Klarinet Archive - Posting 000274.txt from 1999/02

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Women and orchestras
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1999 22:00:08 -0500

At 06:57 PM 2/6/99 EST, youDHmorgan wrote:
>In a message dated 2/6/99 8:24:07 AM Pacific Standard Time, bhausman@-----.com
>writes:
>
><< I have no idea--and it doesn't matter. The evidence of the study in
> >question, which I don't have on hand and am getting tired of trying to
> recall,
> >seemed to indicate that the BIAS was there, irrespective of performance.
> >
> Does this mean we are supposed to have a sliding grading scale, taking into
> account the persons physical/genetic makeup when deciding how well they
> play? Would Sabine Meyer feel especially complimented a review which says
> she plays very well -- for a woman? The standard MUST be objective. If
> the standard is adjusted, up or down, for different groups, that, by
> definition, IS BIAS! >>
>
>It would be CONSCIOUS bias designed to correct UNCONSCIOUS bias. This is
what
>Affirmative Action attempts to do--make it easier for certain groups to have
>access to resources and opportunities in one context because people are
making
>it unfairly harder for them everwhere else. And there are all sorts of
>problems with that approach. It seems particular problematic, as you point
>out, when applied to music. I, for one, would not recommend a 'quota method'
>as a solution to the problem.
>
The goal of reversing past discrimination is indeed noble. But as you say,
there are many problems. The "quick fix" solutions of quotas and reverse
discrimination may help the raw numbers and make people feel good, but only
a from-the-bottom-up correction of the "access to resources and
opportunities" will create a permanent solution. Of course, we are talking
large amounts of both time and money here, but we had better be willing to
spend both.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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