At the moment I am trying to find suitable employment and have applied for quite a few jobs online over the past few months, so many that I have lost track. However one application yesterday was quite memorable in that it asked me for my sexual orientation and my race. I am not sure what element of sexuality qualifies me for a role as Business Development Manager at a Housing Association, and if my race (White British) disqualifies me from carrying out any specific task?Whilst I am sure that the reason they ask these questions is for statistical purposes, I am disappointed that organisations, even pre-employment, are using these questions to demonstrate to the world that they are an "Equal Opportunities Employer." Why? Because as always, operating within the letter of the law can be vastly different from operating within the spirit of the law, which demonstrates ones motives for doing something. I am a firm believer in positive action to redress a gender or race balance within an organisation, but this is so that an organisation correctly represents the society in which it operates. Its not about targets, or what can one demonstrate to the world, it is how the people we interact with are treated, and ensuring that people are treated equitably.
Further, if I am a suitably qualified ethnic minority candidate or someone from the LGBT community (I apologise if it is offensive to call it a community) wouldn't I be offended to think that someone employed me because of my race or gender and not because of my skills, qualifications and experience? By doing this am I not guilty of patronising those minorities society is trying to help? I can't answer this because as a WMCHM (White, Middle-class, Heterosexual Male), particularly one in middle-age, I am definitely not suitably qualified to do so.
Jesus taught us to, 'love our neighbour as ourselves' (Mark 12:31 et al) echoing the commandment given by God on Mount Sinai. Paul elaborated on this when he taught in Galatians 3:28 that, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Whilst redressing the inequality in society we also need to set our gender and race clocks to neutral, in the (edited) words of Morgan Freeman the answer to ending racism is, "I'm going to stop calling you white, and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me black."
Jesus taught us to, 'love our neighbour as ourselves' (Mark 12:31 et al) echoing the commandment given by God on Mount Sinai. Paul elaborated on this when he taught in Galatians 3:28 that, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Whilst redressing the inequality in society we also need to set our gender and race clocks to neutral, in the (edited) words of Morgan Freeman the answer to ending racism is, "I'm going to stop calling you white, and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me black."
I think that the more fictional reality is made the less conscious we are of it. All fictional characters are stereotypical if you think about it because they are simplified like characatures. We transfer these fictional stereotypes onto real people and end up making them fictional. It's hard to care about anyone fictional because we aren't sure if they're real thus we are less conscious to them. Some people are a rich mixture of stereotypes others such as the poor are not. This is because the less you have the less the stereotype you play. Some are just single parents others are home owners and workers too. Therefore the more complex the mix of stereotypes a person is the less stereotypical they are, because there lifestyle is richer and more complex. Hence a poor person is neglected because he/she is more stereotypical and neglected more by society because he/she appears to be less real. Fashion creates cliches/stereotypes because it saturated whatever is in demand. If a certain type of fiction becomes fashionable we strive to play the characters if we are rich enough to do so while the rest are less in demand. Nig :)
ReplyDeleteLove this Nigel....you are so perceptive and intelligent.
ReplyDeleteThe irony now in the media is the discrimination against women and the way they have to dress for work. I agree with what they are saying, but men are much more discriminated against; if I want to keep my job in an office I have to wear a formal shirt and suit and until very recently a tie, if I didn't I would be hauled over the coals at least, definitely sent home if I didn't dress like that. Ooooh the irony!!
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