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From: shor@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Melinda Shore)
Newsgroups: net.women,net.politics
Subject: Re: Discrimination and AA
Message-ID: <680@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 16-Jun-85 17:09:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: sphinx.680
Posted: Sun Jun 16 17:09:19 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 17-Jun-85 08:22:26 EDT
References: <483@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP>, <189@fear.UUCP>
Organization: U. Chicago - Computation Center
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Xref: watmath net.women:5867 net.politics:9438

[]
> From: robertp@fear.UUCP (Robert Plamondon)
> But the whole concept of affirmative action is based around
> fallacies.  One is that passing laws is going to eliminate racism.  

Very few people are naive enough to believe that passing laws will eliminate
racism.  Those of us who want to see some protective legislation believe that
there should be laws prohibiting *acts* of racism, sexism, and so on.  You
can't legislate what people believe, nor should you try.

> A final one is the assumption that it's horribly difficult for a woman to
> get a good job.  

I've never had trouble getting a job, either (although I know women who had
good reason to believe that they didn't get jobs on the basis of gender --
usually in a corporate environment).  I have, however, had the experience
of being treated differently on the job, once I had it.  I'm fortunate enough
to be in a position now where I feel I'm being treated fairly indeed by my
employer, but I find that users seem to prefer talking to male staff.
Discrimination is *real*, Mr. Plamandon.  What do you suggest we do about
it -- have bigots read books explaining why racism/sexism isn't nice?
-- 
Melinda Shore
University of Chicago Computation Center

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