Does Being White Make Plane Tickets More Affordable?
Got this announcement in an e-mail to journalists -- and it's bad enough that there are segregated events for female journalists (what, are there special workshops on what to do if you run out of tampons while you're in the middle of a big story?).
Imagine the howling if somebody put on on a "Leadership Institute" for male journalists -- like those country clubs that exclude Jews, blacks, or women, and probably the Chinese.
But, it gets worse. Here's the note I got, with the essential part in bold:
From now through Friday, May 1, the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) will be accepting applications for the 6th annual U.S. Leadership Institute for Women Journalists.Here are some key facts about the U.S. Leadership Institute for Women Journalists:
* Funding from the McCormick Foundation is enabling the IWMF to offer this program at no cost this year. Additionally, 10 minority participants will be eligible to receive a $500 stipend to cover their travel expenses.
This year's institute will convene 20 mid-to-upper level female journalists for on-the-ground leadership training on July 20-22 in Chicago. During these three days, participants will:
* Take part in highly interactive skills-building sessions on issues crucial to effective leadership, including What Is Leadership, Who Am I As A Leader, Leading Change, Leading in the Newsroom, and Critical Conversation: Advocacy/Managing Up;
* Participate in small "mastermind groups" on topics participants have expressed an interest in within written questionnaires and essays submitted prior to the on-site;
* Develop a personalized action plan for future career goals; and
* Network with colleagues from across the country.The on-site sessions will be facilitated by industry leaders such as Marci Burdick, Senior Vice President of Broadcasting for Schurz Communications; Liza Gross, Former Managing Editor/Presentations and Operations for The Miami Herald; and Marcy McGinnis, former Senior Vice President for News Coverage at CBS News and current Associate Dean of Stony Brook University's School of Journalism.
Institute participants will receive one-on-one (telephone and online) coaching on implementing their personalized action plans for the three months following the institute. This coaching will be conducted by veteran journalists and professional coaches.
Additionally, participants will be become members of the IWMF network free of charge for one year.
How infantilizing, a conference apparently dealing with the special problems of women who hope to be "leaders" in journalism. If women want to be treated as equals in the business world they can't be holding women-only tripe sessions like this.
You know I keep wondering about this myth of white privilege. Mainly, I keep wondering when it's gonna freaking kick in in my life and things are going to start coming my way my virtue of my pale skin.
No, I don't know when I've gone for apartments or jobs I may have been denied had I been a person of color but I do know that the world has not been handed to me on a silver platter just because I'm white. Nor should it be.
And I'm getting frigging tired of things being handed to people because they're black or female or whatever. There was a time it held one back. That time is long over. Let's put a period at the end of that sentence and move on. (So shoot me, I like Judge Judy.)
Now the most "crippling" thing is to be born poor -- and, even that, is far from insurmountable. And newsflash, it ain't just females and people of color who are. And females and people of color are not automatically born disadvantaged.
T's Grammy at April 17, 2009 3:10 AM
There's plenty more examples of women only events.
There's a womens only 10K road race in Boston every year. Plenty of: Financial planning for women, self defense for women, shooting classes for women, etc. etc.
In Massachusetts a guy sued a womens only gym that denied him membership. That spawned a Mass law that allows gyms to exclude men.
There's even a womens only section of the gym I go to. (light + colorfull dumbells. The weights not the women)
Just imagine a gym that roped off a Men only section. Good luck with that.
sean at April 17, 2009 4:47 AM
Honestly, I don't have a problem with women-only, black-only, old-only, young-only events / facilities / whatever. If a gym thinks their clients would appreciate workouts-lite for women, go for it. What I don't like is that there are some groups that aren't allowed to discriminate (and call a spade a spade, that's what they're doing, it's just not always bad) - men and white folk being two prime examples.
PS: The part about plane ticket stipends for minorities pisses me off no end. Grrrr. If you want to get technical, I think women are still considered a minority. You should apply for the stipend, Amy.
amv at April 17, 2009 6:47 AM
Spot on, Amy! So long as women insist on being treated as a "special" group (they are an official "minority" after all), they will never be equal and can NEVER earn respect. First place in the Special Olympics, or last place in the actual Olympics. Which would most of us choose?
Perpetual victim = perpetual loser.
Jay R at April 17, 2009 7:58 AM
"You know I keep wondering about this myth of white privilege. Mainly, I keep wondering when it's gonna freaking kick in in my life and things are going to start coming my way my virtue of my pale skin."
T's Grammy, I wonder the same thing about my supposed "male privilege."
Jay R at April 17, 2009 7:59 AM
We really need to work on the concept of property rights in N.A. We need to get of rid of these absurd anti-discrimination laws. People should be free to discriminate and be subject to the consequences of their actions.
Charles at April 17, 2009 8:01 AM
Yeah, you should get minority status because you're a redhead. Redheads have to deal with all kinds of persecution. (I'm one too, I know.)
ahw at April 17, 2009 8:10 AM
Somehow, Jay R, I should have known you'd say that! ;) (There was that flirty enough? Do have to say I don't presume males are treated better. Often they're treated worse. Just not always.)
ahw, you could be on to something there! All those stereotypes about redheads being feisty and all that. I once dyed my hair red. Would that count?
T's Grammy at April 17, 2009 10:02 AM
"Do have to say I don't presume males are treated better. Often they're treated worse. Just not always."
No, T's Grammy. I thought you made a very good point, and I inferred nothing negative or dismissive. I just thought I'd chime in. I find myself on the same page with you quite often (although we may arrive there from opposite directions!)
Finally, yes, I am sometimes predictable, I know. I don't mind being provocative, but I don't want to be boring, so I'll try to surprise you from time to time!
Jay R at April 17, 2009 10:38 AM
guess I read this differently... how women as journalists can lead. generally leadership initiatives occur within an organization... sometimes the leadership of many different kinds of organizations get together and scmooze. It's usually just an excuse to take a paid vacation or a junkette. This? might be a whole other animal. The part where it's free and sponsored by a foundation makes me all cynical and stuff. The minority sponsorship is just one of those stupid throwbacks to bygone eras. If they instead offered sponsorships based on NEED, well that you could get behind. There are likely many small town journos. who couldn't afford to go to such a conference that could would do well for that.
The question is, how do you get in? Do you have to write a superior essay on something? Win awards? If it works that way, you announce winners AND THEN you can work the issue of stipends. There are only 20 spaces, so how are they awarding space anyway? I always love to have my cynicism proven wrong over this stuff. Too bad it's so rare that it is.
SwissArmyD at April 17, 2009 11:09 AM
"Yeah, you should get minority status because you're a redhead. Redheads have to deal with all kinds of persecution. (I'm one too, I know.)
Posted by: ahw at April 17, 2009 8:10 AM"
Hush you! Back in line Ginger! ;)
It amuses me greatly that the Curves for Women chain of gyms is now usually just called "Curves".
Sio at April 17, 2009 11:53 AM
See? SEE??!!!
Anyhow, I'd prefer a women's-only gym, but I think men's-only facilities/clubs/ whatever are just fine. I like men, I just don't want giggling college boys behind me during my yoga classes.
Kinda diminishes the point of having a members-only organization when you have to let everyone in.
ahw at April 17, 2009 2:34 PM
Better be careful Amy or soon Janeane Garofalo will be getting instructions from O'HQ to publicly call you a "Racist & a Sexist with Stockholm Syndrome"!!!
Robert W. (Vancouver, BC) at April 18, 2009 12:14 AM
This is ridiculous. Racist and gender discrimination are just too lame.
Accounting Courses Mississauga at October 29, 2009 2:00 PM
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