why are so many HR people of color?

[Anonymous]

HR is going to mostly women anywhere. In DC there are lots of black people so naturally it will be a lot of black women.

If you look at other mostly white areas HR tends to be mostly white women. Women tend to avoid technical fields (though this is changing).

[Anonymous]

I am a woman "of color" and have only noticed a lot of AA women HR chiefs, generalists, etc. in the DC area. In NY, Boston, and Philly I mostly encountered white women.

[Anonymous]

I work in HR consulting. I do see a lot of AA in less progressive/govt organizations. but the more progressive/global the company, the more white men you see leading the charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in HR consulting. I do see a lot of AA in less progressive/govt organizations. but the more progressive/global the company, the more white men you see leading the charge.

Not sure I follow.

What are you trying to say?

[Anonymous]

i work at a science-y federal agency and have long noticed a stark difference in diversity between the more operational/administrative/financial vs. technical wings in my field. it was like that when i worked in nonprofits too.
i suspect that historically (and presently) there are a lot of barriers to minorities achieving the level/kind of education and experience necessary to work in more technical positions. i think my agency is slowly realizing that promoting diversity in the workplace is not as much about the sheer numbers of minorities, but also the percentage of minorities in management and technical positions as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i work at a science-y federal agency and have long noticed a stark difference in diversity between the more operational/administrative/financial vs. technical wings in my field. it was like that when i worked in nonprofits too.
i suspect that historically (and presently) there are a lot of barriers to minorities achieving the level/kind of education and experience necessary to work in more technical positions. i think my agency is slowly realizing that promoting diversity in the workplace is not as much about the sheer numbers of minorities, but also the percentage of minorities in management and technical positions as well.

And, what are those barriers, honey, in the era of affirmative action?

You mean, their parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sure is at my Federal agency and a few of my close friends agencies as well.

Not sure why, but maybe because the job doesn't require a degree? And it's more of an administrative job that doesn't require a specific skill set?

Many of the HR people at my org have graduate degrees

But that wasn't always the standard or usual. Many times the positions didn't require a college degree and where just a higher level admin position. So if someone came in out of high school and did well as an admin, they moved up and the HR was a place that offered such mobility.

This was true for my cousin (white) -- she started at an entry-level admin job out of HS in a big company in DC, worked her way up and is now a senior HR manager. Still doesn't have a college degree although is now at the point where she's being encouraged to go to school to get it because further advancement will be hindered by her lack of a degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i work at a science-y federal agency and have long noticed a stark difference in diversity between the more operational/administrative/financial vs. technical wings in my field. it was like that when i worked in nonprofits too.
i suspect that historically (and presently) there are a lot of barriers to minorities achieving the level/kind of education and experience necessary to work in more technical positions. i think my agency is slowly realizing that promoting diversity in the workplace is not as much about the sheer numbers of minorities, but also the percentage of minorities in management and technical positions as well.

And, what are those barriers, honey, in the era of affirmative action?

You mean, their parents?

By the time affirmative action comes into play (college), I suspect it is too late. I am saying this as an AA woman who was given every advantage and know it makes a world of a difference and would never belittle other people just because they were not as lucky as I am.

oh and HR has always been mostly women (just like nursing) and for this area they are more likely to be AA because of demographic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i work at a science-y federal agency and have long noticed a stark difference in diversity between the more operational/administrative/financial vs. technical wings in my field. it was like that when i worked in nonprofits too.
i suspect that historically (and presently) there are a lot of barriers to minorities achieving the level/kind of education and experience necessary to work in more technical positions. i think my agency is slowly realizing that promoting diversity in the workplace is not as much about the sheer numbers of minorities, but also the percentage of minorities in management and technical positions as well.

And, what are those barriers, honey, in the era of affirmative action?

You mean, their parents?

By the time affirmative action comes into play (college), I suspect it is too late. I am saying this as an AA woman who was given every advantage and know it makes a world of a difference and would never belittle other people just because they were not as lucky as I am.

oh and HR has always been mostly women (just like nursing) and for this area they are more likely to be AA because of demographic.

In other words, parents. I agree. But what's the solution to that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's considered a "pink collar" job like nursing and teaching - perhaps there is some paralell?

Teaching and nursing are not considered "pink collar" jobs. Pink collar jobs are florist, receptionist, dental hygienist, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my federal agency it is predominately AA women. Some men.

+1
My take is that, for people who want a very stable job but might not have had the opportunity to go to college or to go beyond college, Fed admin work is very attractive, and HR is a specialty that is better paid. In this area, where race and SES are highly correlated (see the recent discussions of schools...), people who fit this description (interested in finding steady work, might not have had the opportunity to attend college or beyond) are often AA women.

This opinion, all over this thread, is insulting. I am, by the way, a white woman. The idea that it's because they're black and they aren't formally educated. HUH? My initial reaction is that black people may be attracted to HR because it involves, to some extent, equal opportunity concerns, which may be of interest to people to whom that label applies. I'm a female in a technical field, so it appeals to me also. Actually, I've known more admins to go into program analyst work than anything else. That does usually require a college degree. So does acquisitions, which at my agency seems to attract a lot of vets looking to get in as admins and move somewhere else.

In my federal agency many HR people have degrees. If not all of those that I know personally. It's very difficult to get into the government without a college degree in any white collar field. Regardless of your race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's considered a "pink collar" job like nursing and teaching - perhaps there is some paralell?

Teaching and nursing are not considered "pink collar" jobs. Pink collar jobs are florist, receptionist, dental hygienist, etc.

Have never heard of "pink collar." What's that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's considered a "pink collar" job like nursing and teaching - perhaps there is some paralell?

Teaching and nursing are not considered "pink collar" jobs. Pink collar jobs are florist, receptionist, dental hygienist, etc.

Sorry, you're wrong. Teaching and nursing were some of THE pink collar jobs. My mom said when she was young she played a board game where you had to choose your career from teacher, nurse, stewardess or secretary. We laughed about it because pink collar is what women used to be restricted to.

[Anonymous]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink-collar_worker Nurse and teacher are listed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This opinion, all over this thread, is insulting. .

I would just like to clarify that, when I typed "insulting", I meant "racist". I don't mean you ARE a racist, but you should be aware that that's the implication by these statements so you don't.....you know.....say them out loud to anyone.