Diversity is crucial in our generation. We are in a time of change. One of the world's largest companies recognizes this need and is trying to improve the relationship of male and female workers. In the article "Exposing Hidden Bias at Google," we can see how Google is trying to even out the gender gap and race gap within their walls. Lectures have been made. New jobs for new "types" of people have opened up. However, will all of this actually be effective in making Google a better place for all people?
Discrimination against women and other races has always been around. It's just become more noticeable in this era. These actions by Google do seem to improve this discrimination situation, but much attention is being brought on the subject because of it. This attention isn't always good. White men make up the majority of the Google staff. With the growing population in America and more immigrants coming in, jobs are not that easy to acquire anymore. Competition for almost all jobs are at their highs. If a Hispanic man who just came from Mexico got a job, the white unemployed man would not be very happy. Protest would occur. By hiring more people from different races, white men are reminded how fresh immigrants are taking all of their jobs. Google adds on to the tension by specifically hiring people of a certain race. Discrimination is being used, but this time, its aimed at white men. If this trend continues, larger conflicts and protests will occur. America will look more diverse, but the struggle to accomplish that goal will be difficult. Society will have to learn how to accept one another first before this system of specifically benefiting one race for jobs can work. Michel Brown's death doesn't exactly help this cause.
Women will actually have an easier time in this transition. In this generation, no violence has been made for the rights of women. Men can' t use race to challenge the idea because some women are actually white as well. No large disagreements or conflicts are going on this side of the gap because there is no valid reason to make one. With proper education, women can compete for jobs at the same level as men. However, Google has given the women the advantage. This issue is being covered by the race issue, which has grabbed all of America's attention.
Everyone is bias at something. Discrimination, racism, and hatred will fuel it.
I disagree with your first point, that diversity is crucial in our generation. I believe that the merit of a person at a job is more important than having a slightly less capable person of a different race working at the same job. Whether or not a person is white, black, Asian, male, female or other, their skill should be the deciding factor. Prejudice sometimes plays a huge role in choosing who to hire, even in something as small as a name (e.g. Jose Zamora), but if a person is skilled enough, I believe they can overcome prejudice, especially in the great melting pot of 'murica.
ReplyDeleteSo what happens when the prejudice comes before the person can even get an interview? In that case, skill is irrelevant.
DeleteContrary to Victor and complimentary to the post, diversity can be crucial! A job with a congregation of several different people of several different backgrounds can appeal to a greater amount of people in terms of how they could be able to give some insight into their targeted audience, consumer, etc. Now, this is assuming they have the skills already necessary for said job - if they didn't, then certainly they would be reconsidered. A diverse group also benefits appeal. Due to America being so heavily populated by several races and ethnic groups, the appearance of a racially diverse corporation would allow for a greater audience from those who prefer companies that include their own race. Regarding your final statement, yes, everyone is bias. However, I feel that hatred is too strong of a word. People can be unconsciously biased, but that does not ultimately lead to the hatred of another race.
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ReplyDeleteI like that you think that there is no logical reason that women would receive different treatment and I definitely agree. But the fact is that women are especially victims of this unconscious bias.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of your piece, but I am not entirely sure what you are trying to say in your second paragraph. I think what you are saying is that white men are racist and are quick to get angered when people of different races take their jobs or the jobs around them. If that is what you are trying to say then I disagree. What many companies are doing now is intentionally hiring people of diverse races, even if they're under-qualified, just so the company is seen as "diverse" and "racially tolerant". If your job was taken by someone less qualified than you, wouldn't you be angry and protest? Therefore I cannot agree with your piece, otherwise I feel the points you bring up are thought provoking and interesting. But if you could make your intent for your second paragraph more clear to me I feel we could have a proper discussion on the matter.
ReplyDeleteMuch like Victor I disagree with your first claim, diversity is crucial in our generation, because in the work place, diversity should make no difference. It shouldn't depend on the color of you skin or your gender, it should be only based on a persons ability to do their work. Also, I disagree with the fact that in paragraph two, its almost as if you are encouraging discrimination against the white man, which would completely counteract everything people are trying to stop when it comes to discrimination. However, I do agree that white men do need to be brought back down to earth, rather that seeing themselves as better than everyone else. I do believe you have several interesting points, but i just don't agree with all of them. I look forward to reading you next post.
ReplyDeleteDespite what many of the comments here are saying, I actually agree with your first statement like Shawn and I feel as if they are misunderstanding what you were trying to say, or at least, what I think you were trying to say. Many of comments were saying how diversity shouldn't matter when applying for a job, and that the only thing that matters is if they are capable of doing the work. I'm not saying that I disagree with this. I understand where they are coming from, however, I believe what you were trying to say is that society believes that diversity is important. There are individiuals who don't believe this but as a whole, society thinks this to be true and this is what I believe the other are missing. Not everyone has the same opinion and in the end, the entire group overall as a whole will outweigh the individuals in that group. If society didn't think that diversity is important, then Google having a low number of female workers wouldn't even be considered an issue but obviously, that is not the case since many people are saying that Google is lacking diversity which demonstrates how society views diversity to be important.
ReplyDeleteAlthough diversity is great and brings many positive effects, you, Martin, are correct in saying it wouldn't be accepted so easily. We have to be realistic here, minorities will be happy they get hired and Whites will feel like they're becoming less relevant. In your words, "Society will have to learn how to accept one another first before this system of specifically benefiting one race for jobs can work". Large diversity is ideal, but not possible in today's society.
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