Perhaps Robert George really did intend to write an article that would describe the Well-Lived Life of Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, but the result leaves a sour taste in my mouth somehow. It misses something central about her.
Yes, she made a political turn into more conservative terrain. I’m not sure that everyone was so angry about it as the article would suggest. There is a wide spectrum of opinion about issues like abortion, gender relations, marriage, work life, and so on – even on the left. It seemed to me that the situation was a little more complicated.
I went to graduate school at Emory, but I never worked with Dr. Fox-Genovese, so my comments are based more on second-hand accounts from other students and faculty than on my own experiences (more’s the pity). Still, I got a very strong impression of her.
One of my best friends in the Emory community has worked for years on women’s issues. She is what I think of a real activist, not an armchair activist like myself. She doesn’t agree with Betsey on many of these issues, but she admires her a great deal and considers her a real friend. Their ongoing conversation on these issues has been valuable – and enjoyable! – for both of them.
Why is Professor Fox-Genovese so admired and respected? Certainly not because of some kind of dripping piety or even solely because of her take on what are very controversial issues. To imply that she was worshiped as some sort of a mommy-figure by orphan-like pits of need misrepresents the reality. She didn’t treat her students as children, but as younger peers. It makes a difference to be treated with respect. She stood up for and supported her students, even if they didn’t agree with her on specific issues. Unlike some others, she didn’t make a secret list of students to be rewarded or punished depending on whether or not they would become clones of herself. She didn’t infantilize anyone – she challenged and supported them. She respected individual curiosity and talent, and teaching was everything to her. She was an educator, in the best sense of the word.
She has a solid reputation as a scholar. No-one could fail to observe her intelligence and her passion, her willingness to engage in conversation and argument. I find it unusual and interesting that she had a willingness to reassess what she found important and worthy of analysis. Not everyone has that courage, flexibility and sense of integrity.
She continued to make every effort to come in and teach, despite her increasing frailty. She had great stories to tell. By all accounts, she had an amazing relationship with her husband. She had flair. She had grace.
I’m sorry that I didn’t get to know her better. I suspect we might have found some common ground somewhere.
Rest in peace, Professor Elizabeth Fox-Genovese.
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