3 ms·

I’m not saying Racism and Sexism isn’t a terrible and real thing. They both exist and are terrible. However, I just want to highlight that many of the people

I’m not saying Racism and Sexism isn’t a terrible and real thing. They both exist and are terrible. However, I just want to highlight that many of the people you feel have an easy time fitting in, because they’re white and male, don’t. They feel just like you, but there isn’t a single obvious issue they can point at blame. They raise the same issues with HR, they get stonewalled just like you. This is often just an issue of group dynamics where there are the strong personalities and weak. If you misappropriate that as something else, you won’t find any sympathy within the group. That said, if you really are being passed up because you’re black of female, there is a problem with that and it should be sorted out. However, I often get passed up for jobs I can do better than the guy who landed it. I’ve never assumed that it’s because I’m Scottish working in London even though it probably occasionally is for that reason.

pluma 12y ago
I think the problem is that it's hard to tell which particular facet is at play here. In all likelihood her problems are at least heavily influenced by her race and gender, even if those factors are neither the base nor the entirety of it. Non-white, non-men start out from a severely disadvantaged position in our society in general and in the industry in particular. I presume this simply serves as a magnifier when it comes to the problem others (namely white men) would experience in the same situations. Plus the gender/race card is obvious for both sides (i.e. she is more likely to blame negative experiences with other people on it, but they may also be more likely to explain her behaviour with it). Consider her reservations about acting in a way that might affirm stereotypes, for example. The entire situation is so messy and taboo-laden from the get-go that it's difficult to assess what's really going on here and what the chain of events was for each individual situation, but it's empirically obvious that there is a very real problem and race/gender is a major factor. EDIT: Also remember that "race" can be a misleading term. It's often about culture and cultural biases about other cultures -- ethnicity just tends to be a handy shibboleth. As an anecdotal example: in Germany (and likely other parts of the EU too) you are often at a serious career disadvantage if you have a Polish or Eastern European accent, even if you are very good at what you do, especially if you also happen to be female (though the exact stereotypes you face might again depend on your age). It doesn't even have to be a national thing, you might also face negative stereotypes if you have a regional accent (think Eastern in Germany or Southern in the US).

pluma 12y ago

I think the problem is that it's hard to tell which particular facet is at play here. In all likelihood her problems are at least heavily influenced by her race and gender, even if those factors are neither the base nor the entirety of it. Non-white, non-men start out from a severely disadvantaged position in our society in general and in the industry in particular. I presume this simply serves as a magnifier when it comes to the problem others (namely white men) would experience in the same situations. Plus the gender/race card is obvious for both sides (i.e. she is more likely to blame negative experiences with other people on it, but they may also be more likely to explain her behaviour with it). Consider her reservations about acting in a way that might affirm stereotypes, for example. The entire situation is so messy and taboo-laden from the get-go that it's difficult to assess what's really going on here and what the chain of events was for each individual situation, but it's empirically obvious that there is a very real problem and race/gender is a major factor. EDIT: Also remember that "race" can be a misleading term. It's often about culture and cultural biases about other cultures -- ethnicity just tends to be a handy shibboleth. As an anecdotal example: in Germany (and likely other parts of the EU too) you are often at a serious career disadvantage if you have a Polish or Eastern European accent, even if you are very good at what you do, especially if you also happen to be female (though the exact stereotypes you face might again depend on your age). It doesn't even have to be a national thing, you might also face negative stereotypes if you have a regional accent (think Eastern in Germany or Southern in the US).