DNA’s Opinion: Oh, The Humanity! Won’t Anyone Think Of The Straight White Cis Men??
Geoffroy van Raemdonck is the CEO of the luxury retailer Neiman Marcus and he’s been named in a report from employees as having discriminatory hiring practices. The report states that in filling managerial positions within the company infrastructure, van Raemdonck and other hiring managers only sought “gay or European men” and “white or Asian women”.
It’s funny how equality can feel like oppression when you’ve always been on top
The accusations come from a group of anonymous Neiman Marcus employees who penned a blog post making the claim that the Belgian-born CEO discriminates in his hiring. It alleges that van Raemdonck prefers to hire/promote “white or Asian women” and “gay or European men” who have less tenure than he does.
Now, these allegations are all valid to bring up. Our headline really comes from the way that they’ve worded this complaint though. “The typical straight US male has been ignored and has been hired one time. Statistically this is impossible unless it’s by design,” they write.
We can’t decide what’s more baffling, their inability to entertain the notion that maybe the “typical straight US male” just doesn’t measure up in competency, or that they chose that group of people to be irate on behalf of. If white and Asian women and gay or European men are the only people being hired at the top it is a problem at Neiman Marcus – but to platform the straight white men as the hard-done-by ones is crazy.
Now, don’t worry, they eventually get around to mentioning other groups: “This complaint was filed anonymously on Ethicspoint in August and asked when will straight US men be welcomed at the most senior levels at Neiman Marcus? And the same for Black leaders?” See… eventually.
The temerity it takes to identify an alleged inequity, and then form the protest around straight white men is almost impressive in its gall.
“What does Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mean at Neiman Marcus? Is it for everyone or just the groups deemed important by Geoffroy?” Good questions! They were so close to being righteous.
When it comes to bad hiring practices that exclude on the basis of sexuality, race or gender, DNA is never on the side of the corporation. But it really helps when the ones who are whistleblowing aren’t complaining on behalf of the rights of straight white men. Like, we are always here for equality but perhaps in your next missive, you could be irate on behalf of the other BIPOC employees and mention the plight of straight white men less. Just a suggestion!
