Has diversity gone too far?

Question

I'm all for equality but I swear I think the race/ sex card is played way too often. You don't see a white Miss America contest every year. We don't offer scholarships for whites only or even have a recognized whites only organization in support of whites college fund. When will the debt be paid. I have actually been turned down for jobs because I was neither a minority or a female. I can't get a scholarship. Can't we all just get along.

I have several friends in management who have told me they have to maintain diversity regardles of someones experience. I have been told by 2 people after interviews (friends of friends) that they could not hire me because they had %'s to meet. A colored friend and I applied for the same job. I had a little more experience but everything else was equal. We even talked about it. Guess who got the job. Hint: Not me. A group of us were taking classes. About 1/2 boy/girl/ even minority mix. Guess who got the scholarship money. I think our station in life is a result of the choices we make not the situations we're in. I think there was a time it was needed but believe it is now being abused. Alot of groups make a living keeping it alive.

Answer 1

Groups that haven't had their rights compromised by society often negatively perceive the mechanisms used by marginalized groups to get equality. It's understandable given that the mechanisms seem to be fostering a kind of specialness. However, when we look at them a little more closely, these mechanisms are born from the reality of inequality and are necessary until that inequality is resolved. Therefore, it would be ludicrous for the non-marginalized groups to demand that these same mechanisms apply to them (e.g. a white college fund, a white-rights promotion group). Why? Because the whole point is that the society doesn't compromise the rights of the privileged group. With that said, because all of these things are human institutions, there will be cases where the mechanisms fail. With respect to your experiences, we need to make sure that we analyze our thoughts and perceptions because our natural tendency as humans is to project responsibility outward and to see ourselves as victimized. I'm not saying this is the case in your specific experiences but, given that it's a universal dynamic, it would be a positive exercise to investigate this in yourself.

Answer 2

The main reason that non-whites and female groups started their own organizations, scholarship funds and contests is because they were all being left out for the most part - even after the Equal Rights Amendment. Even though laws were in place to include blacks, there were still businesses that would serve whites only by making them private enterprises, and blacks were notoriously turned away from the polls if they were unable to pay the poll tax or were unable answer qualifying questions - and this was in my lifetime. The first Miss America that was black was chosen in my daughter's lifetime. So why would you need to have white only organizations? There is a white privilege that gives you that.

Do you honestly believe that you were turned down because you were neither a minority nor female? Are you saying that it is not possible that a minority or a female could have more education and be more qualified than you? That sounds racist in and of itself. It's a shame that we have to have Affirmative Action and diversity policies in effect. It's sad that people have to be told to be fair and honest when hiring or awarding scholarships. It's sad that people just don't take heed to the constitution as it is written (all men are created equal) and act accordingly. It's even more sad that when steps are taken to put people on a more level playing field, there are those fueling the fire by screaming reverse discrimination.

I tested for a city government job a few years ago, I got the highest test score, I had seven years experience in the same position in a city with four times the population and didn't even get an interview. I asked for an explanation, and was given the runaround. When the postion came open again, testing was no longer required. I did get interviewed this time, but still didn't get the job. I'm a female and non-white. Shouldn't I have gotten the job by your assessment of the situation?

Answer 3

I highly doubt you lost out on jobs because you're a white male. When hiring, you choose the person who is best for the job. If two people are equally qualified for a job, but one is white and the other is a minority, a lot of times the minority will win out. But if you have an uneducated gay man or a black woman who's background is in law and she's going for a teaching job...the person who has the experience gets the job. And besides that, get a grip. I work in a really diverse environment, but if you REALLY look, it's all white people who are in management positions. And women don't make as much as men...I've seen it with my own eyes. So there's a reason equality is still being pushed...because we aren't there yet.

Answer 4

As the majority race, I'd expect most of you to say, ofcourse, diversity has gone too far.
All it takes is another big race discrimination story to hit the media of a group of old white guys actively conspiring to disallow minorities raises, promotions etc. and most of you will become suddenly quiet with little opinion.
Here's how I view it.

Jim Crow was in place from aproximately 1868 to 1968, thats 100 years of disallowing blacks from equal rights and the ability to compete fairly with whites. Now, blacks have had AA and othe civil rights for approx 28 years, the way I see it blacks are entitled to Equal Opportunity programs for at least another 50 years. That's fair! After those 50 years are up, I say do away with Affirmative action, and diverisity programs all together.

Answer 5

Sorry to say I have to agree. My dad was a horrible racist and I never took the kids to visit him very often because of that. But the older I get I must admit that some of his views are starting to come to light. (items you mentioned above)

Recently (in Fort Wayne, Indiana) Wal Mart opened a new store in a predominately black neighborhood and the black leaders had a big whoop-la over the fact that the new store was discriminating because they did not have self check out lanes and lay-a-way. Hmmm, Many of the Wally stores I have visited don't have self check lanes and Wal-mart announced that NONE of their stores will be having lay-a-way. Rather than checking on the facts they automatically ASSUMED that they were being discriminated against and played the racial card.

