maleficent

Librarian takes stand in Harvard bias case

Testifies that boss cited her clothes

By Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff | March 23, 2005

Her life had been ''a great American story" about a young black woman who overcame an impoverished, chaotic childhood to succeed in the world of academia, according to her lawyer.

But then her ascent stopped, Desiree Goodwin told federal jurors yesterday, after she went to work as an assistant librarian at Harvard University in 1994, with the promise that she'd have a chance to advance.

Taking the stand in her race and gender discrimination case against Harvard, Goodwin said she was shocked in December 2001 when a supervisor offered the first explanation as to why she had been bypassed for a promotion 16 times between 1999 and 2001.

''You'll never get a job at Harvard," Goodwin said she was told by her supervisor, Barbara Mitchell, who allegedly added that others viewed Goodwin as a ''pretty girl" who dressed in sexy outfits, including tight pants and low-cut blouses.

During opening statements yesterday in the case in US District Court, her lawyer, Jonathan Margolis, told jurors that Goodwin was discriminated against because she is black and a woman.

Goodwin, who also works part time at the public library in Arlington, where she lives, said she had never been criticized before for the way she dressed and didn't think she dressed inappropriately. She said she was also told she had offended some superiors by writing an article in a guide for Harvard staff promoting a local nail salon.

But Harvard lawyer Richard J. Riley told jurors that the case will focus on eight positions that Goodwin applied for but didn't get because ''competition was stiff for all library jobs at Harvard" and they went to candidates deemed more qualified. Riley said Goodwin's failure to win a promotion was ''unfortunate for her and she's understandably disappointed and frustrated." But Harvard's decisions, he said, had nothing to do with race or gender. ''It was a fair process that was followed."

On the stand, Goodwin described how she grew up in poverty, moving 20 times before she was 9. The oldest of 10 children, Goodwin said, she helped her father take care of her brothers and sisters from the time she was 9 years old, because her mother had left them.

Goodwin, now 40, graduated from Cornell University and later earned master's degrees in English literature and library science. She worked for Boston College before becoming an assistant librarian at the Frances Loeb Library at Harvard's Graduate School of Design.

Goodwin said she believed she was more qualified than some who were chosen for promotions. And she read excerpts from some of her job evaluations, which described her as reliable, capable, and highly motivated.

Some of her co-workers respected her, Goodwin said, ''but I really believe that others do not respect me, and those are the people who are in a position to decide whether or not I can advance."

Judge Joseph L. Tauro told jurors the trial is expected to last about two weeks.
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Oh, what does this 'pretty girl look like?


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How much do looks play a part in the workplace, are the "beautiful people" shown any sort of discrimination? How much does a person's physical appearance and/or the way they dress play a part in how they are treated? Do you expect to be treated a certain way based upon how you look?

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StanT

At my present job we buy an incredible amount of networking equipment. It's hard not to notice that the sales teams from various vendors always include a cute female in a short skirt. Apparently it's considered a plus in sales. From the technical side of things, it's a non-issue in our workplace. Young, old, cute, ugly, if you perform you will do well. Provocative clothing just wouldn't cut it in my line of work. If you can throw a router in a rack and cable it up while wearing a short skirt and heels, more power to ya. I bet you wouldn't try it twice.

TheShadow

From what I've seen, better looking people are often treated differently but, converse to what this woman is claiming, they tend to get a better overall treatment. By this, I mean, people are more polite towards them, they're the ones who get the jobs with fewer qualifications and on top of that, the better paying jobs. Sure, ideally we'd like image to have no effect on how a person is perceived, but that's not going to happen.

With that said, a few comments need to be made about this case. I feel this woman is using any excuse not to blame herself for failing to receieve a promotion. It's so easy to for her to shift the blame to something else, and consider herself to be god's gift to humankind.

To be blunt, she's not the pretty girl that she believes herself to be. Also, with her being a Harvard Librarian, I don't see ANY place whatsoever for articles promoting nail salons. If she wants to be writing articles like that, she should switch to the world of fashion. This is probably, in part, where the people who did not choose to promote this woman, were coming from. To earn a promotion, in my opinion, one needs to be qualified, a hard worker and, most important, show that he or she is dedicated to the job. Someone writing completely irrelevant articles in a guide for Harvard Staff about fashion and focusing on her own fashion [it appears] is obviously not passionate about her career.

Finally, I'm really hoping she doesn't pull the gender or race card, but being the states, I'm sure this is happening as we speak. This has nothing to do with either, and the lack of promotion should tell her that she's not cut out for the career, and needs to go write in some teen fashion magazine about salons [and realize she's completely average looking!].

__________________
You know that song that goes like...

jorgelito

She is pretty and cute....but she doesn't look black. Funny thing race, ethnicity.....

I agree with TheShadow: "beautiful" people tend to get treated better in all facets of life. Tall people too. The only occupations where you can be ugly and it really doesn't matter: Radio personality and comedian (no source neccessary, just look for yourself!).

Konichiwaneko

sometimes a persons beauty is not how the actually look but how they move, I know that personally

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Gilda

I dress in a pretty feminine manner most of the time, but in my job--I'm a middle school teacher--I can't go too sexy. This is a conscious choice on my part.

