3 ms·

Specifically considering race in hiring decisions, however well-intentioned, is racism. We won't get to where we want to be by skillfully and fairly applying ra

by b6 12y ago

Specifically considering race in hiring decisions, however well-intentioned, is racism. We won't get to where we want to be by skillfully and fairly applying racism -- we'll get there by not caring about race. I grew up in a rural area in the southern US where racism was common and overt. I can very honestly and sincerely say that I find this more insidious form of racism, which is so widely accepted, to be much more disturbing and frightening.

muglug 12y ago
Sure, then conduct interviews entirely blindly without mentioning any biographical information that betrays one's gender, race or social background, and that might subconsciously sway an interviewer one way or the other. Also, be sure to conduct the interviews in a society where the interviewee has been brought up on an entirely level playing field, so they have had exactly the same opportunity to formulate and achieve their goals as others with their same aptitude. Edit: see this Princeton study: http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pwb/01/0212/7b.shtml http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pwb/01/0212/7b.shtml showing a correlation between blind auditions and a dramatic shift in the gender composition of orchestras in the 70s and 80s.
jessedhillon 12y ago
You know what else -- if you find that certain frequencies in the music you're listening to are over-represented, they make these earplugs which can dampen only those frequencies. The song isn't anymore equalized coming out of the speaker, but as long as you've got your earplugs in you won't know the difference. I can very honestly and sincerely say that I find this more insidious form of racism, which is so widely accepted, to be much more disturbing and frightening. I can see why you would say that, because nobody reasonable accepts the open racism you grew up with, whereas -- if you think diversity efforts are racism and sexism -- then it seems to you that there is unspoken acceptance of race/gender-based discrimination. Consider that, a) your solution would require everyone to be ignorant of race, not just you, b) not all racism is overt and visible, or even intentional, and therefore well-meaning people can still end up perpetuating racial biases because they can't correct for what they don't see c) supposing that you, on the basis of your race, were a member of a historically empowered group -- any efforts to reverse that advantage would feel to your group like a loss of power, which is naturally against your near-term interests d) supposing again that racial biases exist and have disempowered certain groups, over time, and empowered others -- the advantages would have had a cumulative effect over generations, as this is how advantage (in terms of wealth, connections, access, transmitted/received knowledge) is often-observed to accrue. In that case simply putting on the blinders would be like dragging one runner down with a 100 lb weight for half the race, then removing the weight and simply expecting the rest of the race to be fair.

by b6 12y ago

muglug 12y ago

Sure, then conduct interviews entirely blindly without mentioning any biographical information that betrays one's gender, race or social background, and that might subconsciously sway an interviewer one way or the other. Also, be sure to conduct the interviews in a society where the interviewee has been brought up on an entirely level playing field, so they have had exactly the same opportunity to formulate and achieve their goals as others with their same aptitude. Edit: see this Princeton study: http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pwb/01/0212/7b.shtml http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pwb/01/0212/7b.shtml showing a correlation between blind auditions and a dramatic shift in the gender composition of orchestras in the 70s and 80s.

jessedhillon 12y ago

You know what else -- if you find that certain frequencies in the music you're listening to are over-represented, they make these earplugs which can dampen only those frequencies. The song isn't anymore equalized coming out of the speaker, but as long as you've got your earplugs in you won't know the difference. I can very honestly and sincerely say that I find this more insidious form of racism, which is so widely accepted, to be much more disturbing and frightening. I can see why you would say that, because nobody reasonable accepts the open racism you grew up with, whereas -- if you think diversity efforts are racism and sexism -- then it seems to you that there is unspoken acceptance of race/gender-based discrimination. Consider that, a) your solution would require everyone to be ignorant of race, not just you, b) not all racism is overt and visible, or even intentional, and therefore well-meaning people can still end up perpetuating racial biases because they can't correct for what they don't see c) supposing that you, on the basis of your race, were a member of a historically empowered group -- any efforts to reverse that advantage would feel to your group like a loss of power, which is naturally against your near-term interests d) supposing again that racial biases exist and have disempowered certain groups, over time, and empowered others -- the advantages would have had a cumulative effect over generations, as this is how advantage (in terms of wealth, connections, access, transmitted/received knowledge) is often-observed to accrue. In that case simply putting on the blinders would be like dragging one runner down with a 100 lb weight for half the race, then removing the weight and simply expecting the rest of the race to be fair.