Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this racist

353 replies

Whoiam · 17/09/2025 18:57

I am seeing many posts about Charlie Kirk being racist. I also note that there are references to his stance on DEI.

I am interested, is this racist nowadays?

https://youtube.com/shorts/8HDYrISA1TY?si=m7vBABFnGn-6uqBy

YABU- yes
YANBU-no

Before you continue to YouTube

https://youtube.com/shorts/8HDYrISA1TY?si=m7vBABFnGn-6uqBy

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:13

BoredZelda · 18/09/2025 11:01

You have just suggested that when faced with a more diverse range of applicants, white men are more likely not to get a job. Isn’t that rather a self own?

DEI does not (and cannot legally) exclude anyone from being considered for a position. Outside of some very specific exclusions in the law, you can’t specify the race or gender for a position. The only barrier put in front of white men being considered alongside diverse candidates is whether he is the most qualified for the job. But don’t worry, studies show that even where the pool is more diverse, because it is largely white men doing the hiring, bias (unconscious or otherwise) still means they are more likely to be hired.

I have no problem with anyone who really disagrees with DEI. That’s a position to take, it’s an opinion I disagree with but everyone can have it. But what I see most often is people, like you, who don’t actually understand what it is, how it works, and why it is deemed necessary. That appears (to me) to be quite a racist/sexist take on it as it looks like people are only against it because it benefits minorities and women.

You have just suggested that when faced with a more diverse range of applicants, white men are more likely not to get a job. Isn’t that rather a self own

Where?

‘That appears (to me) to be quite a racist/sexist take on it as it looks like people are only against it because it benefits minorities and women.’

It appears quite sexist and racist to benefit certain races and sexes at the detriment of others. Infact I’m pretty sure it’s text book racist and sexist

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Are you really calling me a racist because I don’t agree with people being judged on their race for employment opportunities? Make it make sense.

It’s this sort of authoritarian attitude to diversity of opinion that leads to events like Charlie Kirk. It’s a dangerous ideology.

pointythings · 18/09/2025 11:21

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 10:50

DEI isn’t about promoting people who are not capable, it’s about helping to remove the barriers that prevent them from reaching the same level as white men.

No it’s about discriminating against people based on certain characteristics such as sex or race, or placing barriers if you’d prefer. It’s based on communist equality of outcome theories which have never worked out.

It really isn't. It's about implementing equality of opportunity.

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:25

pointythings · 18/09/2025 11:21

It really isn't. It's about implementing equality of opportunity.

Then why do supporters use quotas of different identities to justify and measure its effectiveness? I.e. 90% of bakers are men, we must change this outcome to be 50%. 79% of bakers are men, excluding men from training opportunities has been successful in our step towards achieving our outcome.

Think about it.

pointythings · 18/09/2025 11:32

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:25

Then why do supporters use quotas of different identities to justify and measure its effectiveness? I.e. 90% of bakers are men, we must change this outcome to be 50%. 79% of bakers are men, excluding men from training opportunities has been successful in our step towards achieving our outcome.

Think about it.

Edited

Please show me some evidence that this is the methodology that is used. Because I reckon you are fully making that up.

Incidentally, this is an interesting article about education and how it entrenched privilege. Yes, it's a Guardian article- but it has data. Actual evidence of what is happening and how it holds people back.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/sep/18/private-schools-educated-most-powerful-jobs

Are you OK with talented people without bought and paid for opportunities never having a chance to shine?

Privately educated still have ‘vice-like grip’ on most powerful UK jobs

Those in top roles are five times as likely to have been to private school than general population, study finds

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/sep/18/private-schools-educated-most-powerful-jobs

Nurpia · 18/09/2025 11:33

I don't support DEI. I think people should just hire on merit alone. Intentionally seeking diversity isn't going to magically make the organisation more productive.

I'm Indian and live in the UK. Never felt restricted or held back due to my race. My DC and DH have all thrived and had excellent educations and careers even though they are Indian. Never felt held back.

I remember seeing that the CEO of Jibble (Asim Qureshi) himself say that his companies don't track or monitor diversity metrics at all. Totally not needed. Just hire who is good for the job.

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:35

Yes I’ve always got it, it’s quite transparent basic racism and equality of outcome stupidity. But I suggested looking at what middle class men did right not ‘leveling the playing field’, which lets face it means not allowing people on the playing field in the first place based on their race and sex.

But, you don’t seem to like that he might lose out sometimes. Why is that
Im just anti racist and identity politics in general. I don’t want to see people ‘lose out’ based on their skin colour, sex, what school they went to, patents jobs when they were 14 etc.

