I think the problem is that people look at the numbers and think there's a huge disparity in the work force especially when it comes to top tier companies. The thing is that the numbers have been increasing over time. The clip we watched of Leave it to Beaver shocked a lot of people I showed it to, but they were more shocked that society actually believed in that mentality. That was over 50 years ago and things have changed. The problem is that we live in a society that demands constant change and immediate gratification. When people look at the number they think, "Well this is bullshit! Why isn't there something changing?" Change always takes time. The industrial revolution, civil rights movement, or even the technological revolution we are currently living now didn't happen over night. It takes years and even decades for it to start to shift and even longer for the effects to continue to build momentum after the dust has settled.
1) Will all these changes to the work force after 10 years be more beneficial or detrimental?
2) Many people ask for equal pay/equal rights, but do you think that most people understand the problems and hardships that people have to endure to get those practices enforced. Personal experience, it creates a lot of hostility in the workplace. Especially since you just want to be recognized that you ended up getting the job for your work performance, not because you're a minority or a woman filling an HR requirement.
Hmm. Are you implying that change occurs by itself? That there's some invisible force that alters the status quo, and people basically have no say in it?
ReplyDeleteChange occurs because someone sees disparity, works to appeal that disparity to a majority and finally--*finally*--change can occur. If we all just rested on our laurels stating "Don't worry, eventually things will get better," nothing would happen. The grassroots campaigns we see today concerning anything from Affirmative Action to DOMA repeal--these are no different from the women's liberation movements of the early 1900's, or the civil rights movements of the 1950's.
I should also note that AA does NOT... repeat NOT give preference to a less competent minority. AA works as follows: Two people apply for a job with the EXACT same qualifications and abilities. At this point, the candidate could only be chosen with a coin toss. However, one is a white male, the other, a black male. The black male is chosen over the white male (for a variety of reasons, which I won't go into here). That's it. If the white guy has better spelling than his rival, or can perform some cool party trick the boss finds amusing, he gets the job, and the black guy walks. Simple as that.
I think that the next 10 years will become better, but could see some lapses in certain areas of barriers.
ReplyDelete