4 ms·
I think it is a matter of perceived status. Whenever I see complaint about lack of diversity in some field, it is something that is not only white-male dominate
by wrp 5y ago
I think it is a matter of perceived status. Whenever I see complaint about lack of diversity in some field, it is something that is not only white-male dominated but also high status relative to similar endeavors. People who want to increase representation in higher status areas are trying to improve the perceived status of their cultural group. A type that I encounter is persons of some demographic who want to see greater presence of their kind in areas like the sciences or classical music, but who themselves have no interest in those things. For them, it is not at all about labor economics.
- mbrodersen 5y agoYep exactly.
- adolph 5y agoI think this line of thought could fruitfully develop. It is inline with Chris Aranade’s theory of dignity changes in the US. There is a great Econtalk interview about it: https://www.econtalk.org/chris-arnade-on-dignity/ https://www.econtalk.org/chris-arnade-on-dignity/ Photographer, author, and former Wall St. trader Chris Arnade talks about his book, Dignity, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Arnade quit his Wall Street trading job and criss-crossed America photographing and getting to know the addicted and homeless who struggle to find work and struggle to survive. The conversation centers on what Arnade learned about Americans and about himself.
- throwaway894345 5y ago> People who want to increase representation in higher status areas are trying to improve the perceived status of their cultural group. If status here means “respect” rather than “wealth”, there are precious few groups with lower status than that of white males these days. At least in many places, “white male” is practically a slur.