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:40

pointythings · 18/09/2025 11:32

Please show me some evidence that this is the methodology that is used. Because I reckon you are fully making that up.

Incidentally, this is an interesting article about education and how it entrenched privilege. Yes, it's a Guardian article- but it has data. Actual evidence of what is happening and how it holds people back.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/sep/18/private-schools-educated-most-powerful-jobs

Are you OK with talented people without bought and paid for opportunities never having a chance to shine?

It literally uses % quotas in the article along the lines of my baker example.

Looks like private schools do an excellent job, maybe we should look at what they’re doing right?
Or we could make them more expensive though taxation, close them down and try and limit access to institutions such as universities based on if people went to these schools.

It’s just petty crabs in a barrel nonsense. It has zero to do with improving anything, just holding back others.

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:42

Nurpia · 18/09/2025 11:33

I don't support DEI. I think people should just hire on merit alone. Intentionally seeking diversity isn't going to magically make the organisation more productive.

I'm Indian and live in the UK. Never felt restricted or held back due to my race. My DC and DH have all thrived and had excellent educations and careers even though they are Indian. Never felt held back.

I remember seeing that the CEO of Jibble (Asim Qureshi) himself say that his companies don't track or monitor diversity metrics at all. Totally not needed. Just hire who is good for the job.

Yes, its obviously the best approach,

5128gap · 18/09/2025 11:42

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:35

Yes I’ve always got it, it’s quite transparent basic racism and equality of outcome stupidity. But I suggested looking at what middle class men did right not ‘leveling the playing field’, which lets face it means not allowing people on the playing field in the first place based on their race and sex.

But, you don’t seem to like that he might lose out sometimes. Why is that
Im just anti racist and identity politics in general. I don’t want to see people ‘lose out’ based on their skin colour, sex, what school they went to, patents jobs when they were 14 etc.

What are white middle class men doing right then?

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:44

5128gap · 18/09/2025 11:42

What are white middle class men doing right then?

You tell me, you’re the one who keeps saying they have all the best jobs.

5128gap · 18/09/2025 11:48

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:44

You tell me, you’re the one who keeps saying they have all the best jobs.

And you the one saying the reason for this is because they're doing something right. Tell us what that is, and then other people can do it too and you'll have fixed the problem!

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:52

5128gap · 18/09/2025 11:48

And you the one saying the reason for this is because they're doing something right. Tell us what that is, and then other people can do it too and you'll have fixed the problem!

Am I? In response to you saying they had all the best jobs, I said maybe look at what they’re doing right rather than take away their opportunities. What problem am I trying to fix exactly? White middle class men having jobs? I don’t see that as a problem that needs fixing

Nurpia · 18/09/2025 11:56

If you look at educational outcomes. Indian and east Asians tend to do a lot better than white British.

5128gap · 18/09/2025 11:57

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 11:52

Am I? In response to you saying they had all the best jobs, I said maybe look at what they’re doing right rather than take away their opportunities. What problem am I trying to fix exactly? White middle class men having jobs? I don’t see that as a problem that needs fixing

Not having jobs. Disproportionately holding jobs with the highest status and greatest power. Please stop with the straw men. Its fooling no one. Do you believe they hold these roles based solely on their merit? With no other factors at play? A simple yes or no?

pointythings · 18/09/2025 12:03

Nurpia · 18/09/2025 11:56

If you look at educational outcomes. Indian and east Asians tend to do a lot better than white British.

And yet they aren't represented in the top jobs...

AlasPoor · 18/09/2025 12:08

5128gap · 18/09/2025 11:57

Not having jobs. Disproportionately holding jobs with the highest status and greatest power. Please stop with the straw men. Its fooling no one. Do you believe they hold these roles based solely on their merit? With no other factors at play? A simple yes or no?

It’s not a simple yes or no, it’s specific to individuals and you’d have to define middle class and jobs with highest status and power. Is the Duke of Westminster middle class, then no that wasn’t in merit, Is kier starmer middle class then yes, Is a software developer on £150k a high status job? If you get a bursary for PS but live on a council estate are you middle class? This is why identity politics and equality of outcome doesn’t work.

Basically you’ve identified a section of society that are so successful at having good jobs that we have to introduce policies to remove their opportunities. Reminds me of another group this happened to in Europe. Anyway, I don’t have enough details to know what you are referring to or who these people are, but my suggestion is look at what they’re doing right rather than try and pull them down. Make sense?

Nurpia · 18/09/2025 13:13

pointythings · 18/09/2025 12:03

And yet they aren't represented in the top jobs...

