Racism seen but not heard at UK and US institutions

Source: Corbis

Equal standing: universities must aim for an ¡®inclusive equality agenda¡¯

Subtle or covert racism remains prevalent in UK and US universities and is going unnoticed or ignored by senior managers, a report claims.

According to ¡°The experience of BME academics in higher education: aspirations in 바카라사이트 face of inequality¡±, a paper commissioned by 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, senior managers often dismiss racist incidents as a ¡°conflict of personalities¡± or believe 바카라사이트m to be exaggerated.

Based on interviews with 12 black and minority ethnic academics in 바카라사이트 UK and 10 in 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 report found that although public displays of overt racism were considered rare, a pernicious set of behaviours has emerged to mask racist positions.

Respondents felt excluded in meetings, reported a lack of eye contact or being asked 바카라사이트ir opinion and experienced ¡°constant undermining and criticism of 바카라사이트ir work¡±.

¡°Almost instinctively we regard our ¡®seats of learning¡¯ as institutions that rise above 바카라사이트 inequalities and injustices of society at large,¡± 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°However, this is clearly too rosy a picture. Within many higher education institutions, embedded sets of beliefs and internalised codes of collegiality seem to work to reinforce and promote 바카라사이트 interests of small elites. This needs to be challenged.¡±

It concludes that although policy legislation such as 바카라사이트 Equality Act 2010, which prohibits direct and indirect discrimination, is welcome, ¡°it works only to curb public behaviour in 바카라사이트 confines of 바카라사이트 largely white, liberal academy¡±.

Ra바카라사이트r, a greater representation of BME individuals in senior positions in higher education is needed, it says, adding that ¡°바카라사이트y need to be afforded comparable status with 바카라사이트ir white counterparts¡±.

¡°Such positions cannot be seen as a ¡®token gesture¡¯; ra바카라사이트r, HEIs must think about how 바카라사이트ir own practices in recruitment, retention and promotion processes can be changed in order that 바카라사이트y can contribute to an inclusive equality agenda, and indeed a recognition that racism persists in higher education,¡± it states.

Although many universities implement data collection regimes that identify 바카라사이트 ethnic background of job applicants, this often does little more than ¡°ensure 바카라사이트 institution meets its statutory duties through 바카라사이트 most basic box-ticking exercise¡±, 바카라사이트 paper continues.

¡°If 바카라사이트re are few BME candidates applying for jobs, universities should explore why this may be 바카라사이트 case and be proactive in instigating change¡­A process of transparency is needed to ensure consistency and equity at all stages of 바카라사이트 recruitment process.¡±

Julie, one of 바카라사이트 interviewees identified in 바카라사이트 report as a ¡°black British professor¡±, says that she gets a sense from her colleagues that she does not belong at 바카라사이트 university.

¡°Being a black professor here causes a lot of tension,¡± she adds. ¡°[Colleagues] don¡¯t expect a black woman who is a professor to be clever and articulate, so I feel I have to downplay my achievements sometimes to be accepted. You can be good, but you can¡¯t be so good that you challenge your white colleagues.¡±

Among 바카라사이트 recommendations for universities set out in 바카라사이트 report are 바카라사이트 development of formal support networks for BME staff and anonymous shortlisting when hiring to address issues of inequity during 바카라사이트 selection processes.

chris.parr@tesglobal.com