WWYD?

[ArsenicAlice]

I work in an area where we help students get placements in industry. For the last year we have done very well in a particular industry which isn't normally taken up by women. My boss said to me that "We've done really well thanks Alice for your hard work. We've got 45% women this time and one of them is a brown one."

I just said I wouldn't use that phrase if I were you Brenda and left it there.

Was that OK? Should I have reported it? I realise she was saying it in a positive context although it was clumsily. NB - not made up, not goady. Genuine question. Thank you.

what would i do?
I would remind the person that we currently use the term "woman of colour" * and stop being an arse thinking i should get them in some kind of unspecified but serious trouble

*or whatever the current phrase is

I'm not being an arse and I don't want to get her into trouble that's the point.

I would have a conversation with her but not report.

Why did the woman's colour need to be mentioned at all? 45% are women, that's all that was needed.

Yes. Exactly.

why are you going to "get into trouble" over something someone else said?

I think perhaps her race was relevant perhaps the industry is mainly dominated by males, specifically white males. So a woman from a BAME background might be even more of an achievement.

Might be wrong, dunno!