Anecdotal Evidence
The New York Times comes through again. Listed today in #1 and #2 positions as 'most emailed in the last 24 hours"
#1: Plight Deepens for Black Men, Studies Warn
#2: Why Do So Few Women Reach the Top of Big Law Firms?
The first article is about 2 (internet) pages long and details the extreme rates of incarceration and unemployment faced by black and inner city males. In its own right, the article has flaws, not the least of which being an implicit scapegoating practice: the bulk of the writing focuses on individual practices of black men rather than a social space. For example: people don't choose to get arrested and end up in jail for 15 years- this event usually involves (at least) police, judges, lawyers, etc., and the focus on just the convict elides the responsibility/impact racist cops and judicial systems have. But this isn't really my point.
The second article is about 5 (internet) pages long, and details possible causes and solutions concerning the advancement of women in law firms. It does a reasonably good job in pointing out gendered systemic and structural barriers that at one point were considered neutral, though it does a poor job in considering questions of gender binaries or the fludity of gender norms. However, the question of race or class goes unanswered and ignored throughout- save for one passing mention: "Forget about skin color or gender or whatever, if you want to run a great business, you need great, talented people..." (which in its own right is flawed: the comment presumes equal access for education/skills advancement, and that the problem is only one of hiring practices).
So, here's my point.
"That's why when they play new music I just don't be feelin it/racism still alive, they just be concealin it" - Kanye West
Racism shows in things like media focus, where a class specific and race 'neutral' article gets greater coverage and time than critical questions of continuing racial opression. This situation demonstrates the structural biases that define racism today.
Duncan
#1: Plight Deepens for Black Men, Studies Warn
#2: Why Do So Few Women Reach the Top of Big Law Firms?
The first article is about 2 (internet) pages long and details the extreme rates of incarceration and unemployment faced by black and inner city males. In its own right, the article has flaws, not the least of which being an implicit scapegoating practice: the bulk of the writing focuses on individual practices of black men rather than a social space. For example: people don't choose to get arrested and end up in jail for 15 years- this event usually involves (at least) police, judges, lawyers, etc., and the focus on just the convict elides the responsibility/impact racist cops and judicial systems have. But this isn't really my point.
The second article is about 5 (internet) pages long, and details possible causes and solutions concerning the advancement of women in law firms. It does a reasonably good job in pointing out gendered systemic and structural barriers that at one point were considered neutral, though it does a poor job in considering questions of gender binaries or the fludity of gender norms. However, the question of race or class goes unanswered and ignored throughout- save for one passing mention: "Forget about skin color or gender or whatever, if you want to run a great business, you need great, talented people..." (which in its own right is flawed: the comment presumes equal access for education/skills advancement, and that the problem is only one of hiring practices).
So, here's my point.
"That's why when they play new music I just don't be feelin it/racism still alive, they just be concealin it" - Kanye West
Racism shows in things like media focus, where a class specific and race 'neutral' article gets greater coverage and time than critical questions of continuing racial opression. This situation demonstrates the structural biases that define racism today.
Duncan
posted by Duncan at 6:48 AM
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