First, I can't really go the overtly sexy route because I work with 12 and 13 year old boys, and if you've ever seen boys this age, you can practically see the hormones bouncing off the insides of their bodies. A female dressed in a sexy manner might cause problems; the 12 and 13 year old girls are enough of a distraction as it is.

Second, I like to go pretty feminine most of the time mostly because that's just how I'm wired--I'm a girly girl. But partially it's a conscious choice because I make no effort to hide my sexual orientation at work--I've gone to sporting events and graduation with my SO--and I like not to reinforce unfair stereotypes, not that I'd go the butch rout if it were acceptable anyway.

As for the case in the OP, I think it is entirely fair to judge someone who relates to the public as a representative of their organization in part based on how theyr'e dressed. You'd never see me at work in a tank top and a pair of hot pants, just because I don't think that would be very professional. We'd also need to see her applications, work evaluations, and those of the people promoted above her to know if her allegations are true.

I don't know how it is for the really attractive; I'm only moderately pretty, so I fall into that same category most of us are in of not so good-looking nor so bad-looking that it has much of an effect on our jobs. I think how we dress, and our overall manner of presentation is what is most important most of the time.

OFKU0

She should have tried for her 15 minutes when she was 20 not 40. Let's hope the egg timer has a hole in it.

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" In Canada, you can tell the most blatant lie in a calm voice, and people will believe you over someone who's a little passionate about the truth." David Warren, Western Standard.

FlunkedFlank

don't you also think it's entirely possible that her bosses overreacted to what could be considered reasonable but somewhat "sexy" clothing? "tight pants and low-cut blouses" is way to vague to really tell. I mean, for example, if all women dressed the way that some of the women did on Ally McBeal, there'd be a lot of turned-on guys in the workplace ... but I'm not sure there'd be any grounds to not hire or promote the person. IIRC there was an episode of Ally McBeal about that very topic, but I can't remember for sure as I'm trying hard to purge the last remnants of the show from my head.

hilariously frank use of a link to your own picture there ... but nice pic.

__________________
Jesus saves ... and Gretzky gets the rebound!

Gilda

Sure, it's possible they overreacted. That's why I said that we'd need to see evaluations of her work and those promoted above her to really judge the merits of this case.

liquidlight

I don't understand why it is that the woman who filed the suit is being ridiculed here for attempting to get her point across. . . you folks keep ragging on her about trying to "get her 15 minutes" but what makes you think she's the one contacting the press? The only quotes appearing in the article seem to have been taken from her testimony given that it's not stated that she directed them to the press.

As for the discrimination case, 16 times in 2 years? That's a little ridiculous, especially given the quotes from the preformance reviews that they put in the artice.

As for the nail article, if it wasn't done in a professional capacity as an agent of the library who the hell cares? It's her free time to spend as she wishes, and heaven forbid someone in this country have a little PRIDE in they way that they look! And before you tear into me, no I'm not saying that the advertising and behaviors that lead to extreme spending on all sorts of fashion and eating disorders is acceptable, there needs to be moderation, but God I'm tired of the 350 pound woman in skin tight sweat pants blocking the aisle in the grocery store as she tries to find the cheapest leftover Easter candy by the ton.

Strange Famous

If she cannot dress appropriately for her workplace, maybe she should remedy that, rather than suing someone because of it. An employer does have a right to require certain standards of basic decency in terms of employee dress.

People lack personal responsibility these days. She may have had qualifications, and done well in her job, but that doesnt necessarily mean she would be suitable for a higher position. If she has been the genuine victim of persecution, she should have the right to compensation... but did she never consider maybe she just wasnt up to it?

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

FlunkedFlank

well yeah, but I guess I'm saying that even more so I would also want to see pictures or examples of the types of outfits that they had problems with.

__________________
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macmanmike6100

I'm sure Harvard's legal team won't have a problem proving that their hiring processes were fair. The fact that she is bringing in irrelevant testimony -- that of her familial background -- makes me question her stance even more.

Also, while some have already criticized her authorship of the nail salon article, I wouldn't feel comfortable judging something for which I have almost literally no context (only that it was an article in a "guide for Harvard staff"...what if it was a guide to for those new to the area?).

Nisses

I guess they went all out.


I don't get how she goes on about moving 20 times and helping her father take care of the family etc. etc. Somehow, it doesn't seem all that relevant.

If her evaluations are good, and she gets feedback on the way she dresses, then I'd say she has one thing to focus on if she wants to advance her career... Their game, their rules. It doesn't mean she has to play, but if she does, then she only has to follow em.

The fact that she works part time at the public library in Arlington doesn't tell me all that much. It's a different kind of library, so different rules.

I'd say just let them go over the 8 positions she applied for, and compare her (at that point) last evaluation and that of the chosen candidate.

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Moderation should be moderately moderated.

martinguerre

The president just made remarks questioning if women should be in science. Why do we assume that it's "Harvard," so of course they can't in any way be racist/classist/sexist/etc..?

I don't know enough to judge the case on merits, but i do think she deserves a fair hearing for this. I have no doubt that this institution could be capable of what she's accusing.