Our former prime minister.....

pointythings · 18/09/2025 13:21

Nurpia · 18/09/2025 13:13

Our former prime minister.....

Rishi Sunak? Hardly an example of someone from an underprivileged background. And one example doesn't change the disparity on a population level. A foreign name on a job application with equal qualifications and experience will still get fewer interviews than an English name. Pretending all is well, the world is a meritocracy and there is no bias is just sticking your head in the sand.

BundleBoogie · 18/09/2025 13:27

This is quite a well publicised thing - I’m not sure why you have missed so many reports of this happening.

How many examples do you want? The NHS, parts of the Fire Service, the RAF, MI5/6 and GCHQ - and they are just the ones caught out so far.

https://www.hr-inform.co.uk/news-article/organisation-under-fire-for-white-male-discrimination

https://www.gannons.co.uk/insights/sex-discrimination-against-straight-white-males/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66060490?app-referrer=deep-link

NHS ‘discriminates’ against white job applicants in shortlists - link fail - it’ll come up in Google.

Spy agencies reopen ‘racist’ internship that bans white Britons - as above.

BundleBoogie · 18/09/2025 13:31

pointythings · 18/09/2025 12:03

And yet they aren't represented in the top jobs...

Are you unaware of many of the cabinet members of the current and previous governments??

I suggest you go and check out the ethnic mix of the people in some of the top jobs in the country…

Nurpia · 18/09/2025 13:36

pointythings · 18/09/2025 13:21

Rishi Sunak? Hardly an example of someone from an underprivileged background. And one example doesn't change the disparity on a population level. A foreign name on a job application with equal qualifications and experience will still get fewer interviews than an English name. Pretending all is well, the world is a meritocracy and there is no bias is just sticking your head in the sand.

I'm Indian. DH and I moved here in the 90s. Never felt disadvantaged due to my race. DC have excelled in their studies and been to top unis. Eldest DC is enjoying his working life and making a valuable impact in his field.

My own DH is a director at a big 4 firm. He works very hard and makes the big bucks. Never felt disadvantaged due to being Indian.

BundleBoogie · 18/09/2025 13:41

BoredZelda · 18/09/2025 11:01

You have just suggested that when faced with a more diverse range of applicants, white men are more likely not to get a job. Isn’t that rather a self own?

DEI does not (and cannot legally) exclude anyone from being considered for a position. Outside of some very specific exclusions in the law, you can’t specify the race or gender for a position. The only barrier put in front of white men being considered alongside diverse candidates is whether he is the most qualified for the job. But don’t worry, studies show that even where the pool is more diverse, because it is largely white men doing the hiring, bias (unconscious or otherwise) still means they are more likely to be hired.

I have no problem with anyone who really disagrees with DEI. That’s a position to take, it’s an opinion I disagree with but everyone can have it. But what I see most often is people, like you, who don’t actually understand what it is, how it works, and why it is deemed necessary. That appears (to me) to be quite a racist/sexist take on it as it looks like people are only against it because it benefits minorities and women.

DEI does not (and cannot legally) exclude anyone from being considered for a position.

Except that if you look at my post above, quite a few organisations are practising unlawful discrimination in the name of DEI.

As PPs and CK are pointing out, something has gone badly wrong with DEI and we need to be able to talk about it like grown ups without people screaming “racist” every five minutes.

RingoJuice · 18/09/2025 13:43

pointythings · 18/09/2025 12:03

And yet they aren't represented in the top jobs...

They’ve got all the top jobs in their own countries …

I was in China when there was a push to replace expats with local Chinese graduates. It was sad to see longtime expats leave, but I truly believed (and still believe) that a country has to do right by its people, even if there is short-term pain and loss of productivity.

TheSwarm · 18/09/2025 13:51

Nurpia · 18/09/2025 11:33

I don't support DEI. I think people should just hire on merit alone. Intentionally seeking diversity isn't going to magically make the organisation more productive.

I'm Indian and live in the UK. Never felt restricted or held back due to my race. My DC and DH have all thrived and had excellent educations and careers even though they are Indian. Never felt held back.

I remember seeing that the CEO of Jibble (Asim Qureshi) himself say that his companies don't track or monitor diversity metrics at all. Totally not needed. Just hire who is good for the job.

Which is all well and good in a perfect, equal world.

But then you realise that still in 2025 the vast majority of positions of power in countries like the UK and US are held by white men. That didn't happen by accident.

Representation matters, and you don't get that with board rooms consisting of 99% white men.