Luke Visconti’s Ask the White Guy column is a top draw on Fair360.com. Visconti, the founder and CEO of Fair360, formerly DiversityInc, is a nationally recognized leader in diversity management. In his popular column, readers who ask Visconti tough questions about race/culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability and age can expect smart, direct and disarmingly frank answers.
Question:
Do you think white men are biased in regards to hiring white females to fill positions and meet minority hiring goals in corporations Personally, I have witnessed a trend in this direction (even though that white female is not as qualified). There are some white males that would prefer to hire “white females” in their quest to meet minority hiring goals. I think this is another form of hidden racism. Yes, white females are considered minorities, BUT, why should they be hired at the expense of another minority female
Answer:
Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 data shows that white women have been the chief beneficiaries of diversity programs. You may want to see the very lively discussion about white women led by Dr. Ella Bell in our Women of Color roundtable.
In my opinion, this is a logical progression. U.S. corporations are run primarily by white men. Access to education has diversified the talent pool, so companies are compelled to diversify their selections. Most white men have never trusted a person of color in their lives, but many have trusted white women. You get further from the typical white man’s “comfort zone” when you add in race, culture, orientation and disability.
No comfort, no selection.
That’s why you should very carefully consider where you work and who you do business with. The companies in the Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 have demonstrated superior (unbiased) talent development.
