All-White All-Women Panels: A Hollow Reckoning When It Comes to Gender and Race Disparity
The Minnesota Twins recently hosted a conversation about diversity that featured women on its staff and their boss, a man. Good for the Twins that they have women in a variety of roles, but why am I not excited? Because discussing diversity with a panel of all women, all white women, with an introduction by a white man just doesn’t cut it.
Let’s begin with the issue of women-only panels. We often receive “look what we did” tweets and emails that feature all women boasting about inclusion. I try to push back gently. We live in a world where men are still the arbiters of power. Without their presence, the status of the women on all-women panels is diminished. Balance is what counts, and it’s what we aim for. Leaving out the perspectives and experience of 50+% of the population — whether there are no women or no men — doesn’t create the best opportunity to understand the issues being discussed.
I have been known to extend this critique to conferences that are for and by women. I know the arguments about opportunities existing at women-only events where they otherwise wouldn’t, such as networking, major speaking slots, and the openness and comfort that comes from common experiences. As a result, I accept their value. At the same time, I will always be suspicious of “women’s” sessions as parts of larger events, because I think they tend to silo the participants, who should be on the mainstages rather than being on the sidelines.
Although I continue to be skeptical of major publications that create “women’s sections”, the launch of the independent The 19th is exciting. Joined by other outlets’ sections that feature women’s voices such as the New York Times’ In Her Words and The Washington Post’s The Lily, these resources make it a lot easier for event organizers to avoid manels.
All white women on a panel? That is simply unacceptable under any circumstances. In today’s world, I am surprised that any organization would put together a panel without representation of women of color.
Many Twins coaches and players took a knee on opening day and unveiled a picture of George Floyd on the outfield wall that will remain throughout the season. These are very nice gestures. However, the all-white, all-women panel on diversity appears to be a function of who is on staff, which implies a deeper issue. If it feels like I am picking on the Twins, it is true, because they exposed themselves to be picked on.
“Well beyond the world of baseball, we are told that there seems to be a reckoning on gender and race. Without all voices at the table, a reckoning is hollow.”
Well beyond the world of baseball, we are told that there seems to be a reckoning on gender and race. Without all voices at the table, a reckoning is hollow. The absence of critical voices must be called out. Without women of color on the panel, what kind of meaningful discussion about diversity and inclusion is even possible?
That’s why we changed the GA Tally app’s algorithm and language to emphasize the presence or omission of women of color in the public dialog. And, that’s why we count on you to keep counting.