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[dissertatingdiva]

I'm probably venting more than anything but also hoping people who doe this sort of thing may be reading and possibly seeking advice.Have a postdoc at a SLAC with very few faculty of color.  It has become increasingly annoying to always have them refer to me as the minority fellow.  I feel like I'm some sort of second class faculty member.  Can't these people realize that it's insulting to refer to someone that way.  What about simply the Postdoctoral Fellow or the Fellow why does minority have to be added to my title all the time.  I feel continually marked.

[oldadjunct]

I will take you are your word that this is happening.  But this is very bizarre.  How does it actually play out, "Today Dr. Diss, our minoritypost doc, will present on...."?

Have your brought this up with the other "people of color" on campus?  Is this their experience as well?

[locutus]

I don't know what to tell you. So you're there as part of a program specifically for minorities? In what context are they referring to you as the "minority fellow"? You could just say next time, "Yes I happen to be the minority fellow, I'm also a scholar on International Basket weaving, with two great articles out on the subject"

[dissertatingdiva]

I am introduced that way at all meetings, to students, in written materials  and even when I gave a talk.  I think they just don't have a lot of experience as there are very few other faculty members of color and one happens to be on leave.  I have tried the gentle approach and when I am introduced as the minority fellow I follow-up with, "I'm the Postdoctoral Fellow in XX Department.

[kedves]

Is this fellowship a program for minority postdoctoral scholars in Discipline X, or is it a more general postdoc program and it is merely coincidental that you, a minority scholar, are a fellow supported by it?  Do people think that "minority" is part of the title of the program, or does it seem that they are adding that to the title because of some sort of subconscious urge to brag, "Look!  We have a minority person in the department"?

[scampster]

That just seems odd... It would seem self-evident that you are a minority in most cases, thus making such a qualifier unnecessary...

Is it a general fellowship or a fellowship for minorities?

[oldadjunct]

Taking you at your word (I say that not because I doubt you, but that the behavior is so bizarre that I hope you understand it it strains credibility) I would walk over to HR, calmly give a couple of the clearest examples and clearly state you want this to stop.  And I mean stop immediately.

It might also be useful, assuming HR finds merit in your complaint to as that you ask that the entire episode be included in your personnel file as a possible protection against retaliation in LOR's.

Follow on to previous posters, if the title of your fellowship is "The W.E.B. DuBois Fellow for Minority Studies", well that is different.

[dissertatingdiva]

It is a Diversity Postdoc open across disciplines.  I really don't think they mean any harm.  I honestly think they just don't know any better.  I really don't want to go to HR or amke a big issue, mostly I am wondering how to gently help the campus realize that this just isn't the way to refer to someone.  I am actually happy to hear you say it's bizarre because I have thought so too but didn't want to make waves.

[scampster]

It is a Diversity Postdoc open across disciplines.  I really don't think they mean any harm.  I honestly think they just don't know any better.  I really don't want to go to HR or amke a big issue, mostly I am wondering how to gently help the campus realize that this just isn't the way to refer to someone.  I am actually happy to hear you say it's bizarre because I have thought so too but didn't want to make waves.

Are they calling you by your technical title? For my master's degree I had a fellowship that was for women and minorities and during my time at the school I was technically an ACRONYM Fellow, not a Graduate Fellow.

[dissertatingdiva]

You know, maybe that's what they think.  The technical title is a variation of Postdoctoral Fellowship for Diversity but somehow they have been calling the fellows "the minority fellow"  but it makes sense that somehow that has become the informal name for the fellowship.  That actually makes sense.  Thing is I really don't want to cause trouble it is just odd and uncomfortable to continually be referred to in that way.  Thanks for your thoughts

[oldadjunct]

Fair enough.  You think it is dumb but innocent, and you want to guide them.  How about trying to sit down with the appropriate non-HR person; I have no idea who that would be at your place.  Someone who directs the post-doc program? Dean?  Department chair?

Lay out your "observations" (note, not your "concerns").  Who knows, you're maybe the very first to bring these up and be greeted with a, "Holy crap, we never realized this.  This is what we dreamed this program would add to our institution."  I do realize that you have every reason to roll your eyes and answer, "Really?  You still need help on this???"  And you would be right.  But avoid that temptation.

But again, does the title of your post doc., formal or informal include the word "diversity"?  You may have to live with that.

[sir_lancelot]

If the fellowship is named something like "Minority Fellowship" in some form or shape it would be hard to fight it at the campus level. But that would be an incredibly stupid name for a fellowship even if the program itself means well. Maybe it should be pointed out to the fellowship people!

[oldadjunct]

OP pointed out that the technical title is something along the lines of "Post Doctorate in Diversity", thus my palimpsest.  "Diversity" in titles has become very common in business and evidentally academics, though it seldom actually really means "diverse" ("My child goes to a very diverse high school," often means quite the opposite)  but that is a subject for some other thread.

The over riding question is how a person in such a position educates those non-diverse people.

Puzzler question:  can an individual be diverse?

[kedves]

If it is not named for a person, this is an excellent naming opportunity for the university, with or without a major gift.

[punchnpie]

dissertatingdiva, I think I know the program you are on (unless there are several of them). Hijacking the thread a little, would you recommend minority doctoral students be in the program?

My field is a bit different; we don't tend to go to undergrad institutions, which is what most of the institutions are in the program I'm thinking of, so as I was looking around for opportunities, I didn't spend a lot of time on this one. Therefore, I don't have any experience of it, nor do any of my minority friends in my field. That said, I do like to advise other minorities about the doctoral process and have mentioned this program as something that seemed helpful for people in the humanities, but I'd be curious about your personal experience.