Partner's Racially Insensitive Remarks Forum

[A. Nony Mouse]

White hetero male here:

I'm curious. For URMs and other underrepresented people ITT (and also women, I guess?): is it more offensive when 1) someone says derogatory things about your race or whatever other group you belong to or when 2) someone insults you personally based on your voice/looks/weight/intelligence, etc.? Just wondering, because people have insulted my looks/weight/intelligence in biglaw and it's definitely hurt, but I've never let it take over my life or anything. I've never really understood how racism/sexism/homophobia/etc. could be worse than some of the personal insults people routinely level at each other. I mean, it's not like you can control what race, gender, sexual orientation, or other immutable characteristic you are. If people make insulting comments against these, can't you just dismiss them as ignorant and move on (as long as it doesn't negatively impact your job in a tangible way like lack of advancement or getting fired)?

the main difference is that insensitive remarks about height or weight are not backed by institutionally discriminatory practices. No one told you can't get married because you're short, or your brain is smaller cause you're fat. No one has thought to fire you over being short and it's not like growing up short you knew what you were getting into because it marked you for discrimination later on. So yes, if all things were equal, making comments about your height and your weight versus your race or sexual orientation are identical, but when the entire system supports (either tacitly or directly) this discrimination it becomes a completely different issue.

Apparently you aren't very familiar with the fact many jobs have height/weight requirements... But go on

Dude, not the same thing at all.

[Fiero85]

If I had to pick between being a black man and a fat ugly white woman, I'd pick black man every day and twice on Sunday.

Is this bcuz NFL or just for emphasis?

[Desert Fox]

[Anonymous User]

Speak with your law schools Career Services office.

Interesting advice. What do you think this will accomplish? (I'm not asking rhetorically; I'm genuinely curious.)

They'll submit the info to the NYT, interview with all the major networks, contact a publishing company to write and publish a biography for OP. And then they'll turn the info over to the authorities. OP then sues, gets a $17 Billion judgement, which survives on appeal, and lives happily ever after.


But really....

Absolutely nothing but get itself buried. You think CSO's gonna stop inviting firm X that hires 7 of school's graduates every year? No, at best, they'd tell the firm's recruiting department about the incident, have crazy partner not come to recruiting outings anymore, and move one. More likely, CSO would just ignore it and/or sweep it under the rug.

Law firm rankings are too important.

Honestly, I know of two instances of people trading firms during 3L year with support from their CSO or the firm in which the student was leaving. There are certainly instances of people going back to the firm as well despite their poor experience. I don't understand why you felt the need to comment on this either as you don't seem to have any experience with these kinds of situations.

[DJ JD]

Speak with your law schools Career Services office.

Interesting advice. What do you think this will accomplish? (I'm not asking rhetorically; I'm genuinely curious.)

They'll submit the info to the NYT, interview with all the major networks, contact a publishing company to write and publish a biography for OP. And then they'll turn the info over to the authorities. OP then sues, gets a $17 Billion judgement, which survives on appeal, and lives happily ever after.


But really....

Absolutely nothing but get itself buried. You think CSO's gonna stop inviting firm X that hires 7 of school's graduates every year? No, at best, they'd tell the firm's recruiting department about the incident, have crazy partner not come to recruiting outings anymore, and move one. More likely, CSO would just ignore it and/or sweep it under the rug.

Law firm rankings are too important.

Honestly, I know of two instances of people trading firms during 3L year with support from their CSO or the firm in which the student was leaving. There are certainly instances of people going back to the firm as well despite their poor experience. I don't understand why you felt the need to comment on this either as you don't seem to have any experience with these kinds of situations.

I didn't say CSO wouldn't help them switch jobs. I said they probably wouldn't reprimand the employer... Did those firms that people traded away from stop interviewing on campus? I think we both know the answer to that.

I don't know why you felt the need to catch feelings.