New Diversity Criteria for Admission...what to make of that?

Sheri257 · Feb 18, 2004

Lizz, I can say the same exact thing. As a Black women, AA has never helped me. So is that supposed to prove a point or something? Don't base everything on your personal experiences. Believe it or not the world is bigger than just you. Just because you haven't seen it, doesn't make it untrue. Besides, people see what they want to see. IF you see a white woman hired you assume she's the best fit for the job. If you see a black person hired, you assume AA. Because God knows there is no way on this earth that a black person could have been the best fit for the job. It cracks me up when all of you say you've been passed over due to race, like you were privy to that black person's resume. Maybe they were looking for a minority and it just so happened that minority was a better fit than you, graduated from a better school than you, had a better GPA than you, had more experience than you, was more charismatic than you. WOW, imagine that. Have you ever considered that the person who gave you that inside info, "Sorry girl, you know that had to pick a black person," didn't want to destroy your ego.
My point still stands, white women have historically been the biggest benefactors of Affirmative action.

There's no need to be insulting. That was my experience. Why should it be dismissed on that basis?

You really think the company cared about my ego? I find that laughable. If I wasn't going to get the job and wasn't going to work there, why would they care about me at all? Much less my ego? I was history at that point.

The guy had little experience. I had ten years worth. Other people wanted to hire me but were overruled because of AA. And, a year later I was told that they were unhappy with his performance but, of course, they weren't going to anything about it because of AA.

Would they really be concerned about feeding my ego a year later?I really don't care about it anymore, because I ended up finding a better job. But you seem to missing the original point of the post.

If there is a perception that AA is geared more towards blacks, rather than white women, examples like this might explain those perceptions.

Soonstudent · Feb 18, 2004

Aren't women in the military judged by different physical standards than the men?

The Milltary is unique. They can and do discriminate on such issues as gender, age, height, weight, phisical abillity and sexuallity. Although as stated earlier, not race or ethnic backround. Everybody wears green.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Feb 18, 2004

The Milltary is unique. They can and do discriminate on such issues as gender, age, height, weight, phisical abillity and sexuallity. Although as stated earlier, not race or ethnic backround. Everybody wears green.

Actually, that is not true at all. My husband was turned down for flight school back in 94 and 95 even though his packet was absolutely perfect! He had extremely high scores, but other people did get in because of their race even though they had much lower scores. These were people dh worked with and when they compared scores they realized that even though the minoritis had lower scores they got in when my husband didn't. The other guys went to the same boards at the same time as my husband. The other guys felt embarrased and bad for my husband because they knew my husband was actually more qualified, but, what can you do? My husband wanted to be an apache pilot his whole life, now when the military really needs more pilots, my husband is too old to even go to the boards anymore. Sad.

alexillytom · Feb 18, 2004

Well, I must say bias in the military swings both ways. My husband is a reservist and a civillian DOD employee. He has constantly been turned down for a promotions. It has never been questioned that he was by far the most educated and experienced person in his shop. He always has exceptional performance reviews and has even had his share of incentive awards. Yet, whenever the BIG promotions come, he is constantly passed over for an older, white man. They would rather hire a janitor from east jablip to give the promotion/raise to than a young and educated black man with documented leadership skills. When his boss was activated, he left the paperwork in place for my husband to take over. Everyone was so excited for him, yet again, they decided an older white man should have the job. Well, this gentleman is a friend of ours and declined the position telling them my husband was more qualified. He was told if he didn't take it then they would just find someone else. He didn't want to ruin his personal and work relationship with my husband so he declined again. Also, he said he was too darn old to deal with the headaches of being in charge. They did indeed "find" another older white man.

I was offered a position, sight unseen, because my name sounded Jewish. When I walked in and introduced myself my boss said, "What is a girl like you, doing with such a Jewish name?"