I used to work in a Federal Office building and through their affirmative action programs they have (in recent years) hired several women and minorities that have no clue what they are doing but they get promoted to hide their shortcomings. In the past the government had hired many VERY GOOD women and minorities that I would trade an arm to be as good at my job as they were. They were (still are) a great asset to the system. The workers that they have hired recently are often the "bottom of the barrel" due to higher pay scales in the private sector luring away the better candidates.

One recently hired engineer was so clueless that the office he managed was at a literal standstill due to his ineptness. They told him to shape up or ship out and guess what... He played the "I am a minority and I will sue you for descrimination if you fire me. Took 6 months of painful documentation to prove the he was the problem and then they gave him a "sideways promotion" to another position, same pay, etc. To prevent being sued.

A college in Southern Michigan was sued for not admitting enough minorities. They had to lower their standards for the entrance requirements (SAT's, etc.) to let more entrants in. They got SUED by several students that did not get admitted but had higher entrance exam scores but were not the "right color" Hmmm, sorry to say, these types of "reverse descrimination" cases do happen. (the students won)

I agree that it is high time that somebody straightens out this country to the fact that we are AMERICANS regardless of color. You can celebrate your heritage any way you want but this "hyphenated american" crap needs to stop. Along with ANY organization that promotes the racial hook of their programs.

Answer 6

Yes. We have a clear case of reverse discrimination in the United States.

As a recent grad, I am familiar with the college admissions issue. Schools wish to lay claim to a diverse student body. Preference is given to minorities to the extent that very bright and ambitious students are overlooked in favor of minorities. This is a problem for all in the end: the minority graduate is likely to be less qualified (we have lower expectations for minorities), and the ambitious student's potential is not challenged.

As a minority, you wouldn't want others thinking, "He got in because he's a minority," or "She's a minority; if she weren't a minority, she might not have been accepted here"?

Answer 7

I think that both the race/sex card is played too often, like you said. I'm a woman, yet I still hear too many women saying "Well we didn't get to vote until 1920" or minorities saying "we were your slaves!"

I understand history. I understand the civil and women's rights. I really do.

However, I think that some people lean over too far to protect from being sued. It's sad that we've come to this point.

I think we all need to go into a career or college or LIFE with a clean slate. Why do we NEED to discriminate per race or sex?

I saw we need to get over our past and move on to the future.

Answer 8

listen I am a black female....I was born in the carribean and I dont know too much about my history except that blacks were once slaves..unfortunately I wasnt brought up to hate others or when loving someone to look at the color of their skin..I love everyone equally...until I get to know you.. thats when I may judge you..I really wish that we could all get along..and start loving each other..it is sad because still today there are alot of hatred aaginst black people....it just seems like the past cant be let go..for example look what happen with kramer...he insulted those blacks folks and now regrets it..it just goes to show you that even years later..when people look at blacks today..we are still looked at as a n*gger..I really hate that word and I think that it should NOT be used.
God has done a wonderful job with me and for that I am proud of the person I am ..and that is someone who loves others regardless of the color of their skin..etc..
I want us as a nation to unite and help others..we pull through when there is a crisis..example...9/11, breast cancer walk, when oprah gave that challenge about "pay it forward" giving a $1,000 to a stranger..white help blacks, black help whites, blacks help hispanic, and both color help those in need and thats how it should be..one nation under god.

Answer 9

I do agree that all of us have lengthy gone computing gadget mad... we'd want to continually have guidelines that take care of individualism of direction, and help those in favor, provide protect to those who deserve it... yet we also might want to keep in mind that a usa is provided on solidarity and that even to opt for politicians the majority continually wins... i'm portuguese and that i stay contained in the united kingdom. I hate it even as human beings say we purely got here to stay of reward even as i'm operating my *** off; then some portuguese come to me and ask (because I artwork with the community and native authorities) how can they get the optimal reward... I hate that aswell. on the different hand that's purely like generalised racism, Brits do this besides. i comprehend of persons who were elevating in households the position they father and mother by no ability worked, were given which includes someone interior a similar subject even as they were 18 or perhaps previously and are both on the dole with 3 youngsters because it truly is how the gadget works... they wanting to go away college because they knew they might get reward and does no longer favor to artwork because no human being would employ them besides... so yeah, poles and portuguese were needed contained in the rustic to %. the potatoes and the cabbages, because there became no else doing it. Now that we are in recession each and every ones seems to say i will take any interest... they did not previously... we favor to re-educate the brits and be a lot extra strict on migrats coming over and getting reward stragiht away. and by no ability purely from outdoors the EEa, yet to boot from interior... the rule of thumb is typical: Get off your bottom and earn your meal.

Answer 10

No diversity has not gone too far.

Segregation was less than a generation away.

Even then, how do you think those who lived entire lives oppressed felt? Not having a personal hope is one thing but to not have hope for your children is tragic.

In the time that we are living now the scales are probably tipped a little bit but realize that none of your civil liberties has been effected.