10 Myths about EEO Plous chapter Identify the 10 myths about Equal employment opportunity (EEO) Falsify each with empirical evidence or logical reasoning Compare with myths in Human Rights Doc

Colour-blind policies do not result in a colour-blind society Non-EEO Policies Colour-blind policies do not result in a colour-blind society Whites are advantaged by colour blind policies Promotion via seniority advantages Whites bec they are usually senior Admissions solely on aptitude test scores hide educational disadvantages due to SES/race See also gladwell’s point that aptitude test scores fail to predict performance in the “‘distant future” performance (i.e. they have decreasing “predictive” validity although they have concurrent validity)

EEO has increased representation of women and VM Results of EEO EEO has increased representation of women and VM Canadian Human Rights Commission 2004 Annual Report Still, all is NOT fair today Indicators of discrimination like representation at top management levels, wage gaps, unemployment rates show inequalities (CRRF report based on 1996 census)

One theory of what affects Whites’ unemployment VMs employment Whites’ unemployment

What affects Whites’ unemployment Downsizing VMs employment Whites’ unemployment Outsourcing Automation

EEO does not result in losses to Whites Results of EEO EEO does not result in losses to Whites Percent of unemployed VMs compared to percent of employed Whites is small (2%) Percent of qualified unemployed VMs compared to employed Whites is smaller (<1%) Main causes of job loss are Outsourcing Automation (e.g., computerization) Downsizing

If Jewish/Asian people can advance, why not those of African descent? Comparing VM groups If Jewish/Asian people can advance, why not those of African descent? History of African Canadians (slavery, forced migration, legal segregation) Perceived racial differences are harder to overcome

Definition of EEO & Discrimination Can’t repair the effects of discrimination with EEO Discrimination is a result of prejudice, attitudes, stereotyping and societal structures EEO is an effort to overcome causes of discrimination, via a change in societal structure

Individuals’ Prejudice & Stereotype + Discrimination + Organizational Norms

Individuals’ Prejudice & Stereotype + Discrimination - Organizational Norms + EEO regulations

EEO undermines self-esteem of women and VM Results of EEO EEO undermines self-esteem of women and VM Results of laboratory experiments do not generalize to employee survey results To Whites EEO increases job satisfaction & org commitment in beneficiaries

Types of EEO Support for EEO implies support for hiring unqualified candidates over qualified ones EEO Hiring involves choosing among Equally qualified candidates Comparable candidates Differences b/w qualifications is not significant Unequal candidates Meet min requirements for job Unqualified candidates Do not meet min requirements for jobs

Depends on type of EEO prog (see previous slide) Public Support for EEO Depends on whether procedural justice concerns are violating when implementing EEO What is procedural justice? Depends on type of EEO prog (see previous slide)

Political backing for EEO EEO is a social experiment by liberal democrats Is this really relevant for Canada?

Myths in the Human rights doc Racism is exaggerated People in Canada do not notice race Mentioning racism or addressing racism constitutes reverse racism towards Whites If racial discrimination did not occur in the past, it didn’t occur in the present, & won’t occur in the future Racialized people are… less credible, too sensitive, manipulative in use of race card, to blame for racism. Immigrants… take away jobs, commit more crime, drain Canadian system, do not fit.