Honestly people, we don't live in a world where there is such a thing as equal or colorblind. It is somewhat idealistic to think that two people, all things equal besides color, applying for the same job, at a company which is most likely owned by a white person, will be judged the same. Given the same criteria, two people of equal footing, except race, applying at a black owned company will not be judged the same. Unfortunately, the people that are doing the hiring are flawed, with their own set of biases. While I would concur that AA is flawed, it or something similar, will be needed until we do live in a colorblind society. Which we all know is a long way from becoming a reality.

:crying2:

sabine_rn · Feb 19, 2004

Maybe this is not a race issue, but rather a life experience one...

Maybe they are looking for people who have certain qualities that would enrich their program?

You might not think you are more than the middle aged white female, but how about this: do you volunteer? play an instrument? paint? have a special needs child/ relative? speak other languages? lived overseas? etc.... that could mean diversity as well.

See, I'm married and my husband is black. He like many other Americans(!) who happen to be black dislike so called "laws" very much. I am not trying to sound political, really. But to me personally, this is just another sneaky way of keeping people divided and angry at each other.

I would call admissions and ask them specifically what the term "diversity" means---to them.

Best of luck to you

wt2001 · Jan 23, 2006

If the quotas were in effect when I was accepted to the nursing program then I would not have been the only minority in a class of 40. Also I work in a LTC facility at the present time and guess what, there are only 3 minority nurses, and 3 CNA's in the whole facility. This facility is owned by a hospital with at least 1000 employees and I guess the 20 of us were just so lucky to have a job. Most caucasians believe that minorities are all stupid and must have their test scores or qualifications based on a different standard. There are some of us who are very intelligent and can have a decent conversation. We are not all trying to pull something to try and get ahead in life. All of us don't wear our pants sagging and say what's up homey or homes. I have worked hard to get the place in my life. And yes some of us were raised by both parents and were spoiled and not living in the slums. I guess I'm just messed up all the way around because my racial background is Cuban/Nigerian=father and caucasian/Mexican/Sioux Indian. So what are my chances of succeeding based on my diverse background. The nursing school that I attended used diversity to weed out the little young chickens that were only thinking about what to wear to the kegger on Friday night, or to admit the much needed male applicant. I am really sorry if I got off the subject but I just had to vent.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jan 24, 2006

Wow!! All I can is this post makes me rather glad that the community college here in town goes on a first-come, first-served basis. Your name goes on a list once you pass the minimum prereqs, and you get a letter when your name is next up.

It does seem a shame, having just celebrate MLK Day, that all these years later we are still dealing with this issue at all.

Lambert5883 · Jan 25, 2006

WOW, wouldn't it be nice if people were chosen for a PROFESSIONAL career on their credentials, not color? Seems like this "diversity" creates discrimination, rather than prevents it.

I do not think that term "diversity" should be construed as a vehicle for which racial discrimination, in any setting, is potentialy thwarted. Rather, it is a term that is meant to reflect our country's demographics -- including all the flaws and idiosyncrasies found therein.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 25, 2006

Seems like this "diversity" creates discrimination, rather than prevents it.

Completely agree.

Lambert5883 · Jan 26, 2006

Completely agree.

Diversity is responsible for discrimination? We are responsible for discrimination -- our thoughts and actions.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 26, 2006

Diversity is responsible for discrimination? We are responsible for discrimination -- our thoughts and actions.

(Sigh) The decisions that are based on diversity, for example, in school admission, instead of qualifications.

:nono:

Lambert5883 · Jan 26, 2006

(Sigh) The decisions that are based on diversity, for example, in school admission, instead of qualifications.

So what you are in agreement with is its (diversity) implementation, in how it is acheived in certain settings, and that in its application, it is inherently discriminatory against certain groups -- I agree, too, on that point.

But, the assertion that "diversity causes discrimination, instead of preventing it" is somewhat skewed because the goal of acheiving diversity is not to prevent discrimination. I would argue that the goal is not only to reflect a snapshot of American demographics, but to empower a class of citizens in an attempt to create a sprawling middle-class infrastructure.