“Space invaders” revisited: counter-narratives of two (b)older south Asian female academics

Abstract

In this paper, we revisit Puwar’s concept of “space invader” as two (b)older South Asian female academics at a later stage in their professional lives. Drawing on Critical Race Theory and a counter-storytelling approach, we reflexively narrate our analysis of a series of research conversations through the catalyst of “space invader”, and how this led us to explore stages of voice across space and time. Including conversational metaphors in places, we proudly centre our mother tongue languages (Hindi and Panjabi) as we reflect through the scents of our storied memories. We discuss how our professional and community-based equity roles and experiences entwine as an embodiment of driving racial justice. We use metaphoric hooks to chart our herstories of hope as we navigate White fragility and often hostile spaces, seeking refuge in “safe” and supportive spaces as a form of collective healing through speaking, listening and simply being “ourselves”. Through our research conversations, we analyse the traumas, isolation and contentment of working at the margins of decision-making spaces, and the challenges of “trespassing” across boundaries towards the centre, where we have never really belonged, yet courageously taken the journey. “Space Invaders” revisited has required us both to analyse the painful racialised memories of our bodies, minds and souls, the visceral violence of racism, the silencing (and confident roars) of our voices, and racial battle fatigue.