Be warned: this post might ruffle a few feathers.
I have increasingly started to feel that being a female is a blessing in disguise in this age. Sops galore. For them. *Just* for them. All around. Parliament, engg colleges, bschools, jobs. You name it. Some explicit, some under the garb of "diversity", while some under the garb of women empowerment.
I am not talking about rural India where women are *actually* denied - even in the 21st century - equal opportunities. And true, these women surely deserve a push - either economical or through some upliftment. I am talking about a global phenomenon wherein institutions - governmental or otherwise - in the name of showcasing how 'welcoming' they are towards women, prefer them OVER men just for the sake of "numbers". In other words, merit be damned, welcome to "male discrimination".
And no, this is not a random blabber. Few years back, the chairman of the petroleum engg department at Stanford talked quite unambiguously about the department's preference for female candidates. So much so, that it chose to admit female candidates with average records apparently to showcase its 'openness' towards women. What a shame!
Ditto for jobs. Schlumberger, an oilfield services company, has a track record of hiring women just to make up the numbers. I know of many such hirings myself. And yes, merit be damned.
Dont get me wrong. I am not saying that every female candidate gets it all on a platter. Many indeed deserve their place. But many, unfortunately, have it easy at the cost of the more deserving. My point is: male candidates not only have to fight the competition from more meritorious students, they also need to fight something over which they have no control - gender. The good thing (atleast in schools), however, is that, once in, the individual merit matters more than anything else.
Any surprise then that McCain chose a clueless, knowledgeless Sarah Palin as his running mate? It is just his ploy to garner female votes - including those from the Clinton supporters. And if he wins, it would be a masterstroke. I can understand why politicians do this. The world over. Such stunts fetch them votes. But why educational institutes? What could they possibly gain by glazing over merit. Maybe they get more grants when they show the growing % of women.
When merit gives way to vested interests, there is nothing you can do but just hope the dice turns in your favor. And, THAT, I say, is a big shame.
13 comments:
Agreed on some points but not all. :)
I think both Men and Women USE their Gender for different things at different times. Cos of that, we r equally guilty. Dun u think?
**My point is: male candidates not only have to fight the competition from more meritorious students, they also need to fight something over which they have no control - gender.
But the same point plays for Women too...Men r bossy and dominating in the corporate world. Most higher and senior jobs go to MEN just cos they r MEN.
wut say?
Keshi.
Women were not even allowed education just a century back. Get your history right. You've no clue how women have had it over centuries everywhere.
If after oppression of every possible kind over many many years a hand number of women get into some educational institute or work places, why is it making 'open minded' individuals like you angry?
Don't cry unfair when you see some dumb women in front. Double the number of dumb men have got it easy and even ruled the world. Sad someone like you should think this way.
Such posts make you sound bordering on the lines of being pseud.
kesariya: You are right, for all practical purpose, most industries are run by men. But what I am saying is that at the entry level, be it at in an engg school, bschool, jobs and in some cases even the parliament, it is easier for lesser deserving women (based on merit) to get through.
anonymous: looks like you are quite perturbed ;) Did I strike a nerve somewhere?
Well, if you had read the 2nd para you wouldnt be talking about history and all that jazz. Why should the present generation unoppressed women benefit for the "centuries of oppression", as you put it, that some section had to go through. Again, you are missing the point when you randomly blabber about "dumb men"..sure there are many who game the system for vested interests. But my point was never to compare the corruption level of men vs women. All I am saying is that in most fields women (due to their gender) do have an inherent advantage (by default) at the ENTRY level. Men dont. They might be corrupt, pervert, nasty, arrogant, mcp, but they dont have this advantage.
And you are free to personally attack me but that would reflect more on you than on me ;) Maybe thats why you chose to stay anonymous ;)
**But what I am saying is that at the entry level, be it at in an engg school, bschool, jobs and in some cases even the parliament, it is easier for lesser deserving women (based on merit) to get through.
oh ok..but is that in India?
Keshi.
keshi: it's in the US in the name of "affirmative action" and also in many other countries. That's ok, there are more horrendously unfair things going on in the world..this is just a small portion of it ;)
If I'm hiding behind my Anonymous tag, you are hiding behind your second paragraph and winking (which btw reminds me of Sarah Palin)...
