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UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

cs.ubc.ca

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Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#51
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So does that change what the site says? Does that change the requirements for the position?

Well, since being a woman is also valid, the title talking about “minorities” is wrong.

Yes. Only straight, white males are explicitly verboten from applying.

And it’s ok to discriminate those, right? Right?

Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#52
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The pacific northwest, on the Canadian side, has its own divergent terms of inclusivity. Mostly in reference to existing forms of inclusivity that were never controversial in some of the pre-colonial civilizations that already existed there. But require labels and grouping with other edge cases for any meaningful representation and protection in the post-colonial society. That being said, it means the rest of us dont…

Explain like I'm 5?

Are you a biological woman that enjoys hunting? Two-Spirit.

Are you a biological man that enjoys maintaining a household? Two-Spirit.

It is an indigenous cultural construct for allowing variation in gender constructs.

Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#53
Going from the code:

> Special programs 42

> (1)It is not discrimination or a contravention of this Code to plan, advertise, adopt or implement an employment equity program that

> (a)has as its objective the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups who are disadvantaged because of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, and

> (b)achieves or is reasonably likely to achieve that objective.

> (2)[Repealed 2002-62-23.]

> (3)On application by any person, with or without notice to any other person, the commissioner may approve any program or activity that has as its objective the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups.

> (4)Any program or activity approved under subsection (3) is not in contravention of this Code.

It's fair to assume they have a representation gap that they need to ameliorate among their current tenured quantum researchers, hence the hiring restriction.

No comments on whether or not that's "right" or "wrong," but that's the inference.

Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#54
post #4

> In accordance with UBC’s CRC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan, and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be restricted to members of the following designated groups: persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, women and gender minorities (transgender, gender-fluid, nonbinary and Two-Spirit people), and racialized minorities. Applicants to CRC positions are asked to comp…

Quoted post unavailable.

It's the Aboriginal version of 'transgender / queer'.

The paradox is - if there isn't an objective way to identify these groups, then arguably they do not exist other than purely in terms of 'self identification' which is a serious blow to the legitimacy of anything, really.

So if LGBTQ+ were formal categories, then we could just use those instead of adding 'Two Spirit'. We wouldn't use the Aboriginal, German or Japanese words for them, because that would make no sense, we have words for things which exist already.

But because categories are culturally defined, but more paradoxically - self-defined - then it exposes a serious problem of postmodernism.

Everyone should apply to the position as 'Two Spirit' - there literally is no material definition for the categorization, and the Canadian Supreme Court would be bending itself backwards in Asana Yoga poses to find out how to apply the Woke Terminology that lacks any definition.

The Law is inexorably funded on objectivity, it can't very well function otherwise.

Pulling the thread on this Sweater will undo it completely, the best thing to do is start pulling on it hard because it will expose the inanity of it all.

I actually do support people in vulnerable situations, and getting people from marginalized communities into systems which they feel they can't participate in, but this isn't the playbook we should be using.

Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#55

Just to be clear, they seem to be only excluding able-bodied cisgender white men. Which is not to say it's a great policy, but in the interests of precision: > In accordance with UBC’s CRC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan, and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be restricted to members of the following designated groups: persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, wome…

Actually we in Germany ( and I heard similar things about the Netherlands [1] ) have quite a few funding tracks that require gender equity for newly created professorships. In the final consequence many openings need to be restricted to only women so this opening is actually more open. Often the story has a recent prequel in which not enough women could be hired (the reason can be manifold and at least some of them are a result of systematic yet often not immediate discrimination)

[1] https://eige.europa.eu/gender-mainstreaming/toolkits/gear/ex...

Edit: added link

Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#56

Codified racism, plain and simple.

Not racism because it doesn't apply to race minorities only, but also disabilities, sexual orientations, or simply women (which aren't even a minority), but I can still understand that some might find it disturbing.

Being a racist has nothing to do with being a minority or not. Let’s not forget that. The typical expression is majority onto minority group, but that is not a requirement. I.e. if I move to China (or your country of choice) I can in fact be racist toward the majority Han Chinese people living there despite me being a white minority. Likewise they may persecute me for my race and that would also be racism.

I’d also argue the majority/minority thing is weakened in a global context. Why limit such things to the border of a county, city, or nation state?

Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#57

The poster should revise their headline as it is inaccurate. A job posting that is aimed at female applicants (among other groups) is hardly "non-minority". It is definitely a diversity targeted policy.

It might be an honest mistake. The definition of “minority” is one of those things that is very fluid lately.

Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "Two-spirit" is a new one on me In that case, perhaps google it rather than make glib remarks about it?

Two Spirit is considered a contemporary, umbrella term that is specific to the Indigenous LGBT2QQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two Spirit, queer, questioning, intersexual, asexual) community. Frankly I'm not sure whether to laugh at the idea a gender identity can be limited to a specific ethnicity or to condemn it as inherently racist. This is entirely too meta.

To be fair, I'm pretty sure "specific to" here means "comes from the culture of," not "can only ever apply to people of the following ethnicity."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_gender

> [Third gender is] a social category present in societies that recognize three or more genders.

This article provides some examples from around the world of cultures which recognize nonbinary genders. I'm not used to that, and evidently you aren't either, because the concept isn't "specific to" the cultures we grew up in.

Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#59
post #4

> In accordance with UBC’s CRC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan, and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be restricted to members of the following designated groups: persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, women and gender minorities (transgender, gender-fluid, nonbinary and Two-Spirit people), and racialized minorities. Applicants to CRC positions are asked to comp…

This is racial discrimination. It's unfair and should be illegal.

I understand that in some countries with a long history of racial segregation there still is a culture of casual (or even subconscious) racism when considering new hires or university applicants. It's unspoken but very real and unless you've been an immigrant or minority you don't get to see the full extend of it.

But (and it's a big but) you don't solve this problem with more racism. I see headlines about US universities rejecting applicants because of their race or skin colour and how they "already have enough of them". That is crazy. Imagine how unfair it is to be rejected on that basis.

It's hard to tackle conspiring racists as a legislator. That's why all these weird half-measures came to be. But there are better ways. Standardized tests as the main or only criteria for university entry. Effective committees that oversee hiring choices and seek for evidence of racism and favoritism in the choices made by companies.

But when you impose objective criteria you risk hurting the wealthy and well-connected. So it's "better" to just shove a few more minorities on the list and make it look right without it actually being fair.

Another serious side-effect of this is that it breeds racism and resentment.

Re: UBC bans non-minority candidates from applying for tenure-track quantum position

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

It's the Aboriginal version of 'transgender / queer'. The paradox is - if there isn't an objective way to identify these groups, then arguably they do not exist other than purely in terms of 'self identification' which is a serious blow to the legitimacy of anything, really. So if LGBTQ+ were formal categories, then we could just use those instead of adding 'Two Spirit'. We wouldn't use the Aboriginal, German or Japa…

Is there an objective way for the government to identify gay people that isn't based on self identification? If a gay man's rights are being violated on a protected basis, does the court refuse to hear the case until he has sex with another man in front of the judge and jury?

Self identification is entirely how social categories function.

Postmodernism isn't prescriptive, it's descriptive - it describes how things already work.

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