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The KUT Longhorn Radio Network Presents: Mexican American Experience Collection

Audio recordings including interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns in the series "The Mexican American Experience" and "A esta hora conversamos" from the Longhorn Radio Network, 1976-1982.

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PROGRAM INFO

Title:
Workplace Discrimination, Public Policy, And Glass Ceilings.
Program #
1978-20
Theme:
Politics

Series:
Women's Issues
Host:
Armando Gutiérrez
Guest:
Paula Greenfield
Date:
Apr 27, 1978

Workplace discrimination, public policy, and glass ceilings.

Paula Greenfield discusses some of the challenges facing women and specifically minority women who seek access to the workplace. Greenfield works with the Minority Women’s Employment Program, which seeks to increase the number of professional working minority women in the work place. Greenfield argues that discrimination against minority women is both de jure and de facto, but in particular her organization struggles against employers who have a preconceived image of the worker they are seeking and or who believe that minority women have cultural baggage or a language barrier that will hinder their work. Greenfield explains that while minority men have been eager to help minority women enter the professional workplace; white women have been less cooperative. Nonetheless, Greenfield hopes that the organization’s work with minority women, who she argues suffer the most from employment discrimination, will help all women.

Moreover affirmative action, Greenfield says, has held minorities back. She explains that once employers fill their quota, many believe they do not need to hire any more minorities or women. Employers, including those at state agencies, have also found ways to get around the quotas by changing job titles and other tactics. Greenfield has found that the situation has been compounded under the Carter presidency as the department of labor is less willing to pressure companies to comply with equal opportunity laws.

KEYWORDS

Affirmative Action
Bakke v. California
Blue-collar jobs
Chicanas
Cultural Stereotypes
De Facto Discrimination
De Jure Discrimination
Department of Labor
Employment Discrimination
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Pay Act
Inequality
Jimmy Carter
Job Titles
Labor market segmentation
Minority men
Minority women
Problems with affirmative action
Quotas
Racial segmentation
Racial tensions
Service industry
Southwestern Bell
Stereotypes
White women
White-collar jobs
Women in the workplace
 

Center for Mexican American Studies | Department of History | The Benson Latin American Collection

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