To feel a bit weird about this?

[YourApplePie]

NC, not a reverse or anything clever like that.

My DD14 has been invited to attend a STEM residential at a good university. It's entirely free and includes ongoing mentorship if she wishes to continue in the relevant subjects. She's a fairly high achiever across the board and expressed an interest in it when a teacher spoke to her about it. All good.

I received an email about it today and among the details was the fact that this programme is only open to pupils of Black heritage (which she is and I am). I explained this to my daughter, as she was wondering why her friends (white, like pretty much everyone at her rural secondary school) didn't know about it.

She was fine about it and still wants to go, but I feel a bit weird about it. Perhaps that there are kids in her school who'd benefit far more from it that aren't eligible.

AIBU to feel weird about my DD getting this opportunity because of her heritage?

I would imagine it's an event funded to increase participation by BAME women/people in that industry? STEM is very white male doninated.

As a STEM subject teacher, we'd get invites regularly for certain 'demographics' to attend - raising aspirations for FSM children, for example, conferences for female students. As PP have said, your daughter may be very well supported at home to access these types of events and careers, but as a society, children of black heritage are underrepresented in these industries. I'm glad to hear there is still some funding around to attempt to redress this!

Sorry, OP. I posted before you wrote your last post. I used the term black heritage because you'd originally used it in your first post.

I'm a black female and work in STEM.Ethnic and female students have been the target for STEM subjects since I went to University around 15 years ago. It has been very successful ; my first lab was 90% bame and 95% female.If there are more people that look like you there is more of a chance that you could see yourself in that career and sticking with it.Representation is everything!

We are high earners who both went to Uni, DD went to Private school.
However, due to a postcode quirk (which I have tried to explain) DD has been put on a pathway at college for kids from deprived backgrounds. Apparently she will get extra ucas points or something.
As I said, I have tried to explain a few times but she’s on it and that’s it so why not take advantage of it?
I appreciate its slightly different for you OP as you are in the group being targeted but I say just take it and be happy about it.

I'd bite their hand off. Its one very small way of trying to redress the balance of aeons of serious institutional racism. White privilege is real.

It doesn't matter if she goes into STEM, she will have a valuable experience and will look great on a uni application.

Weird or not, she should go on it.