When I arrived at work yesterday, the first thing I did was flip my wall calendar to June. The Company produces a diversity calendar for all employees and that’s what I having hanging at my desk. Each month features a different group and provides a tidbit of information about the group to go along with a picture for that month’s theme. I enjoy reading the tidbits, often learning things that I never knew before. The pictures, on the other hand, typically leave much to be desired.
I’m not sure where they come up with the pictures, but there have been months when I’ve been a bit freaked out and have “accidentally” tacked a memo or something over the picture, so that I didn’t have to stare at it for an entire month.
January
The theme is Norwegian culture. The information is interesting and I enjoyed reading it. The picture is a woman dressed in traditional Norwegian attire standing in front of a Norwegian American Museum. I’m assuming she’s a woman based on the attire and jewelry, since her hair, nails and lack of any makeup or eyebrow grooming, leave me guessing. Hard to imagine what the other museum guides look like, since she was selected as the calendar girl.
February
The theme is African American History Month and the tidbit of information is about a premiere African American theater company. The picture is of a prize winning and obviously quite talented theater producer. I have no problem with this picture, but it is a very tight close up, which doesn’t seem necessary. I also find it odd that for African American History Month, they chose to feature someone whom I never would have guessed is actually African American, based on his very light skin.
March
March is Women’s History Month, featuring a University’s Biology department that is 38% female. I’m not really impressed by that. Anyway, the picture is 2 female professors sitting on a table in a classroom, chatting. Yawn.
April
The theme is Diversity at Work and includes a picture of a diverse group of employees chatting in a lounge area at an office. It’s a great candid shot where the employees seem genuine and happy. Looks like a great place to work!
May
May is devoted to Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. The photo features a Vietnamese man dressed in traditional attire, ringing in the Vietnamese New Year in a predominantly Vietnamese American enclave in New Orleans. Nice picture and good information.
June
As I mentioned, I turned my calendar to June yesterday. June features Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. I did not immediately look at the picture, instead I first read the information about a GLBT community center in San Francisco. It was interesting and I went on to read further information about the community center offered at the bottom of the calendar. Then I looked at the picture. Where do they find these people?
The photo is of eight people standing outside the community center. I think it’s 6 men and 2 women. I’m not sure about one that I “think” is a woman. The crew cut, sunglasses and over-sized tee shirt lead me to believe man, but then the earring, nose ring, lip ring and smooth face, lead me to believe woman. Next to her(?) is a handsome man dressed in a nice shirt, but he’s wearing a woman’s watch and about 7 gold bangle bracelets. In front of him is a man wearing a blue and white striped engineer’s hat. You know the kind of talking about. H has one that he wears when he’s playing with his Thomas trains. Not exactly something I’d expect a grown man to wear – and this man chose to wear it for a calendar picture. What was he thinking? Next to him is a woman with super short hair and no makeup. She looks very no fuss, no muss. The other men in the picture look just fine – like they were at the center, were called over for a photo and smiled.
What is my point? I don’t really know. I guess my point is that if I was a lesbian, I probably wouldn’t be too thrilled with how I was represented on this calender – by a woman who I’m really not certain is a woman and a no fuss, no muss woman. Four of the men look like every day men – 2 white, one african american and one asian – a diverse group of men who look like anyone anywhere. Even the guy with the jewelry looks good – just a bit much with the jewels. Engineer guy has some issues, but overall, a good representation of men. But the women? Am I supposed to assume that all lesbians have crew cuts and don’t wear makeup or look like a man? I know that’s not the case. So I just don’t get it.
Now the one who I can’t tell is a man or a woman is freaking me out. I can’t stop staring and can’t stop trying to figure out gender. I guess that’s the whole point.
I’m afraid to turn the calendar to July just yet. I’ll have to wait.
If the person is a woman, I’m sure there are many women that it does represent. Like all other people, lesbians and gays come in all shapes, sizes and styles. I don’t really know a lot of gay people but I’ve had my eyes opened on more than one occasion. I can’t wait to see what July holds for you.
I’m not even sure what to comment, truth be told. I’m thinking along the lines of SMB, that GLTG come in all shapes and sizes and fashion tastes. Hard to be PC all the time. But, at least your work is trying…
I DO know a lot about gays and lesbians and yes, they come in all sizes and shapes and colors and with various fashion sense. Pseudo is absolutely right – it’s hard to be PC all of the time and, while not actually seeing the picture, the only thing I could think of that might be objectionable is that it is perpetuating a stereotype. However, you could also applaud the photographer/calender/whoever for not being afraid to put this woman in the picture – she is who she is, and many people object to/are afraid of who she is.
I’m with SMB; July ought to be interesting!
How fascinating that you have that calendar. I love the very idea of it.
And if you just did a photo of a random assortment of straight people, it would be interesting to see what they looked like as well.