Thread by @usnehal

🧵, riffing off of this comment

The system teaches people they don’t matter, symbolized by name “does not matter”

To change “doesn’t matter”, change the system & culture in academia & medicine

When people respect individual humanity, people will become comfortable as salves

https://twitter.com/burgartbioethix/status/1330027361027432448

I hear “shocked” a lot and so this is not to single anyone out as it is common. If shocked, then need to dramatically educate self on #BlackintheIvory that affects Black & brown & immigrant. Also, when common to be called wrong name entirely, many of us finally just adapt/accept.

Personally, at the end of the year meeting w/ my division chief, when I have prepared my packet for academic promotion, if I find myself given the one other South Asian woman’s evaluation in a group of 7 that is my time wasted because you did not vet or verify individual identity

Many of us have a LOT more to offer than “not all South Asians are the same person” or coaching people how to manage to understand Umbereen sounds like umpire or umbrella not oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooombereen

all without triggering your feelings that will harm me

Some examples of what I would prefer to spend my time on..hard vision + hard work + coalition building + risk tolerance that results in a track of accomplishments that should merit recognition within the system

instead of kindergarten level teaching faculty on pronunciation

Yes, even when returning to U.S. with a foreign degree I did use my precious interview time educating faculty to help them shed some ignorance

But I’d busted my bottom to score 99% + powerful HMS faculty had already called ahead with “she’s on par with the best students at HMS”

I have always been confident in interviews, not nervous, no imposter syndrome.

Also, my residency interviews were formalities as, as a foreign grad, I was only granted an interview (vs rejected without application read at all)

because powerful faculty had made calls already.

Compare that to if someone failed an exam (maybe dyslexia or was caring for ill parent), had a gap in education, had not acquired powerful supporters?

Then every single minute of that interview needs to be spent on addressing the biases against their merit & competence.

While I have some form of neurodiversity as well, my ADHD traits actually make me excel at standardized tests

I get too bored & impatient in exams to recheck answers, doubt myself, & change right answers to wrong

I see tests as a strategic game, not knowledge test

Win vs test

Turn up the pressure & I thrive - so exams, interviews, working in the emergency room, I do great

I am, though, a U.S. citizen, English is my 1st language, my great uncle was a vice chancellor of a university & many relatives are PhDs, MDs, & dept chairs

= no #impostersyndrome

I am the foreign grad & child of immigrants that America & American systems love. I bring strength upon strength without requiring system supports so (racist/sexist) faculty can point to me to say “she did it, why can’t you?... see system is fine.” But my mom had PhD education.

That is, the racist/sexist types loved me until I started with these threads & speaking up including real talk on quality, safety, equity, ethics

As long as gunner early career, eager to work every holiday, weekend, night 👍🏻

Confident, honest WOC? 👎🏻
“Bad” for optics/morale

The irony is every time I encountered bullying & unfairness towards me, I stopped coasting. I quit that job to go a level higher until I broke through the glass ceiling & discovered what lies beyond: the glass cliff (parachute not included)

So when American feminists gather in their “safe spaces” (that mostly are not safe for BIPOC), to complain about glass ceiling- which does exist - I see ineffectiveness. No, PowerPoints of data will not shatter ceiling or change culture.

Also, this: harpersbazaar.com/culture/politi…

Part of a longer thread

American feminism (tho I was educated in such spaces)

now, at mid-career, I realize is driven by
fear
insecurity
resulting tunnel vision
frankly, non-collaborative & self-centered

history of anti-blackness, xenophobia, racial purity

not safe for all

https://twitter.com/usnehal/status/1269243773265068034

If that sounds extreme, then read history. Look at demographics of the vote in last two presidential elections

What shocks you is hidden in plain sight

No, your interview candidates with “unusual” names are not illogical. They sense all the fear & scarcity among faculty & adapt

Those seeking to enter a system, especially those with the most gap between them & “the norm” or “ideal” will sacrifice more, including own humanity or self respect. They will strategically assess resources (time, good will, attention) & stay goal oriented with “doesn’t matter”

If seeking to enter this system at the lowest rung, tell me where there is a wrong assessment of self worth as defined by the system? These interview candidates are reacting very logically to the reality of culture, hierarchy, incentives, values.

medscape.com/viewarticle/92…

Given this reality of healthcare, isn’t interviewing, then just a “please pick me, exploit me”?

If you want this to be different do the hard & professionally dangerous work of system change

Until then candidates will logically assess words vs reality

nytimes.com/2019/06/08/opi…

Not mincing words cuz coming months will be really hard (on top of what has been wrong with the system all along)

During stress, scarcity, rising death toll, fear..
..people’s biases worsen

Those least empowered will self protect with “doesn’t matter”

npr.org/sections/healt…