TravellingMan22
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Portuguese/Frances 2020/Norte 2021
I wouldn’t worry too much! I don’t think I have ever used POC or BAME ever in a conversation, and I can’t believe many do! I can’t say I would worry about using the wrong word (within reason)!Personally it's something I've struggled with my entire life. Why should we describe anyone by their skin tone? Then again, why should it be racist to do so?
When asked for a physical description of someone, what do I do? I describe them by the colour and style of the clothes they were wearing, their height, their general body shape (also a point of potential contention), their hair color, and, yes, their skin tone. (Which in my case varies greatly depending on how many weeks I've spent in the sun... ).
In a country as racially diverse as New Zealand it is very easy to trip up. Do I say Maori or of Polynesian descent? (Because unless you are aware of some very subtle differences - which do not always exist - it is very easy to mix up a Maori and for example somebody of Tongan descent). Do I say Asian or try and be more specific - and risk offence ? The list goes on.
Technically I am a 'New Zealander of European descent' . Which I find bloody annoying. I'm a New Zealander. Full Stop! But yes, I am therefore a white person, often referred to as 'Pakeha' in New Zealand. (Maori).
Years ago an American friend of mine called himself African American. He now calls himself black. Personally if he has to be categorized he prefers the term 'Black' to 'person of color' . His wife is a Kiwi. A Maori, although she is every bit as 'white' as I am. SHE prefers the term 'person of colour' . And so it goes on.
Like I say, it's something I've struggled with all my life. All I can try and do is be respectful.
I guess the main use is for companies/organisations to capture data and look at at what to do with it and get to the root of any issues and come up with a plan to move forward.
So if we don’t capture gender data we wouldn’t know about ‘gender pay gap’. If we don’t capture ethnicity data we wouldn’t know about the much worse outcomes in pregnancies for black female in UK, or the fact that white and folks of South Asian origin have approx, the same level of asset holding in UK, but other communities have much less.
I don’t think we should overthink things (leave the PC gone mad elsewhere debate for the media) and should leave the politics to the politicians. All this thread should be about is how we do broaden the range of folks of the Camino,