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Whites dominate Canada’s not-for-profit boards: York U study

Tue, 07/07/2009 - 15:50
Well, well.
 
I enjoy having facts to back up my rants. Not that facts are necessary (duh). See all/most of my previous blog postings for that.  
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http://www.yorku.ca/mediar/archive/Release.php?Release=1706 
 
" The study looked at the proportion of board members who are visible minorities or from ethnically diverse backgrounds. It found that whites are most likely to be on boards (average of 87.6 per cent), followed by Aboriginals (average of 8.2 per cent) and South Asians (average of 7.4 per cent). Koreans are least likely to be included, at an average of 0.2 per cent. Women comprised approximately 44 per cent of board membership

"It's a case of ‘glass half full' for gender diversity, but unfortunately that glass is half empty when it comes to ethnic diversity," says study lead author Pat Bradshaw, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour in York's Schulich School of Business.

Of the 240 boards surveyed, 43.6 per cent had only one ethnic group represented.

"In almost every case where there was only one group, that meant the board was all white," says Bradshaw. "In this day and age, with all the attention to issues of diversity, it's quite disturbing."  "

 
Damn right it's quite disturbing. Or words to that effect.
 
Let's call this what it is: holding on to power, being gatekeepers, constructing board cultures that not only DO NOT reflect the communities served, but feel entitled to do so for reasons relating to power and feeling superior.
 
Lots about this irks me, but first, the positive. The study was done and the facts are now out there. Hooray.
 
So to the negatives. First of all, boards have a fair bit of power, and can influence much about the mission, vision and values of an organization. Or put up systemic roadblocks to proposed organizational change.
 
Second, Toronto is always being touted as this amazing city, with vast and great diversity. But there are very specific roles for immigrants and non-white folks in general to play, and those roles in general do NOT include leadership.
 
But when we look at the population of Toronto as being approaching 50% immigrant and POC, we have to start thinking, who is propping up the white folks' club here? Now? So we've internalized all that stuff about white folks being the rightful and entitled leaders of our city? Damn.
 
Looks like there's some intra-community educating to do, and fast.