I have been something of a late bloomer in both motorcycling and academics, having started both while I was in my 30s (the adage about old dogs and new tricks is, fortunately, untrue). I come by my obsession with motorcycles honestly - my father was an amatuer racer, pit crew member for the Harley Racing Team, and stunt rider on "The Wall of Death" with the James E. Straits Shows carnival during the 30s, 40's, and 50s. So much for pedigree. I've just finished my dissertation and received my PhD in Anthropology from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa, a process requiring a good bit of obsession indeed. My area of interest is North America, population of interest is motorcyclists. I'm interested in lots of things concerning motorcyclists and their machines: the political economy of motorcycle racing; neoliberalism; identity politics; gender performance; appropriation of symbolic capital and meaning on the parts of consumers, the media, and manufacturers; mass media and advertising; and youth culture, to name a few.
I've recently become very interested in gender and sports and the ways in which sporting institutions teach girls to be girls and boys to be boys. The ways in which girls and boys resist some of those teachings is even more interesting.
During the process of researching and writing my dissertation I learned how to knit. It's a lovely way to ease stress and far more pleasant than ripping one's hair out.
I currently ride a mystic red 1994 BMW K-75. I've been riding for about 10 years now and have, much to my embarrassment, discovered that all the stupid cliches are true.
Keep the shiny side up...
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