From navigating the complexities of growing up in Greenville, South Carolina, to pursuing an academic journey shaped by passion and resistance, Emily Pyle is bringing critical conversations to the WGSS program at Georgia State. With a background in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Politics, Emily’s research focuses on queer activism in the U.S. South, the intersections of space and place, and the impact of local policies on LGBTQ+ communities.
In this Q&A, Emily shares her inspirations, favorite classes, and how her research and teaching experiences are shaping her academic and professional path. She also talks about her love for music, gardening, and the ways theory meets practice in her work.
Introduction
- Can you tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to pursue a master’s in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies?
I’m originally from Greenville, South Carolina, which is a place I have a complicated relationship with. I grew up in a very conservative, anti-queer church, and this, coupled with several anti-queer actions taken by my local government, eventually made me so mad that I decided to get by B.A. in Gender and Sexuality Studies as well as in Politics. Ultimately, I think I do a lot of things out of spite, which I think is a great reason to do most things. When I wrote my undergraduate thesis about queer activism in the U.S. South, inspired by my past experiences with my hometown, I realized that I wanted to keep doing this kind of research on a larger scale. This is what led me to pursue a Master’s in WGSS, and I especially wanted to come back down South, which is why I decided to come to Georgia State!
Classes
- What has been your favorite class so far, and why?
It’s definitely hard to choose one favorite class, but I think I would have to go with my Feminism and Queer Theory class I took in the fall with Dr. Kubala. Especially as I start thinking about my thesis, theory is something I find really interesting because it challenges us to think differently about how, what, and why we study what we study!
- Is there a particular topic or reading that has inspired or challenged you in your studies?
The idea of queer anti-urbanism and metronormativity has interested me for a while, especially with regards to how these ideas can be applied to works about the U.S. South. It can be incredibly frustrating to hear and read about how non-urban spaces are presented as inherently backward, and the same is true about the U.S. South – this is why the intersection of these ideas are so intriguing. Interrelatedly, I’ve also been thinking a lot about the relationship between space and place, especially in regard to how these are studied historically and/or archivally and how these methodologies can also lead us to think about the future.
Research
- What research areas or themes are you most passionate about exploring during your time in the program?
As we’re located in the U.S. South, I’m excited to explore in greater detail how the wide and interdisciplinary field of WGSS addresses concerns that are specific to and/or augmented within this area. Because the U.S. South is directly related to my research, I’m so glad to have the opportunity to participate in related programming like the WGS South conference! I’m also interested in learning more about transnational feminisms, especially the relationship between the Global South and the U.S. South, and the role transnational frameworks play in building resistance movements.
- Do you have a specific project or thesis idea in mind? If so, could you share a bit about it?
My thesis research investigates the impact of measures that attempt to police “non-normative” expressions of gender and sexuality enacted by local governing bodies in the U.S. South. This project is in some ways an extension of my undergraduate thesis research in that it is also a local case study of Greenville County, South Carolina and the actions of its governing bodies. As it currently stands, I’ll be using two categories of actions greenlit by Greenville County Council – a 1996 “Pro-Family” (or “Anti-Gay,” depending on who you ask) non-binding policy resolution that was dissolved in 2020 and recent censorship policies enacted by the Greenville County Library Board since 2022 – as a means of investigating how measures passed by local governing bodies, especially in the context of the U.S. South, impact local queer organizing and community formation.
GRA Work
- Can you tell us about your work as a Graduate Research Assistant? What kinds of projects or tasks have you been involved in?
For the last two semesters, I’ve been working as a GTA for Dr. Daniel McCarthy-Howard's online Intro to WGSS course, and I’ve recently started as a GTA for Dr. Marian Higgins’ WomenLead in Business course. In Dr. McCarthy-Howard's course, I’ve learned about the pedagogy and structuring that goes into teaching a class as loaded as Intro to WGSS. I was able to teach my first solo lecture this past fall and am gearing up to prepare another to give this spring, so this position has been paramount in helping me think about teaching my own Intro section this fall. Because it’s an in-person format, Dr. Higgins’ course has also given me more opportunities to connect with students on an individual level. This has been an engaging experience so far, because I’m the only WGSS-affiliated person in the course. Through my position, I hope to offer students insight into how a WGSS-focus can enhance their experiences in leadership development, regardless of how they identify.
- How has your GRA experience contributed to your academic and professional development?
My experiences thus far have given me several things to think about as I develop my own research and teaching philosophies. From engaging with course materials and grading all kinds of assignments from almost 100 students so far, I’ve reflected a lot on the role accessibility plays in student (and instructor) success. This is certainly a quality that I want to center in my teaching, but it’s also something that I want to include in my research, which is largely community-centric. In cases in which I’ve taught a solo lecture, or even just served as in-person course support, I realized how important it is not to reinforce harmful power dynamics that are a barrier to learning!
