DEI Training at a UCC leads to a hostile working environment

[DynamicDidactic]

Saw this today and thought it was worth sharing:

EEOC complaint against Stanford alleges DEI program created hostile environment for Jewish staff

Two Stanford University mental health practitioners say a diversity, equity and inclusion program launched by the campus counseling center created a hostile environment for Jewish employees.

www.insidehighered.com

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[Sanman]

No surprise there. I have a feeling this will continue to happen and these programs will either be gone or legislated into meaningless drivel. There is a chance that they will become better. But unlikely.

 

[erg923]

No surprise there. I have a feeling this will continue to happen and these programs will either be gone or legislated into meaningless drivel. There is a chance that they will become better. But unlikely.

Wants to promote diversity, understanding, and inclusion. Segregates by race for differing discussions of self and the other. Genius.

 

[Fano]

“There was a blind spot in this DEI program when it came to Jewish identity,” Lewin said. “It erased Jewish identity. There was no space for these Jewish employees to share their lived experience, to raise their concerns about anti-Semitism. When they tried, they were attacked.”

It's not a blind spot. It's a feature. The newspeak of these programs should be obvious.

 

[WisNeuro]

Well, the progressive left saves its worst vitriol for itself. Just sit back and let them cannibalize each other for a few years while the far right wins back the Senate and House.

 

[Shiori]

Yeah, I'm usually disappointed in the diversity promoting initiatives. It often feels like a feel-good "tick the box" approach by leadership. I rarely walk away feeling challenged or more knowledgeable. I have to do my own work if I want to accomplish anything longer lasting or substantial.

 

[psych.meout]

Well, the progressive left saves its worst vitriol for itself. Just sit back and let them cannibalize each other for a few years while the far right wins back the Senate and House.

This isn't the left, this is corporate liberalism, like the Robin DiAngelo's grifting. It's not meant to actually address issues of DEI, because that would require looking at things like institutional policies, labor relations, etc., which have tangible impacts on DEI and people's daily work lives. Management and executives don't want to talk about these things because it would affect their bottom lines and the power differential between them and employees. Instead, they want to pay lip service to DEI by coercing employees into these absurd trainings that atomize DEI issues as individual employee problems so that they can scapegoat individuals for the consequences of institutional action. And pointing this out or any other critique or objection to DEI trainings then shows them who the "troublemakers" are and gives a pretext to discipline them, especially when these trainings have the circular logic of any criticism being evidence of "fragility" or bias and thereby necessitate these trainings.

 

[WisNeuro]

This isn't the left, this is corporate liberalism, like the Robin DiAngelo's grifting. It's not meant to actually address issues of DEI, because that would require looking at things like institutional policies, labor relations, etc., which have tangible impacts on DEI and people's daily work lives. Management and executives don't want to talk about these things because it would affect their bottom lines and the power differential between them and employees. Instead, they want to pay lip service to DEI by coercing employees into these absurd trainings that atomize DEI issues as individual employee problems so that they can scapegoat individuals for the consequences of institutional action. And pointing this out or any other critique or objection to DEI trainings then shows them who the "troublemakers" are and gives a pretext to discipline them, especially when these trainings have the circular logic of any criticism being evidence of "fragility" or bias and thereby necessitate these trainings.

It's corporate liberalism trying to appease the far left, but it is not unique to corporate institutions. These things are popping up in a lot of other places, especially psychology orgs where there are no shareholders. It's fairly broad-ranging, and there is no real room for moderate or even mid-left of center discussions at the moment.

 

[psych.meout]

It's corporate liberalism trying to appease the far left, but it is not unique to corporate institutions. These things are popping up in a lot of other places, especially psychology orgs where there are no shareholders. It's fairly broad-ranging, and there is no real room for moderate or even mid-left of center discussions at the moment.

That's not what the "far left" is and it's not about appeasing them, because they have very little power or influence. It's about appeasing centrist liberals who want to superficially appear that they care about marginalized groups, but without putting in the time, money, or effort to do anything about it. And it's not really about "shareholders," it's about institutional power and liberal ideology.

 

[beginner2011]

There are about a half dozen DEI-related working groups at my institution (large VA medical center), all of which have different missions. Participation is optional. Some of them have a broad enough agenda that it would be appropriate for folks with a Jewish identity to share about their lived experience of marginalization or oppression, some of them that would not be appropriate.

Not knowing the specific details of this situation, I'll withhold judgment. Having participated in something similar to what's described here as "affinity groups," I've had positive experiences. I also believe there is a place for conversation centered around increasing my own awareness of systemic issues related to my own group identities, and increasing willingness to speak openly about the topic with others in a professional environment.

 

[WisNeuro]

That's not what the "far left" is and it's not about appeasing them, because they have very little power or influence. It's about appeasing centrist liberals who want to superficially appear that they care about marginalized groups, but without putting in the time, money, or effort to do anything about it. And it's not really about "shareholders," it's about institutional power and liberal ideology.