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-John 3:16

pig

I'm not going to touch on the actual case, as I confess I don't really know jack poo about it, nor do I particularly care to care much about it right now. They'll work it out.

Re the questions Mal asked, I think the presence of discrimination for or against beautiful people is dependent on the type of job and the people in your work environment. I've seen attractive people get promoted, at least partially because they usually exhibit more self-confidence and enthusiasm, and I've seen them be held back / ridiculed. I have to say that usually the negative affects I've seen have been from dumpy butt-ugly guys playing out their insecurities on cute to hot females. It's sort of like they never graduated from the playground, but they have more authority and bigger vocabularies.

I know there are people who claim otherwise, and I won't refute them particularly on this point, but I think that most (as in 99.9999% approaching 100% asymptotically) people make judgements based on appearance, and it's a fairly natural thing. If you want to look professional and like you've got your shit together, first be professional and get your shit together, and then look and act like it. If you're a female in a professional occupation, having your bazingas flopping out of your shirt may not be the best idea. Sure, some people will like it - they just will tend to listen to you less while they stare at your cleavage. I don't know how a guy would prominently feature his hoo-hoo-dilly in a business outfit (the old cucumber down the pants trick?) - but I wouldn't suggest that either. Get your freak on after 5. And do it right

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hilbert25

This was an old case I remember seeing, I guess they finally decided to take it to trial after the Harvard Presidents remarks (which weren't all that inflammatory to me, perhaps a little sexist, but there is a marked distinction between the majors favored by each sex by the time students get to college, most probably due to culture and upbringing, but it is definitely noticeable). I see it this way: If I wore a low cut blouse and tight pants to work, I'd probably be lucky to not get fired, granted that wold not be acceptable in nearly all of society for me to do, but why should it matter, when in both cases it's unnacceptable behaviour for either sex?

Supple Cow

The president of Harvard? About women in science? WHERE? WHEN?

I sure don't assume Harvard is not ______-ist. My personal experience is that the community of people who are ______-ist is only more pronounced at ivy league and other elite schools.

__________________
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
(Michael Jordan)

FlunkedFlank

are you being sarcastic about not hearing about it? honestly, I can't tell. apologies if so and I'm just missing it.

well in case not ... it's been splashed all over the front pages for weeks now. search slate.com, they've had some great articles about it. or just check The Crimson.

__________________
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maleficent

It was back in January when Summers made the statement that girls were better suited to nursing and boys were better suited to building bridges, kinda a huge slap in the face to any woman in engineering.

Your own newspaper has a reference to his statements...
http://www.columbiaspectator.com/vne.../4243e47137002

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Supple Cow

/me blushes

I don't know how I missed it. I know I missed it in the Spec because I don't read the Spec (thanks for the link, mal), but I honestly don't know how the heck I missed it in the NY Times for so long. I guess I'm not so comprehensive a news reader... I tend to read the big headline articles and then check out the science, health and tech sections, but I often skip days when I'm not feeling like it and don't always go back to catch up. Hehe. I feel pretty silly now.

__________________
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
(Michael Jordan)

Gilda

Here is the controversial speech.

To summarize, the President of Harvard hypothosized about the reasons why there are fewer women in high end positions in science and engineering faculty at major universities, and why women might be underrepresented at the higher levels in major corportations.

He proposed that there are three reasons why this is so:

1. Married women tend to spend fewer hours at work than married men, thus they tend to get promoted less frequently to the highest positions.

2. There is a higher standard deviation among men than among women in many inborn attributes, including intelligence. Men and women are, on average, about equally intelligent, but men tend be spread out a lot more. You'll find a lot more men than women who are geniuses, and a lot more who are imbeciles. Because high-end engineering and science positions usually go to those with abilities three or four standard deviations above the mean, and you'll find more men at that extreme than women, you'll have more men in those positions.

3. Discrimination, either overt and intentional, or through the unfounded belief that women are automatically less capable.

I think it's a mistake to assume that number three is the only reason that women are underrepresented in high end business, science, and engineering, just as it's a mistake to assume that a woman can't be equally qualified for those positions merely because she's a woman.

Supple Cow

[threadjack]

Wait, but Summers makes it a point in his speech to say (several times) that he is speaking positively as opposed to normatively when he says all this about gender difference... so I don't get why this is considered sexist of him and why all the "feminists" at Harvard (among others) wanted to tear him a new hole. [jab from a Barnard student] Are they still bitter that Harvard swallowed up Radcliffe and took away their college? [/jab]

[/threadjack]

I second that. None of us here know any of the actual evidence (that's what the trial is for). Besides, guides for people new to the area are frequently filled with things that are not relevant to everybody. For instance, there's a whole section in Columbia's Guide to New York (for new students) about where to get coffee and I don't drink coffee... I'm not going to bang down the doors of whatever student group publishes the guide and call them caffeine supremacists.

And before any smartie-pants decides to say it, a nail salon is NOT different from a coffee shop just because "it's only for women" since there are a lot of men who get manicures, too.

__________________
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
(Michael Jordan)

DJ Happy

...or any men in nursing...