Prof: ‘Brown and Black’ research perspectives ‘supersede’ those of Whites

A diversity, equity, and inclusion event hosted by the University of Michigan criticized engineering as a field dominated by “whiteness and maleness.”

The University of Michigan’s College of Engineering hosted a webinar titled “Examining the Hard Truths of Whiteness and Maleness in Engineering Education,” in which one guest speaker argued that the perspectives of “Black and Brown” researchers “supersede” those of their White peers.

The speakers for the September event were Purdue University Assistant Professor in Curriculum Studies Stephanie Masta and Purdue Associate Professor of Engineering Education Alice Pawley. During the webinar, they cited preliminary findings from their current joint-research project “I-MATTER” as representative of they say is the widespread lack of inclusivity in the field of engineering.

“It’s this sort of taxonomy of things that drive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, but while on their face they seem fair, we’re arguing that they’re still rooted in colonialism, whiteness, and maleness,” Pawley said. When elaborating on her research, Pawley commented that it provides a way for “how we should think about racism, sexism,” saying “we could add in ableism and homophobia and xenophobia, how it’s baked into the culture of engineering.”

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