Response to Nick T Week 3

Dawn M said...
Hi Nick!I can't say I'm shocked that these "GQ" rooms still exist, especially among the 'rich and famous' jetset. But, really even Yale's secret Skull and Bones Society "taps" 15 men AND WOMEN from Yale's junior class each year (the last one was April 15th). This 'power elite' can use any of the member facilities for life and are expected to donate 1/3 of their estate back to the society upon their death. While $25K a year for a country club membership in North Jersey isn't quite the same caliber - perhaps the skulls have more 'class'. This group of guys probably generationally promote the exclusion of women. Like Wood states on p. 18..."...where deeply ingrained values and beliefs reside, we may hold some very traditional values and beliefs." If their membership or governing board of the club allows this discriminatory practice to continue simply out of club tradition, it's absurd. They perpetuate the 'secrecy' of the room by only allowing male servers, and by tipping them so well, basically buy their silence. Not for anything, why do the women members allow this to continue? Do they just go about their own lives and brush this off as a 'stupid guy thing'? Why haven't the women servers organized themselves, looked into an affirmative action case? There are a number of cases out there (especially in California) where women who were denied tips because of discrimination were awarded financial restitution because of bad practices. I'm not so angry or shocked so much at the men that belong and allow this practice to continue but the women who look the other way and don't do anything to stop it!
June 3, 2010 9:57 AM