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Freshfields adds socio-economic background to census questions

"Head of diversity and inclusion Deborah Dalgleish said: “It’s been in one’s eyeline for some time;" In one's what? Why do people in jobs like this talk in such a ludicrous way? Unfortunately, the reason the kids of rich parents are recruited isn't because they're particularly bright, it's because they `fit in' with both the other people who work there and the clients. This subject cropped up recently regarding accents, and the principle's identical. There is an important social role in jobs at firms like this, and they want people who can mix in a relaxed way with prestige clients. It's a simple fact that the public schools turn out well-polished chaps and chapesses who speak `nicely', know how to hold their knife and fork properly, can discuss England's rugger prospects as against whether Torres was a good signing, and can generally turn on the charm as and when required. It's just tribalism really - people will always select as their work colleagues people who are like themselves. The lower orders just need to accept that unless they have truly Pygmalion qualities they have no more hope of entering this particular magic circle than they have of receiving an invitation to The Wedding.

28-Feb-2011

5:09 pm