Reply to I understand the need for "Empowering Males of Color", but the tone of this is exclusive offensive

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Reply to "I understand the need for "Empowering Males of Color", but the tone of this is exclusive offensive"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't have a problem with this, but they should have added a line saying all students are welcome.

I know from experience that people get upset when you focus. I ran a woman's group at work for years. Females have different challenges in the work place and we focused on those. One man complained and wanted us to end it, so I added that anyone can join. If a man wants to hear about breast feeding at the office or the glass ceiling they should feel free to join.

A DCPS student who does not fit the focus group
may find that nothing applies to them, but they should be invited. [/quote]

That man shouldn’t have been invited in your space. You should have instead advised him to form his own group.
Just like a woman may not speak as comfortably in a space where men are present, the same goes for people of color. Sometimes our conversations and deeply personal experiences are best shared amongst people like ourselves. We have very few spaces where it’s just US. Let US have something.[/quote]

I disagree. I think by making it a "woman's group" or a "POC group" or whatever, you continue to make it something separate and apart from the white, male "norm." If we really believe that women's issues are people's issues and that we want white people to better understand the issues POC face, then I don't think it is helpful to make it seem like men or white people aren't welcome into the conversation. I don't think anyone is asking someone to go out of their way to invite them or make sure they are attending, but it does send a signal that "this isn't for you" when you see language like that. There are definitely mixed signals going on here. [/quote]

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