Photographs on resumes

 I knew it was relatively common for applicants from Asian backgrounds to include a photo of themselves with their CVs.  I have seen it in nearly every faculty search committee I've been part of at SVSU.  The students told me that it is something they all must do for every full time job.  They also told me employers in Japan focus on black hair.  I shared my honest reaction with them, because I could not hide it.

How is that not considered wrong?  I said I need to temper my thought because I am applying American thinking to Japanese norms and culture.  That is not appropriate.  Just because I grew up and live in a society where one type of behavior is okay and another is not does not mean that is the only way to do things.  Still...

What does hair color have to do with being able to do a job?  I didn't say this, but when the photographs on resumes came up I thought what job aside from acting, modeling, or stripping would the employer need to use your appearance to judge your suitability?  Given some time to think about it, I believe it ties to the importance of how a situation looks compared to the importance of how it is.

It's all rather disquieting.  I'm forcing myself to think about my own actions and how I may have been judgemental based on appearances.  How can I try to avoid it in the future?  What can I do to mitigate it when I notice it in others?  We'll see, I suppose.

In lighter news, it's been raining pretty steadily since about 8:00 last night (now 1:00).  The temperature has dropped.  Many students are complaining of headaches associated with the rain.  I understand that.  I very much like it raining at night.  However, this morning it was very difficult to want to get out of bed.  The patter of the rain outside.  The dark room.  The comfortable bed.  Taken together I feel like I deserve a reward for getting myself ready to teach today.  So, I'll figure out some reward for myself and bestow it upon me.  When you live alone you can do things like this now and again.

At least that's what I'll tell myself.

 

I have to add something that just happened (4:00).  A student stopped by to talk a bit.  It turns out he did a 40 day homestay in St. Marys, OH about 8 years ago.  For those who do not know, this is where my grandparents lived for my entire life.  I have many fond memories of being there.  My grandparents owned a garden shop, and as I said once before, the Vannette grandchildren are unique in that the ammonia smell of fertilizer ranks up there with baking cookies on triggering memories.  Grandma and Grandpa Vannette are the main reason I put seeds into dirt to see what grows.