Positive discrimination

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....ack-people-women.html

What if a law was brought out which said "if all candidates have equal qualifications for a senior position, only white heterosexual males will be considered for the post", would that also be acceptable?

[emmie]

it should go to the best candidate irrespective of race, gender.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// You know what? I've been thinking about how I interview people, and I admit, I have biases of my own. Ideally an interviewer would be competely unbiased, but you would only get that in a robot ///

/// I want some women on my team because I work in IT and we simply don't have enough women in our office. ///

/// Therefore, I reckon that given two equally skilled candidates, I'm going to choose the woman. ///

Having read through these three statements of yours sp, you have made it perfectly plain that you possess biases of your own.

So being rather sarcastic and with my tongue firmly in my cheek, but at the same time not wishing to be offensive.

Would that Women who you selected stand a better chance of getting the job if she happened to be a Black Lesbian? :0)

[Old_Geezer]

There is no such thing as positive discrimination. It is a phrase used to try to excuse inappropriate discrimination usually by those who would gain from it or those who wish to be seen supporting those who would gain from it. The past occurred to someone else, you don't correct anything by inflicting the same thing you claimed was wrong it the past to a new bunch of people: as such it is hypocritical. As an activity it is divisive and counter productive, not to mention just plain morally wrong.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// AOG - would you accuse a white officer of playing this particular card if they were bypassed for promotion, when they are no more qualified than a black officer who successfully applied for the same job (and yes, I freely admit I'm laying a trap for you here). ///

I can see no trap, because as this Met. ruling stands, a white officer would have every right to play the 'Race Card' as you put it, and without any sign whatsoever of a 'chip on his shoulder' if he did, because in this case he is obviously being discriminated against because he happens to be a white male.

[anotheoldgit]

I am going to enter another factor into the equation, that being the approaching 'Police and Crime Commissioner Elections'.

Wouldn't this have be the opportunity that some ethnic minorities communities had been looking for, the chance to elect 'one of their own' to be 'in charge'?

But if one looks in this link, it is rather strange that very, very few have taken this opportunity of putting themselves up for election.

http://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/

[THECORBYLOON]

I see no details on that link, does it give a breakdown by colour, ethinicity etc?

[sp1814]

AOG

Would that Women who you selected stand a better chance of getting the job if she happened to be a Black Lesbian?

If she were in a wheelchair, I wouldn't even bother with the interview, I'd just give her the job.

(My tongue is also firmly in my cheek).

[Bazile]

wolf63
//I would hate to be given a job on the basis of my gender, race, sexual orientation etc - it is insulting. //

I bet you would not refuse it though , putting personal feelings aside - if you were one of the unemployed ?

[pdq1]

When women are allowed to join the masons maybe they'll have a more equal representation.

[anotheoldgit]

THECORBYLOON

/// I see no details on that link, does it give a breakdown by colour, ethinicity ///

No but if you point at a county with your mouse cursor, and then left click your mouse button, the candidate's photo for that particular county are shown.

I have checked most and can see very few from the ethnic minorities.

[dave50]

All this so called positive discrimination I'm sure has the best of intentions but it can cause resentment among those it does not benefit and also there will always be the suspicion that someone may have got the job because of their colour or gender. This is far more prevalent in the public sector where their obsession with this kind of thing inclines them to give a job to someone from a 'minority' group just because of who they are, their ability to do the job coming second.

[anotheoldgit]

pdq1

/// When women are allowed to join the masons maybe they'll have a more equal representation. ///

They do have "The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons" which is a women's masonic Fraternity.

Are there any men in the Women's Institute?

Just asking.

[sandyRoe]

Do the ladies have to bare a breast too?

[FredPuli43]

If it's a branch of Freemasonry for women only , why is it called The Honourable Fraternity? It should be a sorority, surely?

Our current law on discrimination does not require clubs to admit women if the purpose of the club is expressly masculine (Treorchy Male Voice Choir, for example) and vice versa (Women's Institute). However, if a men only club did admit women as lady guests or 'lady members' it must now stop that discrimination and treat them as full guests or members equal to the men; no men only bars or dining rooms, for example.

[anotheoldgit]

FredPuli43

/// no men only bars or dining rooms, for example. ///

Have there ever been any Fred? I can remember plenty of Women's only rooms in pubs and Hotels though.

I believe there are still 'Women's Only' swimming sessions also, at public baths.

[sandyRoe]

And I just remember 'women only' waiting rooms in railway stations. They must, along with the women only swimming sessions, have been in place for a good reason.

[FredPuli43]

Men only bars and dining rooms were universal in Saint James's clubs which allowed women to enter , aog, simply because only men could be members and women guests were permitted only in rooms designated for them, which, in the more liberal clubs, might include a mixed dining room. My point on discrimination is that now women must be given equal service.

My first two were classic. One had a dingy room, 'the ladies' sitting room' in
the basement, accessed via the area steps. At street level, there was a sign to it, which read "Workmen and Ladies"; workmen, such as the dustmen, were put first. That's the spirit ! The other had a sitting room at the back, with an entrance in a back street. When I arrived with a woman , and tried to enter by the front door, to get to it, I was refused with the words "No, sir, you'd be passing the members' reading room with the lady, and they might object"

The Carlton had a small, seated, area by the stairs, which was known as Cads' Corner because men sitting there could look up the women's skirts as the women went up the stairs to an area set aside for them.

And all had bars where women, if allowed in, would not be served.

And I do remember Ladies Only carriages on trains as well as Ladies Waiting Rooms.