Avital Ronell And Female Abuse Of Power

For those following the continuing avalanche of debate set off by last year’s #metoo campaign, the case of Avital Ronell is particularly notable—and vexing.

Ronell, a very well-known intellectual and professor of German and Comparative Literature at New York University, was recently accused of abuse by a male graduate student. On the surface, this may seem like it’s a flip of the traditional allegation structure on its head: powerful woman accused by disempowered man.

Many jumped to interpret the accusation as an abuse of the very system meant to prevent abusers from maintaining power—taking down a woman via the institutional tools meant to protect her. A group of scholars rose to Ronell's defense with a public letter of support.

But as details unfolded into public light, it's clear that it's like the opposite: a clear case that proves abuse can be perpetrated by anyone.

Other students of the professor have also come forward, pointing out that her mentoring methods were anything but acceptable—and that she’s not only been personally abusive in one instance with sexual content, but also racist and discriminatory in other ways. 

Andrea Long Chu wrote this intense and personal essay based on her own experience in academia, arguing that a woman’s abuse of power is certainly possible (and by all accounts Ronell is guilty of it), but that this abuse manifests itself in particular ways. For instance: in this case it depends rather on Ronell’s belief in her own victimhood, ultimately perpetuating the cycle.