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OK. There have been a bunch of replies to this along the lines of: "How can this be true?! But if it is true, why don't they challenge their employer??"
Here's a long list of reasons why you might want to ask a different question: https://twitter.com/EmmaDavidGsy/status/1274386402457931778
Here's a long list of reasons why you might want to ask a different question: https://twitter.com/EmmaDavidGsy/status/1274386402457931778
1. @EmmaDavidGsy is simply repeating what she heard. Why expect her to know every detail of strangers' work lives?
2. These women told her *their fear* about how their employer would behave. Maybe they're wrong. But what might have happened to make these women fear that?
2. These women told her *their fear* about how their employer would behave. Maybe they're wrong. But what might have happened to make these women fear that?
3. One of the speakers today literally said: "I didn't know how my employer would react to me speaking today. I didn't know if I'd still have a job." Even though she said nothing bad about her job. Maybe ask what happens in the workplace to make black women fear being outspoken?
4. If you wonder why they wouldn't risk challenging their employer, when their case seems cast-iron to you, ask yourself why. What might they have to lose that you don't? @RhianGsy has already alluded to housing permits tied to jobs ...
4 (cont'd). ... Would you challenge your employer if you had just resettled your family here, on a licence that's tied to your job with that employer?
Would you take on their international reputation, or their in-house lawyer, when you know it's your word against theirs?
Would you take on their international reputation, or their in-house lawyer, when you know it's your word against theirs?
5. You can choose to take these women at their word, or to doubt them. Why default to doubt? Do you really believe every employer is squeaky clean in their behaviour towards their employees?
If even a passing comment is dissected like this by people who think it can't possibly be true, that no employer would behave like that ... well, maybe there's a clue as to why some people might feel they wouldn't have a "fair fight" if their employer acted this way.