Other Activities
- Are you involved in any student organizations, community initiatives, or department events?
Most of my involvement stems from here in WGSS. I have the wonderful opportunity to help out as a Communications Fellow, so I get to promote the exciting events that we host in WGSS and the work that we do. Even when I’m not working, I love attending the events that we have, which are always engaging and thought-provoking. Something I also like to do, especially this semester, is be involved in our Fika and Coworking meetings. My course schedule last semester allowed me to catch the last half of our Fika meetings, so it’s nice to be able to take a full break with everyone this semester and have some great conversations. On a larger scale, much of my research centers of queer histories and activisms in South Carolina, so like to stay connected with SC United for Justice and Equality, which is a coalition of queer organizations that mobilize on a variety of different issues. I actually used to work for one of the coalition members, AFFA Action, last year and even being able to follow their work from across state lines (an arbitrary designation anyways) is something that brings me a lot of joy.
- How do you see these extracurricular activities complementing your academic work?
I think these activities help manifest theory into practice – something emphasized heavily in WGSS – for me. This is especially helpful as I start to explore academic writing outside of assignments for school, like my thesis work or conference work. Producing work that is accessible and relevant, and not just feeding your own personal interests, is something that has come up several times throughout my time in the program, and being engaged in activities outside coursework has helped me theorize what that might look like in my own projects.
Personal Interests
- When you're not studying or working, how do you like to spend your time? Any hobbies, creative pursuits, or favorite ways to unwind?
Music is a big hobby for me. I recently got a record player, so I’ve been experimenting with collecting records from some of my favorite artists. Concerts are also one of my absolute favorite things, and living in Atlanta has been excellent for this! I’ve also gotten into gardening, which is a nice way to feel more relaxed and connected to nature. I got my seeds from a free seed library, so it can be relatively inexpensive and rewarding. I grew a really, really big cilantro plant last year, so I’m still riding that high.
- Is there a book, film, or piece of art that has influenced you in your academic journey or personal life?
The music of Chappell Roan actually was a huge part of my journey into WGSS a few years ago. I was at NYU getting my Politics degree when I realized I wanted to double-major in Gender and Sexuality Studies and truly pursue that as a career. I remember walking to my first class when her song “Femininomenon” came out in 2022, and seeing her work as an out lesbian drag artist was so, so inspiring. Not to be parasocial, but seeing her develop her now iconic persona let me to more fully express aspects of my own queerness that, even though I was living in Manhattan at the time, still felt scary to me. Her commitment to local queer communities, particularly through using local drag artists as her concert openers, reflects much of what I want to do in my own work, and her reclaiming of country iconography stands out as something deeply powerful to me.
Department-Specific Questions
- What surprised you most about the WGSS department after joining the program?
As a first-time graduate student, I really didn’t know what to expect when I started my first semester here. Coming to this program just a year after completing my undergraduate degree, I was surprised and excited to have conversations with faculty about our shared research interests and really just be spoken to as another scholar, albeit a baby one, in the field. Everyone in this department, and several of our affiliate faculty, have been instrumental in helping me develop what it is I want to do with this degree.
- What do you enjoy most about being part of the WGSS community?
Being in this community is certainly a privilege. I love having the opportunity to learn about what we’re all studying, teaching, and enacting. This community provides an excellent space to talk through not only the pressing structural issues that this work addresses but also the current developments facing us as individuals and scholars. As someone who didn’t have these kinds of spaces growing up, it really does mean a lot to me.
- What would you say to prospective students considering this program?
I would say put that application in! For me, the application process was the biggest hurdle for me, mostly because I really hate applications of any kind, but it was well worth it. This program has been amazing experience, and I’ve learned an incredible amount so far. The people in the WGSS community are incredible resources for supporting, and also challenging, your goals as a scholar. The courses this program offers are varied and engaging, and they importantly engage other departments to honor the interdisciplinary nature of the field of WGSS. The community you form with your cohort is strong, and especially in this moment, that’s a powerful thing.
Looking Forward
- What are your goals for the rest of your time in the program, and what are you hoping to achieve after graduation?
Right now, several of my goals are centered around developing a successful thesis and preparing to teach my own section of the Intro course. Through these two projects, I want to keep the focus centered around fostering community and doing work that is accessible. To that end, I hope to apply to WGSS PhD programs this coming fall so I can continue my research and meet new people in the community. I enjoy the opportunities that academia presents, so I aim to continue in this industry as long as possible. As things progress politically, however, I’m aware that this might not be feasible, so, at the very least, I want my future work to involve studying, navigating, and advocating queer community within the U.S. South, whatever that may look like.