Asked to talk about diversity network at work, then told no

[nippynoo]

I am part of the committee of my workplace diversity network. I’m a lesbian married to a woman, and also come from a minority group (but look white), and grew up poor.

I got an email along with the other committee members asking if we’d volunteer to give a talk to our new graduates on the diversity network. I responded to the email within 10 seconds saying I would do it. It’s a good way to raise my visibility and network.

I get an email back a week later saying someone else on the network had helpfully volunteered so I wouldn’t be needed. I happen to be friends with the women who spoke at the event. She told me she responded a couple of days after the email went out.

So essentially, HR chose someone else. For context the woman they chose to speak is a third generation British-Indian, privately educated then Cambridge, and lives in a multi million pound house in London.

Would you be annoyed by this?

I get what you’re saying, but a wealthy black or brown bodied woman will still experience prejudice and can therefore still represent diversity. So HR aren’t wrong to choose her. However, if they were picking people for an award or special opportunity based on experience of disadvantage then they would need better criteria.

If you’re interested in doing this kind of work, how about doing careers talks to your old school, college or university? I have done this and it can be quite enjoyable.

i'm BAME, work in HR and have been involved in progressing diversity, so i've witnessed both sides of the conversation.

in my humble opinion, based on your post, it seems to me that you probably aren't what they consider to be the acceptable face of diversity... but your privately educated, visible BAME, Cambridge graduate colleague is.

i've been in diversity groups where certain members (although very passionate), moan about how unfair things are and can be very vocal against management decisions (regardless of what it is). There is no way i would ask someone like that to represent the company as they'd be a liability and would be presenting the company in a bad light to new starters. i'm not saying you are like that...

But it does sound like this user is the type you described…