We haven’t been able to take the science journal Nature seriously for quite a while now. It has argued that assigning gender by the genitals one is born with “has no foundation in science.” Research on the differences between the sexes is “rife with bias.” It has called the association of COVID-19 with Wuhan, China “erroneous.”
While we’re not impressed with Nature’s commitment to science, the very woke Titania McGrath is impressed with Nature’s commitment to foster diversity and inclusion, which is leading it to exclude all candidates for its news internship who aren’t black.
🚨News Internship Alert 🚨
As part of our commitment to foster diversity and inclusion, we are looking for a Black candidate with a passion for science communication based in the UK for a full-time, paid news internship. Apply by 13 June!
More info: https://t.co/fo8oNfPjXu— nature (@Nature) May 24, 2021
Thank you @Nature!!! 👏👏✊
The best way for an employer to promote diversity and inclusion is to only accept applications from one specific racial group. https://t.co/fqfuJB6mSk https://t.co/UsICutYVlP https://t.co/hsMijqEeaF
— Titania McGrath (@TitaniaMcGrath) May 26, 2021
@Nature bringing the old back into style! pic.twitter.com/S4TTqg5miw
— Matthew Hamilton (@MatthewDavidHa4) May 26, 2021
Zero self awareness.
— Tony McLean (@DorvalTony) May 26, 2021
Where do I apply to be discriminated against?
— Sean McK (@sloanwords) May 26, 2021
"As a part of our commitment to diversity, only one race can apply" 🤔
— Dr. Phil is a Bad Therapist (@Realtherapist85) May 26, 2021
There are a lot of minorities. It makes us wonder if Nature decided it needed a black intern due to the racial makeup of Nature’s staff. Just what does the staff of Nature look like? Isn’t it diverse already?
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Can a mixed-race person apply? A friend of mine has a black father and a white mother.
How do you measure blackness? Or can only the 'pure' apply?
— AJ (@AndrewJayabc) May 26, 2021
I'm so sick of people just wanting me for my looks!
— Clarkey (@Clarkeyzmachine) May 26, 2021
I hope every potential black candidate thinking about applying to Nature realizes they’re way too valuable to settle with being the diversity hire.
Black people can and should compete everyone else in a meritocratic environment.
— Eric (@EricsElectrons) May 26, 2021
I agree. It's extremely patronising to suggest that black people require to have jobs ring-fenced for them.
— Iain Sankey (@IainSankey) May 26, 2021
The best part of this is that at the bottom of the very same job application, they state they're an "Equal Opportunity Employer" and link to a pdf saying they comply with laws preventing "discrimination in hiring [. . .] on the basis of race."
— I the Person (@I_the_Person) May 26, 2021
If a person is from a mixed household, will they have to do their internship part time?
— Emma (@EmWoodWood) May 26, 2021
This will make you feel good, but it will be a lie.
— Jordan Moorer (@jcmoorer) May 26, 2021
Now hear me out. If a non-black person, perhaps even a visible minority were to apply, and get screened out (for any reason, really), what’s to prevent them from suing for overt (in fact, published) racial discrimination?
— J.Hodl (@iamnequals1) May 26, 2021
How many black friends do I need to still apply?
— Sean McK (@sloanwords) May 26, 2021
Are there sexual orientation and gender requirements for this?
These restrictions make science more accessible 👏👏👏
— Enzo Gorlomi (@Gorlomi_the_Don) May 26, 2021
If I consider myself black but other people don't does it still apply?
— ididntfindanythingoriginal (@nooriginalnick) May 26, 2021
You may have good intentions but this perpetuates the idea that black people need extra help as they cannot make it in their own, is demeaning to black people, is racist against non-black people, and plays right into genuinely racist people's hands. Please stop it.
— No Quarter (@IDM2102) May 26, 2021
What you've basically just posted to the whole internet is "We want to be popular and we don't mind using black people in the process".
— Juiceman 🚀 💱 (@JCndco) May 26, 2021
— Inspector spacetime (@thesecretstark) May 26, 2021
BREAKING: @Nature ends racism once and for all. World leaders unite to congratulate, UN set to be dismantled by July.
— Shikha 😷 #GetVaccinated (@Intensity144) May 26, 2021
Easy to mock but well done @Nature for simplifying diversity and inclusion, albeit by a lack of diversity and a lack of inclusion – but that's just nitpicking isn't it?
— Dorian Smith (@dorian_smith) May 26, 2021
What's the racial breakdown of their current staff?
— Justice for 1/6 (@NpdAnalysis) May 26, 2021
This is not new in academic circles. At. All.
— Michel Foucerri (@foucerri) May 26, 2021
Plot twist: albino.
— Montreal_guy (@Montreal_guy) May 26, 2021
This is a parody account… What is Nature's excuse?
— Bahram The Rod (@DogFather2Kyle) May 26, 2021
We can see encouraging minorities to apply, but coming right out and announcing you’re going to hire a black person and only a black person? Are Latinos overrepresented in the science community?
Related:
Science journal Nature finds assigning gender by the genitals one is born with ‘has no foundation in science’ https://t.co/pVKaWL4S6V
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 21, 2018
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