Seeing Ourselves
Lili Kastiher: Writing in Auschwitz as a Metaphysical Revenge
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Lily Zamir
Lili Kasticher wrote at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp from April to November 1944. The possession of a piece of paper or a pencil stub was absolutely forbidden in Bireknau. Anyone caught with such contraband was immediately sentenced to death. Consequently, inmates at Auschwitz produced virtually no written material, with rare exceptions, such as the "Sonderkommandos," who documented everyday life at the camp, in the hope that someone would find them after the war, as indeed occurred. Jewish inmates were ordered by the Germans to write postcards to their relatives, describing the "decent" living conditions prevailing in their "new place." No women are known to have written at Birkenau except for Lili Kasticher, who risked her life by stealing pieces of paper and pencil stubs to write poetry. She encouraged her friends to do the same by offering them a prize, a portion of her daily rations. Lili also wrote a political-social manifesto entitled "Rules of Behavior," intended as a guide to survival for herself and her blockmates, understanding the power of these writings as a means of rebellion and metaphysical revenge. The notes she wrote were concealed on her body until her liberation in spring 1945.
Professional Identity of Seafarers: The Balance of Substantive and Situational Selves and the Interplay with Imposter Syndrome
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Carina Buckley, Mark Bee
The concept of professional identity, while complex, provides a framework for professionals to construct their own ideas of how to be, how to act, and how to understand their work and place in society, through the interplay of their substantive and situational selves. This research explores how seafarers express and negotiate their professional identity within both a professional community and a hierarchical organisational culture. Although much work has been done on the role of communities of practice and professional identity in education and medicine, little has been applied to the maritime industry. A local exploratory case study approach, using interpretive inquiry, was adopted to develop understanding of this socio-cultural phenomenon. Data were analysed using an inductive, thematic approach. Of particular note to this study was the interaction of imposter syndrome and professional identity, and the implications for professional development. As a result of this study, a theoretical model was constructed to develop an advanced understanding of the concordance between role and self. Despite being a small scale study, the model has resonance and transferability to similar groups as they negotiate their professional identity in changing and demanding roles.
