Re: Diversity scholarship: Identifying under-represented groups

I am not a fan of this proposal. Even though it makes people uncomfortable, and increases the odds of external pushback, the fact remains that naming specific groups has evidence-based results. I can seek out the research on this if people want to see it, but basically, respondents from underrepresented groups are far more likely to apply when their groups are specifically named.

I'm comfortable with saying that the diversity scholarship might be open to people from groups which are not specifically named, but which are underrepresented, and that they can choose to apply as well giving information about why they should be considered. But it is very important for a scholarship like this to name the specific groups whose applications are being actively solicited.

The reality is that the groups of people who are *most* under-represented are already facing a large hurdle to think they're welcome at the W3C, and name-checking those groups makes an active difference, and there is research that shows this.

(From my personal experience, here's an example: I'm a member of three groups which would usually come under "underrepresented" labels. For two of them, I know for a fact that the W3C wants more representation. For the third, I honestly have no idea. I have not the foggiest idea about how well that group is represented in the W3C across membership or management, and I'm not actually even sure if it would have that much of an influence on our work. If that were the only traditionally-underrepresented group of which I were a member, I would have absolutely no idea whether or not this scholarship would be intended for me, and so there is no way I would apply for it. And, honestly, because I'm also in three of the W3C's most *over* represented groups, I'm not even sure if I should. So seeing a specific list of who is being solicited is incredibly helpful.)

Deborah

Received on Wednesday, 2 January 2019 15:41:01 UTC