White Men Can’t Work? Inside the UK’s Workplace Discrimination Backlash
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What is the hidden scale of workplace discrimination against white men?
I think one of the things is it's incredibly hard to speak about this without being cancelled, canned, labelled as a racist, written off as a sort of far-right loonpot. But journalistically, I felt this is a subject that someone has to raise their head above the There's unsaid and untold anxiety that men are feeling in today's workplace. There's a level of discrimination.
Why is it difficult to discuss discrimination against white men?
And these diversity DEI schemes don't work. They don't even benefit women or people from minority backgrounds. And I've spent a lot of time over the years talking about men and mental health in my documentaries. And I just kept hearing from guys that I'm having a really hard time at work because I'm a guy. My career's really taken a hit.
How do diversity and inclusion schemes affect white men in the workplace?
I'm terrified I'm going to say the wrong thing, but I can't say any of this out loud. And I just thought, you know, good journalism requires airing things which are important. And I'm going to probably cop it for this. You know, I'm going to be labeled as something I'm not. But I just thought it's an important story that we do need to tell.
Yeah, I wanted to highlight your background a little bit more here. You were a reporter for the BBC. You've won awards for your documentary work in the past. Is this a major risk for you then, highlighting this issue? What was strong enough to sort of drive you to pursue this despite the risks?
Yeah, I mean, I think it is. I've spent most of my life doing the BBC. I spent a bit of time doing Nat Geo in the States. More recently, I did the Free Press covering October the 7th attacks in Israel. So most of my work has been through, I guess, what you would classify as mainstream media. And I think I'm running into a minefield. No matter how nuanced you try and be and balanced, I think by just even saying, hey, we need to talk about white men, some people are going to look at me and say, God, you've changed. Whereas I don't think I have. You know, I've always believed in, I guess, classic values like... fairness, free speech, meritocracy. And as a journalist calling out when billions are being spent and not working, when people are suffering and being discriminated against, even if those people who are now being discriminated against, as odd as it might sound, are some white guys. You know, there are people who I've interviewed who've directly lost their jobs because they're
Because they're white men or have been sacked over crazy microaggressions. And this isn't to say things don't need to change. You know, of course, racism and sexism does need addressing. You know, and John, over the years, I've done quite campaigning journalism. I've worked undercover in Northern Ireland to expose racism. racism there against the Muslim and Chinese communities. I was attacked on camera. I've talked to the EPA about why so many black people in Alabama are living next to toxic sites. But at the same time, this does need calling out. And it doesn't make you racist to say that there are millions of men, our data has found, who are walking around too anxious to
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the hidden scale of workplace discrimination against white men?
1:16–1:44
2
Why is it difficult to discuss discrimination against white men?
1:44–2:05
3
How do diversity and inclusion schemes affect white men in the workplace?
2:05–7:47
4
What psychological impacts do career vulnerabilities have on men?
7:47–8:58
5
What are the consequences of being 'cancelled' in the workplace?
8:58–13:00
6
How can ostracism impact mental health in professional settings?
13:00–15:41