Harvard's Guinier Discusses Diversity
SAN-EOU LAN
Issue date: 2/6/07 Section: Features
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On Monday, Feb. 5, Lani Guinier, a Harvard University professor, gave a lecture on "Race, Gender & Power." As she approached the podium, she commended everyone for being present despite the cold evening. She began her lecture with a short anecdote that would be a metaphor for what she would be speaking about later on. She told a story of watching her son and friends play a game of golf ball relay, where contestants had to carry a golf ball in a spoon down a path, and whoever was first won.
The teams were organized into boys versus girls, and she noted that the girls repeatedly won despite the boys' attempts at victory. Looking at this result, Guinier and her colleagues began analyzing the behavior of the children, trying to deduce the reason for the girls' victory. During this conversation, Guinier's mother asked, "Who designed the game?" Her mother's poignant question made Guinier realize that the power structure shapes the way race and gender are viewed in society.
She then introduced the concept of the miner's canary, which miners used to determine the underground air quality, because the canary's air passages were more sensitive. Guinier argued that the experience of the canary, a minority, is not calculated into the solution of the problem. Extrapolating this to social dynamics she argued that without taking into consideration the minority's experience, nothing can be solved. "The experience of the minority is a potential diagnostic for the problems in society," she said.
Using these metaphors she delved into the US power structure, emphasizing three points for the control of power in society. "First is the visual conflict, or who is winning or losing," Guinier stated. She then pointed out that society pays the most attention to the visual conflict. Her second point was the idea of agenda setting, or who creates the rules. She referred to her son's experiences; since the girls had created the game, they were clearly at an advantage. Finally, she asserted that "The stories the winners tell about why they won and why the losers lose keeps the losers in the game."
The teams were organized into boys versus girls, and she noted that the girls repeatedly won despite the boys' attempts at victory. Looking at this result, Guinier and her colleagues began analyzing the behavior of the children, trying to deduce the reason for the girls' victory. During this conversation, Guinier's mother asked, "Who designed the game?" Her mother's poignant question made Guinier realize that the power structure shapes the way race and gender are viewed in society.
She then introduced the concept of the miner's canary, which miners used to determine the underground air quality, because the canary's air passages were more sensitive. Guinier argued that the experience of the canary, a minority, is not calculated into the solution of the problem. Extrapolating this to social dynamics she argued that without taking into consideration the minority's experience, nothing can be solved. "The experience of the minority is a potential diagnostic for the problems in society," she said.
Using these metaphors she delved into the US power structure, emphasizing three points for the control of power in society. "First is the visual conflict, or who is winning or losing," Guinier stated. She then pointed out that society pays the most attention to the visual conflict. Her second point was the idea of agenda setting, or who creates the rules. She referred to her son's experiences; since the girls had created the game, they were clearly at an advantage. Finally, she asserted that "The stories the winners tell about why they won and why the losers lose keeps the losers in the game."
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