Group on FB

[UnshakenNeedsStirring]

So I joined a group of women on FB. To support each other during lockdown and generally have a chat and a nice time online. Ater a week or so the admin changed a photo of the group to one with 5 women holding hands, the pic was taken from back, so no faces. IT was a painting or so from 50's I think or could've been done in retro style. I pointed out that the picture was not inclusive as it was only showing white women and didn't have other women of colour or ethnic minorities. I got a lot of abuse back. Was I wrong? I am a bit shocked and disheartened that in 2021 I had to raise this and no one really was bothered and nearly all the women asked me to shut up and not talk about it

Jesus, this thread is scary! The ignorance and minimising is nothing new, unfortunately.

OP is getting some harsh responses, then they are accused of having a 'tone' and being 'abrasive'. You can't make it up.

YANBU OP. Well done for bringing it up.

@UnshakenNeedsStirring I think you were right to point this out and the posts on this thread telling you that it's just a non-issue entirely highlights the need for your action. Thank you for doing it.

But you're on to a loser to point it out here on MN, a site which is predominantly white - they don't experience race problems, they don't see race problems and they get very defensive when it's pointed out to them.

Black MNters have carved a space out for themselves on their board (I'm not entirely in agreement with the segregation) and if you are black they would welcome this discussion and I expect you would find more understanding and empathy there.

I am really shocked at the responses you got here. I don't think you were being unreasonable to point this out, it is only a small thing and would not change the world, however I know how these small things build up, and people feel ignored and belittled.
What if it was a support group for Drs and only showed men in the profile picture? There would be an uproar !

I am white and over 70

@FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue

I get irritated with tokenism, for example on Richard Osman's House of Games, every week there are 4 players, one of whom is ethnic minority. It seems odd and kind of forced. 25% of the country are not ethnic minority. BUT, I don't think you're being unreasonable OP, if you are a POC yourself, to ask if they could find a more inclusive picture, as the picture is supposed to represent the people in the group. The admin choosing the photo unthinkingly isn't necessarily racist, but refusing to even listen to your polite request is small-minded and petty, and I'm not surprised that it made you feel excluded.

I haven't watched the show but from my experience of watching quiz type shows, a far lower proportion of participants are non-white. Now whether this is representative of the population in general, quizzers in general or whether people of different ethnicities do not feel able to/do not wish to participate should be explored. Same with representation of ethnic minorities and disabled people in places like historical houses, gardens and places for wildlife. If there is no representation in any publicity materials you might feel unwelcome, or that this is somewhere you have no access (physically or intellectually) to. At times, positive discrimination may be necessary to change mindsets.

OP YANBU.

The photo could have been changed easily.
This thread is awful in parts, telling a WoC that she is argumentative, aggressive for asking for more representation.

@queenMab99

Sadly, I am not shocked at all, I guess this is why black mums section was approved

You say this photograph was from the 50s - how many POC do you think there were in the country back then? I was born in the 40s in London and the first time I saw a POC was in 1960 when I started work and she was the only one I knew for some time.

You obviously needed to find something to virtue signal about.

@Crankley

You say this photograph was from the 50s - how many POC do you think there were in the country back then? I was born in the 40s in London and the first time I saw a POC was in 1960 when I started work and she was the only one I knew for some time.

You obviously needed to find something to virtue signal about.

That's not the point is it? It's a current group, for women now. Women in the UK are of various ethnicities, how hard is it to find a picture that reflects that?Blimey this is embarrassing.

@GinAndTonicOnIt

My blood is BOILING at all the posters on here saying you have been too harsh with your responses on here.

Do these posters STILL not get it?

The OP is so sick of casual racism. Rightly so. I am sick to bloody death of people playing it down andI'm white, so no wonder black people are sick of this shit.

Would it have taken much effort at all to change a fucking photo? NO.

BLACK PEOPLE MATTER. Their feelings MATTER. A lifetime of white privileged mean a simple photo may not matter to you, but it matters to others. Who are you to say it doesn't.

Agree 100%

Wondering if more reasonable reflection of the group's membership is virtue signalling and has a "tone" to be policed. Bloody hell.

I just received a leaflet from the NHS for my smear test; see the pic: a nice array of diverse ages, ethnicities and 'types' of women (e.g. very short hair, quite 'masculine' presenting and more 'feminine' presenting).

I also agree with this 100%

OP simply pointed out a way to be more inclusive.

What possible grounds could anyone have to turn their nose up at that?

Only ignorance and selfishness.

When you could choose to make a positive difference, why choose not to? Or at the the very least, refrain from criticising those who are making the effort?

For those of you saying that the admins are volunteers... what’s your point? Volunteers can do whatever the hell they like, without challenge, simply because they are volunteering? That’s not how volunteering works.

This thread is depressing.

Thank you OP for raising this. You’re right.

@Lemmeout so casual racism is ok?

@amoobaa thank you

@NeedToKnow101 thank you for your comment, I have no idea why most people here keep throwing the term " Virtue signalling" like Crankley did in her comment.
Mind boggling that in 2021 we are still no where near giving equality to all members of society

@reader12 thank you

@queenMab99 thank you :)

For what it's worth when I ran a FB group I did look for images that were representative and inclusive. My ds had to do a series of podcasts set to images last year for a course he was doing and when I checked them for him I suggested he change some of the images to include different ethnicities and cultural situations rather than the the very white U.K. ones he had used. It was a good enough teaching moment - hate that phrase but can't think of a better one - and I hope it would affect his choices and viewpoint in the future.

However I think the push back you've received is little to do with racism and probably is far more likely to be because they're just sick of pandering to nit picky woke bullshit and I think everyone knows what I mean by that. I believe the dangerous nonsense that is critical race theory is doing far more damage than good and creating waves of at best apathy, and at worst resentment and hostility and the beginnings of resistance. I have feared this and said so all along and got the usual name calling and attempts to shame in response. I don't know the answer but I think it will get worse and that really worries me.

This thread is wild.

This thread just shows how 'casual' racism is apparent. I'm shocked at how much it is. Always thought there's an odd few but this many.

OP I take back my comment earlier in the thread about this being "trivial". Clearly it's not trivial and after reading responses on here the issue is important to you.
I know my comment was one of many but I'd like to offer my apologies. Well done for standing up for yourself.

@FrostyChocolateMilkshake

That’s one of the best things I’ve read on here ☺️

[quote OverTheRainbow88]@FrostyChocolateMilkshake

That’s one of the best things I’ve read on here ☺️[/quote]
Thank you. I realise now I was being ignorant, and I am truly sorry for any offence or anger my comments caused.

@FrostyChocolateMilkshake thank you, really means a lot