Question

Jane is a white woman in a culturally diverse workplace. Jane is expecting a promotion, but her coworker, Wong Lei, receives the promotion instead. Jane tells everyone that she knows, "Wong Lei did not deserve to be promoted, and she only got it because she is a minority." What does Jane's behavior exemplify?

Answer 1

Jane's remarks about Wong Lei's promotion showcase racial prejudice and white privilege, as she disregards Wong Lei's qualifications and attributes the advancement to minority status.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jane's behavior exemplifies racial prejudice and potentially workplace discrimination. By attributing Wong Lei's promotion solely to her minority status and claiming she did not deserve it, Jane is engaging in a prejudiced narrative that overlooks Wong Lei's merits or qualifications. This mindset reflects prescriptive stereotypes about what minorities in workplaces should or should not receive and ignores the professional achievements that may have led to Wong Lei's advancement. Moreover, it is a manifestation of the concept of white privilege, where members of the dominant group might fail to recognize the systemic advantages they hold. Jane's comments could contribute to a hostile work environment for Wong Lei and potentially for other minorities in the workplace.