This makes me so upset. Having grown up and lived in countries where going to the doctor for routine services (including emergencies) you never need to worry about getting a bill in the mail, it just baffles me that "shining city on the hill", "leader of the free world" etc still can't get it sorted out.
On a separate topic, i have applied for jobs in American companies before and had to answer those questions. I think the company is mandated to ask them if they want to qualify for "equal employment opportunity" status. It does irk me to answer, though, both the gender question and especially the race question.
I usually "prefer not to answer" the gender question because it's not a complex question. The race question is more complex, though. I guess it is white privilege to not want to answer, because for white people it really doesn't matter what race we are since we're not facing discrimination in the first place. But, for me, because i have traveled around and lived in a lot of places, i don't really consider myself "British" or even "European" - i don't have a cultural identity or ethnicity to go along with with my skin color, so i feel uncomfortable checking a box that implies that i do. I think i'd prefer to check a "no cultural identity" box than a "prefer not to answer" box.
Yeah, its absolutely a nod at white privilege not to want to answer the race question... I just think it is an extraordinarily strange question to ask on an application *itself*. Like... collect that info at the first interview or something.. or at the hiring process... but just for the application?
Here is how it usually worded....and you're supposed to check a box or radio-button on "which one" you are...
American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.
Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as "Haitian" or "Negro" can be used in addition to "Black or African American."
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
Ethnic Group - Hispanic or Latino: A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term "Spanish origin" can be used in addition to "Hispanic or Latino.
Like.... how many people are "one" of these anymore? Are we going by the One Drop rule racist usage of "blood content" idea of race? Russia isn't European, Middle Eastern, or North African... I suppose they *should* be Asian if we're talking about continental origin?
I mean whatever... its all made up and SO WEIRD as an initial "non-screening"... screening question.
On a separate topic, i have applied for jobs in American companies before and had to answer those questions. I think the company is mandated to ask them if they want to qualify for "equal employment opportunity" status. It does irk me to answer, though, both the gender question and especially the race question.
I usually "prefer not to answer" the gender question because it's not a complex question. The race question is more complex, though. I guess it is white privilege to not want to answer, because for white people it really doesn't matter what race we are since we're not facing discrimination in the first place. But, for me, because i have traveled around and lived in a lot of places, i don't really consider myself "British" or even "European" - i don't have a cultural identity or ethnicity to go along with with my skin color, so i feel uncomfortable checking a box that implies that i do. I think i'd prefer to check a "no cultural identity" box than a "prefer not to answer" box.
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Here is how it usually worded....and you're supposed to check a box or radio-button on "which one" you are...
American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.
Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms such as "Haitian" or "Negro" can be used in addition to "Black or African American."
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI): A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
Ethnic Group - Hispanic or Latino: A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term "Spanish origin" can be used in addition to "Hispanic or Latino.
Like.... how many people are "one" of these anymore? Are we going by the One Drop rule racist usage of "blood content" idea of race?
Russia isn't European, Middle Eastern, or North African... I suppose they *should* be Asian if we're talking about continental origin?
I mean whatever... its all made up and SO WEIRD as an initial "non-screening"... screening question.
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