Ban White Men from applying for certain Jobs.

[JingleyJen]

here

Is there a case for this?

I don't think anyone's talking about banning white men from applying for certain jobs, are they?

My understanding (admittedly just based on a newspaper report) was that if passed, the change would allow an employer when faced with two equally good candidates, one black, one white, to be permitted to select the black candidate without being guilty of race discrimination.

Exactly Desiderata. And this is why we need legislation.

"permitted to select the black candidate without being guilty of race discrimination"

They would never be accused of race discrimination for selecting the black candidate over the white one, only the other way round.

sixspot

surely that is the legislation anyway

How so, SoupDragon?

The race discrimination card is only ever played with force when a white candidate gets selected over an equally qualified black one.

Yeah, but white people who are rejected might well start taking cases if this comes into force.

With good reason too Edam - the discrimination will be set out in law.

I can't find a link, but a few years ago a local white lad applied for a job at the fireservice and was refused as they really only wanted someone who fell into the ethnic or disabled category to boost their figures. the boy took them to court and won.

My point was that at the moment, afaik, an employer cannot legally prefer a black candidate over a white candidate just because s/he is black. Under this proposal, an employer could do so.

Oh, but its such a daily mail myth that the white man is so discriminated against in this country. Makes me LOL.

I agree, FairyMum. If it happens at all, it must be so so rare.

I have to say in a past life, I once did discrimincate postively in the manner advocated in the article: I had two candidates for an assistant product manager's position and both were equally good. I really couldn't separate them. In the end I chose to take on the female, as I percevied that the guy was in an environment where he was going to a get a similar job one of these days in the near future (in the same company - a large multi-nationla) whereas the girl was in a department where they were doing nothing to develop her.

If I had been pushed I would have differentitiated them by saying that her dirve to get on while unsupported by her management made her stand out, whereas the truth was that I hadn't been able to split the two candidate and I chose her because she was a female.

The thing is, how do you choose between 2 equally qualified candidates? If you pick one at random, you could still be accused of making the choice because of the person's race or sex.

I think it's extremely unlikely that a company would pick a female candidate of childbearing years over an equally qualified male (of any race).

xposts with prettybird

... unlikely unless the selection was being made by a female

I will never understand how discrimination can be positive.

I have to say, in genral I don't agree with positive discrimination - except in the extremely rare circustances that I myself dealt with - because, as a woman I would alwys want to know - and tohers to kow - that I had got a job on my merits.

Ifo you get the job, but no-one respects you becasue they think that you only got it 'cos of your colour/sex, even though you were the best candidate for the job, that it is not going to help anyone!

"Ifo you get the job, but no-one respects you becasue they think that you only got it 'cos of your colour/sex, even though you were the best candidate for the job, that it is not going to help anyone! "

At the moment a white man is very likely to get the job just because he is a white man just like the white man who employs him. That is not merit either

I agree - all forms of discrimination are wrong. But I still remain to be convinced that positive discriminiation is the way forward - even though I have exercised it myself (so I admit I am being inconsistent!).

I think it can be damaging to the cause of women/ethnic minorties/disabled people, rather than actually helping them in the workplace.

Disrcimination should be dealt with, full stop. And just as important, if not more important, is dealing with the environment in which people work, so that it is possible for parents to work (as it is my dh who currently bears most of the reposnbility for looking after ds during the week, I am not going to assume "mothers").

I think it is a very bad idea. It is tokenism and it's lazy. It does nothing to address WHY some people discriminate, or to change attitudes. And it makes things worse because then it creates the opportunity for people to say that soandso only got the job because they were black/asian/disabled/gay... And would you want to get a job based on your ethnicity/disability/sexuality rather than on your skills? I wouldn't. I'm not the best qualified or experienced person but they needed my disability for their figures. wayhay how great I feel and how wonderfully I'll slot into the team.

You put it so much better than me hecate!

Discrimination in any form is wrong, even if it is so called "positive" discrimination.

The best person for the job should get the job regardless of colour, gender, sexual preference, religion so on.

DP was looking to hire someone and was basically told you can't have the white person as you have all white staff!!!!