate change. Your writing has helped me see a clear way to combat racism. The world needs all these aspects of you, Yassmin!
Ah, thank you @genevieve!! Appreciate you 🥹🥹🥹
This was so insightful. I read it as an IT-analyst by day writer by night, one who constantly berates myself for not writing full time.
Ah, love this! Would love to read more about your relationship to your writing practice!
When you write it improves my world :-)
🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
When has storytelling ever *not* been essential? 🙂
Haha part of me nods vigorously and part of is like welll… what about clean water? Hahaha. Completely sabotaging myself of course. It is - but is it a career path, vocation, or is it just something one does in amongst everything else?
Thank you..loved this..As a teacher approaching retirement this helped.
Shukran.
Afwan 💝💝
The amount of “why I write” essays I’ve read, and the amount of times I heard that’s it’s important to answer that question for yourself as a writer is endless. And yet, I’ve not been able to figure it out fully, but reading this is pushing me to think further and deeply about this again. It just might help push me in the right direction of what I’m trying to write and to put out into the world. I think I best know what I *don’t* want to do through writing.
It’s funny how this is a theme so of us keep coming back to! I’d love to hear more about what you don’t want to do through your writing?
As a writer AND a midwife, I can say that not thinking about the why of it is exactly why medicine can lend itself so readily to reproducing and replicating oppression in its “care.” In this regard, providers in the medical industrial complex could learn a thing or two from writers.
Haha - you know, as I was writing this I did wonder if maybe more professions could be improved if they considered the why - a fine intervention, thank you Robina!!
Definitely was NOT thinking you should have addressed that in this piece - was just adding to what you’re interrogating here! Maybe it’s GOOD writing lends itself to these questions? At the same time when I ask myself why I write, the answer is always “because I have to.” It IS as essential as the health care I provide. So we’re reaching the same conclusion anyway. 😅
Interesting topic Yassmin. How much do you think your view on the need to be useful, a career as an identity and the worth of certain careers is down to the Australian school system?
You know, it’s funny that I rarely consider the school system as a force shaping my world view 🤭 not sure who that’s a worse reflection on - me and my ego, or the schools and their lack of impact 🤣
In all seriousness… perhaps some? I know my formal education was mostly bout what is useful for getting a job, not for learning’s sake… what do you think?
I am so heartened reading this! We share parts of the same story here…
I had this same thought of WHY engineering during my civil eng degree. There was never any qualification as to what engineering was really for in the grand scheme of who does it really serve, and certainly no explainer on questioning the brief. I learned quickly that ‘biggest pay = biggest say’ in terms of the clients and internal institutional inequality. I also had my first job as 2 months in a remote iron ore mine. I was so eager to get out on site and learn, but was kept inside on the computer while the young male engineer got to go out in the car with them. With few femmes on site, none of the men new how to treat me. I’m grateful for the experience because it sent me on a path of working for a very purposeful architect who helped me channel my activism into community organising, permaculture, ecology and sustainability consulting.
It took me 7 years after graduating to end up at an engineering firm as a climate action lead for the business, ready to help the industry become more sustainable… and I lasted 9 months before burning out. I thought a position with influence was what I needed to make change and feel good about it, but truth is my joy is found at a much smaller, slower, local scale.
Today I’m a freelancer, an artist and I show up well for my family and friends. I still think like an engineer, and love so much about what I have adapted engineering to me to me. I’m an eco-logical engineer who uses the systems of knowledge underlying engineering to serve people and planet, not developers. And I will decide how I engage with the industry in a healthy way…
I loved reading this piece thank you Yassmin. I really believe pieces like this do help women working in and around STEM. Fields like engineering need art and artists. Where I live in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia I am seeing the blending of science and art in awe inspiring ways!
You write so well. Is it necessary? I think so.
In so many many many ways.
You inspired me to wrote this week too so thank you. To my delight I discovered on my library audio books that I could listen to "Listen Layla." Jo & I have rediscovered it.
I think I read to see the world & you have taken me to so many places. From Summer Nats, to Sudan, to crypto!
Another incredible piece. The swimsuit image? I felt that physically! Your writing IS capital I Important... in that you share ideas and stories that can improve the world... but it's also beautiful and I think beauty has its own Capital I Importance. Humans aren't just a set of opinions, or needs. We have something in us that yearns for more, for a beyond. Beauty is one of those beyonds. Thank you for sharing it.
I loved reading this. Such a wonderful sentiment to think about what purpose Allah has in store for us. As a freelance music journalist, I don't think my work is 'important' enough to change the world to be honest *but* I do love speaking to artists about their passions. It's what keeps me motivated :)