Help inform our next campaign

It is the fact that the most under privileged group in society today is the white male.

Why?

When did you last see a white male scholarship?

When did you last see a white male history day/week/month?

When did you last see a white male only event?

etc…

You don't see these as they would be labelled racist and sexist, and rightly so, but they exist for “black” and “black women” and “women”.

The world needs equality, not swinging the pendulum one way or another.  Drop the Woke racism that BLM has poisoned the country with!

International Men's Day is next Friday (19th November): ukmensday.org.uk/.../
The themes the day focuses on are:

• Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys
  Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity
  Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing
   

I hope you enjoy the day.

I think the reason that we don't have a “white male history day” is because most UK academic history syllabuses focus on the antics of white men already. But if people are only taught about what white men were doing, they then think that women or ethnic minorities had no part to play in history and that simply isn't true.  Perhaps if your school history teachers had focussed more on other segments of society, perhaps you would be arguing that this country was built by our foremothers! Perhaps not. But if you enjoy history, then what is the problem with learning a bit more about it from another perspective?

James, you are a traitor to your own kind, this is a great country and civilisation created by us and our forefathers, and your father too I assume.  If you dislike our country and our people why don’t you go and live in a country that is more to your liking, I’m sure you’ll be made very welcome as we make others welcome here.

You, as a Fellow of the institution, with your attitude to our indigenous population is the reason I have now decided, after 30 years, to quit the IET, I am not contributing to a glorified student union to play out their silly student ideologies.

SMW: 
 

Amber Thomas: 
 

SMW: 
 

However, that does not advocate burying one's head in the sand.  Monitor the landscape and act where there ARE problems, including White Male Un-Privilege which,  due to Wokeness, is infecting much of society.

I haven't heard of “White Male Un-Privilege” before. It doesn't sound like a bad thing to me. Doesn't removing one group's unearned privilege put them on a level playing field with everyone else? Or are you arguing that white males should be in a position of privilege? ?

It is the fact that the most under privileged group in society today is the white male.

Why?

When did you last see a white male scholarship?

When did you last see a white male history day/week/month?

When did you last see a white male only event?

etc…

You don't see these as they would be labelled racist and sexist, and rightly so, but they exist for “black” and “black women” and “women”.

The world needs equality, not swinging the pendulum one way or another.  Drop the Woke racism that BLM has poisoned the country with!

I think this post demonstrates clearly why we need to educate some parts of the IET membership on what White Privilege means and that steps to correct for it are needed.

Amber Thomas: 
 

SMW: 
 

However, that does not advocate burying one's head in the sand.  Monitor the landscape and act where there ARE problems, including White Male Un-Privilege which,  due to Wokeness, is infecting much of society.

I haven't heard of “White Male Un-Privilege” before. It doesn't sound like a bad thing to me. Doesn't removing one group's unearned privilege put them on a level playing field with everyone else? Or are you arguing that white males should be in a position of privilege? ?

It is the fact that the most under privileged group in society today is the white male.

Why?

When did you last see a white male scholarship?

When did you last see a white male history day/week/month?

When did you last see a white male only event?

etc…

You don't see these as they would be labelled racist and sexist, and rightly so, but they exist for “black” and “black women” and “women”.

The world needs equality, not swinging the pendulum one way or another.  Drop the Woke racism that BLM has poisoned the country with!

I guess those complaining are upset that their unfair privilege is being taken away.

This country and our society was not given to us by god, it was built by our ancestors and continues to be built upon by our current generation, it is not a privilege, many lost their lives in war and in construction, and continue to do so, to build what we have now and they were our relatives who died.

SMW: 
 

However, that does not advocate burying one's head in the sand.  Monitor the landscape and act where there ARE problems, including White Male Un-Privilege which,  due to Wokeness, is infecting much of society.

I haven't heard of “White Male Un-Privilege” before. It doesn't sound like a bad thing to me. Doesn't removing one group's unearned privilege put them on a level playing field with everyone else? Or are you arguing that white males should be in a position of privilege? ?

When I was at college in the 1970's, there were no women on the electrical engineering course. However, since about 1990 I found that, in my particular industries, women began to be very well represented, and took on just as many senior and management roles as men. Over the years, I personally have employed both women and men and, in my experience, both make equally good (and bad) engineers.

So, really, I believe that I'm agnostic to all gender, race etc. - in fact, all the protected characteristics. I must be honest though - this means I do have difficulty with the concept of young woman engineer of the year when there isn't a young man engineer of the year. By promoting one I feel we are in danger of damaging the other. 

From my experience the engineering sector is not an inclusive as it could be, and I would support the IET’s active involvement in trying to insure that people do not face barriers to working in engineering. However, I would not advocate doing this through positive discrimination – such as Women Engineer of the Year awards – because that discriminates against Men and those who identify as non-binary. When taking this approach where do you draw the line – should you also have categories for LBGT / Physically Disabled / Non-Physically Disabled Engineers? Surely it’s much better to have Engineer of the Year award and judge everyone purely on their achievements?

Something that also concerns me is that the drive to promote engineering as a clean profession, those with dirty hands-on jobs are over-looked. It appears to me that the IET primarily recognise that achievements of those in managerial positions, and rarely those who prefer to remain hands-on.

In addressing inclusivity I would prefer to see the IET focussing more on increasing awareness and promoting ways to address the barriers for people entering the profession – primarily the flexibility and provision of suitable working conditions, and the candidate selection process.

Thanks for the suggestion, Andy.

But I recently wrote a letter to the IET, protesting against its political stance and attitude towards people like me. I had to chase multiple times to get a response. And when it came, it just brushed me off, really.

The only reason I am considering renewing my (expensive) IET membership is so I don't lose my CEng. But I might move it to another institution anyway, and leave the IET, as it seems pretty clear I'm not wanted!

So I don't see much point in offering myself for interview.