Positive discrimination flourishes in Hyndburn.

[jambutty]

Originally Posted by garinda

Before anyone accuses me of racism, I'd be against schemes like this which targeted any specific group.

Happily the days when girls did cookery whilst boys did metalwork, are long since gone.

Nothing wrong with girls doing cookery and boys metal and woodwork providing the roles would be also be reversed. It would at least mean that one parent was able to cook healthy food and do basic DIY.

[Lilly]

I agree with Garinda that all areas of the curriculum should be available to everybody regardless of sex,colour etc.One thing that definitely should be taught to all pupils is cookery and how to cook a meal from scratch.It's ok the government warning us about the dangers of turkey twizzlers and convenience foods but there's not enough cookery taught in schools now and this needs to change or we'll never break the cycle.Another subject that could do with being covered is basic baby care.I know that hopefully most people won't have a baby until years after leaving school but even so,a lot of people haven't got a clue when they have their first,now that many families are smaller,often the first baby we hold is our own and we haven't a clue what to do with it so I think it would be good to cover the basics of baby care at school and teach it to both boys and girls

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by garinda

If there was a scheme to encourage white boys to study medecine because they were under represented, there would be quite rightly a massive protest.

I don't think there would be a massive protest if they were under represented - that's the whole point.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Gayle

I don't think there would be a massive protest if they were under represented - that's the whole point.

Everyone, regardless of colour, ethnic background, religion, and sex, has equal access to all areas of study in this country, therefore I think pigeonholing any group into various demographics is totally unnecessary.

[Neil]

Gayle and Gary I think you should meet on the big field in the park at 7pm and sort this out. It will be a fairish fight so no pulling Gayle's pigtails Gary and no kicking Gary in the you know whats Gayle.
I will be their to take the photos for AccyWeb

On second thoughts maybe we could make an event of it - The Battle Of The Two G's. Which saturday are you both free?

Who's wants to run a book? Put me a fiver on Gayle to win.

[Gayle]

What I meant was that there wouldn't be a massive protest if someone was promoting something to white boys if white boys were under represented in that area.

Not quite sure if it came across right.

I think if there is any under represented group in any area whether it's medicine or needlework, then the under represented group might just need a bit more encouragement to get them involved. Some times people choose not to go for things because they feel that 'it's not for them' or that they would be on their own if they did it. They sometimes need to know that it is something for them.

As I said earlier, I'm totally against positive selection - but ok with positive promotion. Lots of things are promoted specifically at different demographics - cars, beer, wine, clothes, etc.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Neil

Put me a fiver on Gayle to win.

You'll never be a millionaire..you always back the looser!

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Gayle

Some times people choose not to go for things because they feel that 'it's not for them' or that they would be on their own if they did it.

If that was the case, which I don't think it is, then the system needs to be changed to allow everyone equal access to all areas of study, and not through the targeting of specific sub-groups, which just causes resentment, and is ultimately self defeating and smacks of patronage.

[Bazf]

Positive discrimination undermines the achievements of minority applicants who are accepted on their own merits; it is patronising and suggests they cannot be employed on merit alone. It also create's the impression that a minority applicant was successful only because of positive discrimination. In addition, minorities themselves see positive discrimination as being condescending. It is rarely advocated by the minorities themselves but almost always by the majority out of a misguided sense of guilt. It is nothing more than tokenism.
The introduction of positive discrimination could lead to a backlash against minorities. It would cause resentment in those who were turned away and this would be directed against those who were accepted.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by garinda

You'll never be a millionaire..you always back the looser!

I did of course mean loser, and not looser of the two.

[garinda]

Marie Curie didn't let her sex, or her poor background, prevent her from following her ambitions.

[garinda]

Although it's not always accurate, this Wikipedia page raises some interesting points, especially that positive discrimination is unlawful in the UK.

Affirmative action - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[garinda]

'But the report by Warwick University's institute for employment research found that there were fewer white students following science courses than there should have been in relation to the size of the population.'

Ethnic minorities 'under-represented in science' | Special Reports | EducationGuardian.co.uk


Looks like they'll need to start another target group for whites only too, but then again that would be deemed racist.

Perhaps we should leave it as it is at present. Everyone, regardless of who they are studies these subjects, and if they are interested they then have every opportunity to pursue those studies further.

[ralph]

So when the Labour Party designate Church Ward an all women short list Gayle won't be 'talked' into being their candidate?

[Gayle]

I suppose the question would be whether any men put themselves forward for it. I mean, if they didn't then clearly it would be an all women short list, however, surely it could be called positive discrimination to put a man on the list when in fact they're just to make up numbers.

Originally Posted by ralph

So when the Labour Party designate Church Ward an all women short list Gayle won't be 'talked' into being their candidate?

Interesting that you would know that I'm even being 'talked' to.