Mind-Reading Brigham and Women's Hospital President Divines Thoughts Of Female And Minority Students And Employees
Liz Kowalczyk writes in The Boston Globe that the Harvard Medical School teaching hospital plans to remove the portraits of the former department chairs lining the walls of an ampitheater. Too white; too male. (Oh, and fuck history):
The hospital's president, Dr. Betsy Nabel, said she had considered ending the tradition of hanging pictures of retired chairs in the auditorium for several years, especially as more women and minorities train as doctors at the hospital. Of 1,631 residents and fellows training at the Brigham, 45 percent are women and 9 percent are black or Hispanic. Asians make up 28 percent of trainees; they are not considered an underrepresented minority in medicine."I have watched the faces of individuals as they have come into Bornstein,'' Nabel said in an interview in her office last week. "I have watched them look at the walls. I read on their faces 'Interesting. but I am not represented here.' That got me thinking maybe it's time that we think about respecting our past in a different way.''
How will this work? Will they rewrite history -- fictionalize it so they can have more "representative" pictures?
She did find people to thumbs-up her decision. I can likewise find people to thumbs-up the notion that what the paper says for Aquarius tells them something meaningful about their day. But should we start making policy according to horoscopes?
When she questioned staff and residents about the portraits, they confirmed her instincts. She said no one has openly objected to the change. Residents had been discussing the possibility of moving the portraits among themselves for several years.Titilayo Afolabi, a Nigerian-American and first-year student at the medical school, attended two events in the hall during her first month of school last August. She said she "definitely noticed'' the portraits but was not surprised.
Where will these odious white men's pictures go?
A committee will recommend what should replace the paintings, which have been commissioned by the hospital over the decades, starting with world-renowned leaders such as Dr. Harvey Cushing. Cushing, who is pictured in his white physician's coat, invented many brain surgery techniques and worked as the Brigham's chief surgeon from 1912 to 1932.The portraits of Cushing and two other founding chairs from the early 1900s, Dr. Henry Christian and Dr. William Councilman, will be displayed at the entrance to the new Hale Building for Transformative Medicine.
Finally, here's a question on this "representation thing -- aren't we all "represented" by people who've made important discoveries? Represented as human beings?
Also, related -- a tweet of mine from Monday, in response to Debra Soh's (BIPOC is "Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color):
I find it really divisive, the way we're made to constantly focus on color -- it's antithetical to seeing people as individuals and promotes seeing them as members of a category. It also suggests they're victims because of it.
— Amy Alkon (@amyalkon) June 18, 2018
Whoa. Can't we talk and get to know each other? https://t.co/SjOh0Xtd3y
I have a proposal, if they want to hide those men away they must also divest themselves from every using them as recruitment or teaching tools.
After all if they are so horrible that their faces cant even be shown surely any knowledge they discovered must be equally as evil
lujlp at June 19, 2018 2:04 AM
It's like those BDS people -- if you really want to "boycott and divest" from Israel, do it from all the technology and life-saving discoveries that wouldn't be possible without Israeli innovation. Starting with your smart phone. Integral parts of it were from Israelis. I suggest tossing it in the toilet.
Oh, did you think you could stop with boycotting hummus?
Amy Alkon at June 19, 2018 5:21 AM
"Will they rewrite history -- fictionalize it so they can have more 'representative' pictures?"
My guess is that they will take the history-began-the-day-I-was-born approach, and simply take all that came before as a fait accompli, the way that city people think of food. Eventually someone will come up with some kind of kooky narrative in which it was all stolen from some ancient tribe in Africa or South America.
"'I have watched the faces of individuals as they have come into Bornstein,' Nabel said in an interview in her office last week."
If that's true, then what she's saying is that all of these people have been trained to have an instant adverse reaction at the sight of a white male, anywhere. And then they wonder what is driving white identity politics...
"Where will these odious white men's pictures go?"
The SJWs will have a bonfire. To light the fire, they'll use lighters and gasoline invented by white men.
"aren't we all 'represented' by people who've made important discoveries? Represented as human beings?"
Damn straight. Marie Curie, George Carver, Ada Lovelace -- I celebrate their achievements as part of the triumph of humanity, and recognition that their work contributed to me being able to lead the life I lead.
Cousin Dave at June 19, 2018 6:07 AM
Why is it usually female education elites (college presidents, department chairs, "studies" professors) who want to ignore the enormous contributions of past researchers/developers who happen to be white males?
Is the intelligence, dedication, and hard work of these past genuises somehow evil? Are their life contributions tainted? Is all history of human achievement and advancement that involved white men to be eradicated?
Jay at June 19, 2018 6:34 AM
But should we start making policy according to horoscopes?
Why not? is it any worse than promoting people because of their genitalia or skin tone?
As is always, when in doubt, see if Iowahawk has posted wisdom pertaining to the problem at hand.
https://twitter.com/iowahawkblog/status/664089892599631872?lang=en
Wonder when they'll start with programs in holistic medicine?
I R A Darth Aggie at June 19, 2018 6:39 AM
And then they wonder what is driving white identity politics...
They've been so busy tribalizing everyone but white people that they've failed to notice that white people noticed this tribalization.
And now they're shocked! shocked!! to find out that more and more, white people are following that trend and voting in their tribe's self-interest.
I R A Darth Aggie at June 19, 2018 6:45 AM
"Why is it usually female education elites ..."
Because they feel useless and inadequate, because they are useless and inadequate, and they can only feel accomplished and superior by tearing down those who are accomplished and superior.
iowaan at June 19, 2018 7:21 AM
"Will they rewrite history -- fictionalize it so they can have more 'representative' pictures?"
Why not? Google does it. At least in English. You get better search results if you use Spanish.
Ben at June 19, 2018 7:22 AM
"...respecting our past in a different way.''
Hmmm, sounds like something Stalin might have said.
bkmale at June 19, 2018 7:27 AM
"When she questioned staff and residents about the portraits, they confirmed her instincts. She said no one has openly objected to the change."
So they did not stick their heads in a noose in front of her. Perhaps they realized it would be a career destroying trap.
Joe j at June 19, 2018 11:39 AM
This is why foundations and institutions increasingly restrict decision making over physical assets and capital investments, like facilities, to qualified boards.
There are just too many examples of a senior administrator ruining classic architecture or committing to some vanity project on a whim.
In this case the President of HMS is destroying a longstanding tradition and historical installation because she doesn't like the sex of those being honored.
margo at June 19, 2018 1:02 PM
Why would anyone wish to see a picture of anyone else, when we ourselves are the most precious beings ever to live?
Radwaste at June 19, 2018 3:50 PM
So, if a white man cures cancer tomorrow, do we invent a disabled, African-American transgendered lesbian to honor for the discovery?
If a white man does something worth honoring, he deserves to be honored, not shoved in the closet and forgotten. Likewise, if a disabled, African-American transgendered lesbian does something worth honoring, she deserves deserves to be honored.
Conan the Grammarian at June 19, 2018 5:49 PM
Leave a comment