On search committees where we come together to make hiring decisions for new faculty: on one, I asked if we were going to hire women or people of color. The department head (a white woman), stated that we would hire the most qualified candidate—which leaves much unsaid, as though a woman or person of color would not be the most qualified. As though this is somehow more equal. In a different meeting and a different search, as we talked about race and equity in the position, a white female senior faculty asked, what about the white men? as though maybe we were being remiss in some way. I am surprised that it's white, boomer aged women who are sometimes the dominant voices for continuing the hiring of white men in positions of power. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised.
- Anonymous