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All the comments so far are about the title. But I am wondering something that may be related (but not directly about the OP): is it fair to point out when some
by stefang 14y ago
All the comments so far are about the title. But I am wondering something that may be related (but not directly about the OP): is it fair to point out when some individual did indeed get a large advantage in admissions/internships/scholarships because of gender/race?
For example, at the University of Michigan, native americans / blacks / hispanics gets a 20 points boost over whites / asians / indians. This is their published policy. I feel like we shouldn't have to pretend that everyone got in based on merit, when it is clear that some genders/races get a bonus.
Apologies if this is too sensitive of an issue to discuss openly. I am from outside the United States and we do not typically have these conversations.
- tanglisha 14y agoIt is absolutely not too sensitive of an issue to discuss openly. If we can't talk about it, it just festers and creates anger. The problem with this kind of thing is the the people that got in solely on merit assume that people who fit into any of those categories got in without having any merit. This is rarely true except in the case where it is extremely difficult to find that particular set of things. When that assumption is there, people are treated differently. It's often not even on a conscious level. It's going over to help the new female that showed up at a meetup assuming she needs help getting started with Python - while ignoring the 5 new males that came in before her. It's assuming that the black woman over there got her job because who ever heard of a black coder? She probably sucks at it. Discussing it is different than dismissing someone's accomplishments because they appear to be privileged.