I'd urge you to get more involved with governance, as I think you underestimate the power and influence of some groups.

 

[R. Matey]

Well, I've heard quite a few horror stories about the Stanford UCC so nothing about what I'm reading surprises me there. We did something similar at my UCC internship last year after George Floyd and it was a very positive experience for everyone. I think a lot of it comes down to the skill and racial identity development of the folks presenting the material. I've had both great and awful experiences in MC trainings. I've often wondered if large group formats (opposed to diads with a moderator) are really the best format for these kinds of discussion given a wide range of racial identity developmental phases in the room. I understand they're cheap and stakeholders just want to check boxes, but there is no real research to support their efficacy.

 

[summerbabe]

We did something similar at my UCC internship last year after George Floyd and it was a very positive experience for everyone. I think a lot of it comes down to the skill and racial identity development of the folks presenting the material. I've had both great and awful experiences in MC trainings.

Sounds like what you had was driven by promoting exploration and reflection and the lawsuit alleges something driven that was driven by ideology and any exploration/reflection/etc had to occur within the confines established by the people in charge.

The latter approach in any domain is likely bound to be problematic in some shape, regardless of how worthy the original thing is.

 

[beginner2011]

Sounds like what you had was driven by promoting exploration and reflection and the lawsuit alleges something driven that was driven by ideology and any exploration/reflection/etc had to occur within the confines established by the people in charge.

The latter approach in any domain is likely bound to be problematic in some shape, regardless of how worthy the original thing is.

What does problematic mean? If I attend a meeting for a working group that is focused on revising the clinic's intake processes and I insist that we take time to talk about how disastrous the discharge process is, is it problematic for the working group members to ask me to stay on topic?

 

[borne_before]

This isn't a bug of postmodernism, it's a feature. It's about being as divisive as possible. The shift has been focus on segregating identity politics instead of common identity. I sound so paranoid when I say this, but, it's about exerting power over others on the hierarchy and no about making things better. Maybe we shouldn't let colleges of education, sociology, etc., run things? Especially, if they don't have a cogent framework or theory for improving things.

 

[Sanman]

What does problematic mean? If I attend a meeting for a working group that is focused on revising the clinic's intake processes and I insist that we take time to talk about how disastrous the discharge process is, is it problematic for the working group members to ask me to stay on topic?

That depends on whether the discharge process is affecting intakes (for example, dropouts later coming back). If that is the case and no one is allowed to discuss how the entire process affects this area, then it is a problem. In this case, the two employees identified as Jewish, not "white". Telling them they are "white" is a problem. The issue here is trying to fit real life into a box.

 

[borne_before]

From the complaint: "Jewish staff have been pressured to attend the DEI program’s racially segregated “whiteness accountability” affinity group, which was created for “staff who hold privilege via white identity” and “who are white identified, may be newly grappling with or realizing their white identity, or identify as or are perceived as white presenting or passing (aka seen as white by others even though you hold other identities).”


OMFG I'm so glad I'm out of the academy.

It seems like the complaint is going from the Jewish standpoint. I wonder if there will ever be a lawsuit that would allege a hostile working environment for just being plain old white.

 

[Sanman]

From the complaint: "Jewish staff have been pressured to attend the DEI program’s racially segregated “whiteness accountability” affinity group, which was created for “staff who hold privilege via white identity” and “who are white identified, may be newly grappling with or realizing their white identity, or identify as or are perceived as white presenting or passing (aka seen as white by others even though you hold other identities).”


OMFG I'm so glad I'm out of the academy.

It seems like the complaint is going from the Jewish standpoint. I wonder if there will ever be a lawsuit that would allege a hostile working environment for just being plain o

The bigger question is whether you are excused from this affinity group if you get a spray tan. I mean, you're more orange than white at that point.

 

[WisNeuro]

The bigger question is whether you are excused from this affinity group if you get a spray tan. I mean, you're more orange than white at that point.

What if you wear glitter body lotion on a daily basis?

 

[Fano]

The bigger question is whether you are excused from this affinity group if you get a spray tan. I mean, you're more orange than white at that point.

There's definitely a very large anti-Orange bias in our country so I'd advise against that.

 

[R. Matey]

Sounds like what you had was driven by promoting exploration and reflection and the lawsuit alleges something driven that was driven by ideology and any exploration/reflection/etc had to occur within the confines established by the people in charge.

Right. What I'm saying is that I've seen different presenters handle Jewish identity differently. Those who are further along in their racial identity development have been able to acknowledge the varying degrees of privilege and oppression encapsulated within an individual.

 

[DynamicDidactic]

something similar at a master's counseling program

OCR opens inquiry into Brooklyn College anti-Semitism charges

Complaint alleges Jewish students in Brooklyn College’s mental health counseling program were painted by professors and fellow students as “white and privileged” and complicit in the oppression of people of color.

www.insidehighered.com

 

[WisNeuro]

I'm just going to take a step back from politics and let the fringe portion of each side finish eating their own and imploding before getting back in the water.