So, how do you get around the attitude that encouraging women and minorities
to major in math and science, necessarily means that you will discourage white
males? I have run up against this attitude several times. I just don't get it.
Why is it that guys who HAVE JOBS, somehow feel persecuted? (Yeah I understand
about the loss of privilege, etc, but...) I could see if they were standing in
the unemployment line, but the men I talk to who feel this way are in tenure
stream positions. Hardly what I would call persecution. (Of course, I should
talk. I also have a tenure stream position. I have been guilty of thinking
that my being female was part of the reason I got the job. I am one of 5
tenure stream women in a nat sci faculty of 50+).
I have also run up against this gem: If there are only say, 4 women in your
pool of 75 applicants for a job, the probability that one of them will be the
BEST candidate is very small. Thus if you hire one of them, the likelihood is
that you did not hire the best candidate. (NOT MY WORDS!!!)
I think THAT is my favorite.
Karen
