Because You’re A Man

[KamaAina]

http://blog.nature.org/science/2016/03/08/because-you-are-man-speaking-diversity-science-women-justification/

The moderator turns to you, and notes that you are a man. He asks if you can talk about why it’s important to have men in conversations like this. Can you cite any studies or give us any data on what men in particular contribute to the field or the topic?...

I have never seen something like this actually happen to a Caucasian man. It sounds entirely ridiculous. But, I have seen it happen over and over to women. It’s happened to me more than once. And it happens to men and women of other under-represented groups; African-Americans, Arabs, Punjabi’s, Native Americans, Latinos, the list goes on.

No, we should not ignore the fact that racism and sexism still exist. Yes, we have to pay attention to it. We have to make an effort so that people from all groups and genders are represented in important conversations.

But once they’re there, let’s stop asking them to justify their presence. That question — what evidence do you have to prove you should be here? — undoes the good of inviting us in. I have no doubt that the question usually comes from a place of good intent. But in my experience, it disempowers what was empowered. It puts us in the spotlight, then punches us in the gut.

[PatrickforO]

1. That's pretty darned patronizing when you see it like that.

[HassleCat]

2. I think it's OK to acknowledge them.

It's perfectly fine to let women and minority persons know we value them partly because they bring a different perspective and broaden our perspectives when they participate. But asking them to explain why they are important is a little too much like asking them to justify their presence. I will, for a moment, pretend to represent all the other the traditional white males and say it's important to include different points of view and different cultural perspectives, etc. but we definitely don't want to call people out and make them feel as if they need to validate themselves.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. I have never seen anything like this.

That is to say, I have never seen any minority asked to justify their presence in a group which is trying to be inclusive. What I have seen, and, IMO, is just as disempowering, is anytime "their issue/cause" is part of a conversation they are expected to have an opinion or a response.

It's Black History Month, everyone! So what programs should we present? (all eyes turn to the one/few African-American people in the room)

A gay student was brutally attacked. How should we respond? (all eyes turn downward, but heads face the gay person in the room)

To make up for having Homecoming on Rosh Hashanah, we will be having a pig-picking next Saturday after Yom Kippur services. (No one bothers to ask anything of the only Jew in the room, they simply look to him for validation they "did good.&quot

I have personally witnessed all three examples (guess who the only Jew in the room was). It's shit like that, while seemingly inclusive, is actually anything but inclusive. I understand the fine line people walk in order to be inclusive and understanding of those different from themselves, but there also has to be an effort by non-minority people to understand if they wish to play a part, it may be the backseat role and not of their own choosing.

[Matrosov]

4. Good point. Reminds me of..

I wonder does a black cat go through more stuff than a regular cat? (all eyes toward Deon )

[Behind the Aegis]

5. YUP! That's it!

He is really funny! That is exactly what I was describing. I knew I wasn't crazy!

On a sad side note, black dogs and cats do face discrimination. Black cats are often abandoned, and during Halloween, can be hunted, maimed, even killed. As for black dogs, they are usually ignored or not chosen. There was actually an article about that on DU awhile back. I couldn't believe it!