Sorry - it had to happen...
...someone had to say something about UK Big Brother....
For those of you not in the UK or India, you may not have caught up with what's happening in Big Brother in the UK. The racist bullying of Bollywood Star Shilpa Shetty by Jade Goody has got everyone - including politicians in India and the UK talking.
I hope people vote Jade out of the House tonight - it's frankly embarassing that so many people are willing to make excuses and allowances for her - and I'm glad I haven't been asked by an Indian to explain what it's all about.
Here's the link to our site.....the issue for us as internal communicators is the fact that so many people are willing to deny either that bullying has been taking place or that it's had racist elements. Organsiations need people like us to have a very clear view of what constitutes racism and depends on us to stand up and be counted when we confront it. The problem is for me is that I think I've got a pretty good idea what I mean by racism (calling an Indian a "poppadom" ticks the box for me) but I also loathe those people who use anti-racism as an excuse of STUPID stuff (see my previous rants)...
Anyone got a good definition?
Liam
I agree Liam. I think that ignorance is being used as an excuse. I do think it's a pity that school curricula used to include education on other cultures, religions and countries. I can't see much evidence of that now, despite being a very multi-racial country. Perhaps it is assumed that if the country stats say we are multi-racial, we should be learning from each other, rather than in the classroom. I have often said that if I ever write a book (there's one in everyone...) it is going to be a guide to world religions - I don't understand even from my own limited research (down the pub with my mate Sian saying "So, what exactly do you do at a Sikh wedding then?") so there must be a market for it - no nicking ideas here though!
Generally, there is a wasteland of assumed knowledge breeding ignorance brilliantly embodied by Ms Goody. More education = more understanding = more tolerance.
Incidentally, my own view of racism / sexism / ageism is that it occurs when derogatory remarks / actions are made that offend the subject - whether in anger, spite or otherwise. I don't think that the -isms and bullying are mutually exclusive - if youare subjected to an -ism, you are being bullied.
Who'd have thought celebrity big brother could have instigated such a worthwhile argument?!
Posted by: Fiona | January 19, 2007 at 01:57 PM
"What we are seeing is a noxious brew of old-fashioned class conflict, straightforward bullying, ignorance and quite vicious racial bigotry." Trevor Phillips, Commission for Equality and Human Rights
On the positive side (supporting what Fiona said) - at least it is creating dialogue which hopefully will lead to improved education of different cultures.
I find the ignorance of Jade and Danielle quite depressing, and it concerns me that it is likely every organisation has a percentage of employees with racist views.
The role of internal communications? Lead by example. Open, honest dialogue leads to education.
Posted by: Mark Darby | January 19, 2007 at 03:24 PM
Hooray
Posted by: liam | January 20, 2007 at 06:35 PM