The very argument arises out of comparison of gender, then you can escape comparison of past with the present. Else don't compare or complain at all. Women are out there and even the dumb ones are part of the competition in this crazy world.
If we want to talk Gender Politics, we'll be more or less playing in mud, it's a much much complicated area. All of it just doesn't come a full circle cause competent young men are complaining about how it is easy for women at the entry level.
And when I chose not to be anonymous, you just get another reason to wink.
anon: Heh. Strange outburst. Any commenter is welcome to this blog. So if anonymousness helps you be more brutally honest, go for it.
I respect your opinion but I am afraid you are not addressing my point. I am not blaming women for being women. I love women. But my point is: women of ALL racial groups shouldnt be a beneficiary of "affirmative action". That's like a blanket protection for every woman. Of course this is political and of course this is complicated. But it's not fair. Now you might argue that there are many things in world that men do that arent fair. True. But many wrongs dont make 1 right. Right now I am talking about *this* wrong.. so dont digress to irrelevant points. WHY do you think women who are *already* a part of mainstream society in the US be considered for "affirmative action"? In other words, assuming you are a 40 yr aunty with 2 kids, one boy and one girl. Why do you think it would be fair for your daughter (who has the same opportunities as your son) to get advantage for reasons other than merit?
ps: and you are right, I am getting winkier by the day thanks to Palindrome.
oh ok...Im not sure if that happend in AUS tho...
Keshi.
Reading your comments are almost as interesting as reading your entry. :)
You bring up a valid point. It's fine that there are certain "policies" put in place to increase, and potentially encourage, more women in the workforce or educational institutions, but in today's mostly balanced corporate world (at least in developed cities) placing "regulations" to ensure that there is no gender bias by purposing giving lesser-qualified women more jobs than the better-qualified men is gender discrimination in itself... against the men! So if we were once discriminating against the women, we are now discriminating against the men?! Haha.
I believe there is still awhile to go before women feel completely liberated and at ease in the largely male corporate world, but we're getting there. I'm sure having some of these policies in place help women get their foot in the door, but care must be taken that women aren't employed JUST BECAUSE they are women... but because they are well-qualified women who can compete with other well-qualified men on merits other than their gender.
Interesting entry. :)
Hello !.
might , perhaps curious to know how one can collect a huge starting capital .
There is no initial capital needed You may commense to get income with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.
AimTrust is what you need
The company incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.
Its head office is in Panama with affiliates around the world.
Do you want to become an affluent person?
That`s your choice That`s what you wish in the long run!
I`m happy and lucky, I started to get real money with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to select a proper partner who uses your money in a right way - that`s it!.
I take now up to 2G every day, and my first investment was 500 dollars only!
It`s easy to join , just click this link http://mexopuwyw.lookseekpages.com/hihyky.html
and go! Let`s take this option together to become rich
Hi !.
You may , probably curious to know how one can make real money .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may start to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.
AimTrust is what you haven`t ever dreamt of such a chance to become rich
The company represents an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.
Its head office is in Panama with affiliates everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become a happy investor?
That`s your choice That`s what you wish in the long run!
I feel good, I began to get income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to choose a proper companion utilizes your funds in a right way - that`s the AimTrust!.
I take now up to 2G every day, and my first investment was 500 dollars only!
It`s easy to get involved , just click this link http://zikypove.arcadepages.com/wyjupon.html
and lucky you`re! Let`s take our chance together to get rid of nastiness of the life
Good day, sun shines!
There have were times of hardship when I felt unhappy missing knowledge about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright pessimistic person.
I have never imagined that there weren't any need in large starting capital.
Now, I feel good, I started to get real income.
It gets down to select a proper partner who utilizes your money in a right way - that is incorporate it in real business, parts and divides the income with me.
You may get interested, if there are such firms? I have to tell the truth, YES, there are. Please get to know about one of them:
http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]
Hi!
You may probably be very curious to know how one can manage to receive high yields on investments.
There is no need to invest much at first.
You may commense to get income with a money that usually goes
for daily food, that's 20-100 dollars.
I have been participating in one project for several years,
and I'm ready to let you know my secrets at my blog.
Please visit my pages and send me private message to get the info.
P.S. I earn 1000-2000 per day now.
http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]
Post a Comment