A special blog written by BSWN intern, Serena Hayre for Race Equality week on being a female Asian heritage student of economics in a world of white men.
As a female, British Asian student, I find myself constantly stuck between two versions of success. Studying economics at a Russell group university comes with the expectations of a six-figure salary, a job in Canary Wharf and a hard-nosed attitude getting you to the top. Whilst I can imagine this life for myself, it feels as though I must forfeit some of my heritage to be part of the finance industry. As a white male dominated sector, there seems to be a culture that perpetuates the Wolf of Wall Street archetype.
“Growing up in a white majority seaside town meant that the first time I met, or even heard of, a female woman of colour who worked in the finance industry wasn’t until I was 20 years old. ”
Until that point, I never had a role model who represented my values and understood some of my journey. Whilst the salary is enticing, by becoming a woman in finance, it is not solely a decision based on selfish intent, it helps to undo the stereotype and diversify an industry.
This feeling of personal sacrifice isn’t something new or unique to me. For many young girls, the beauty standard is tall, blonde, and white - everything that I am not. Growing up around people who met these societally accepted standards made me feel inferior or even abnormal. The innate desire to feel welcomed by my peers made me distance myself from my faith just to fit in and succeed. In hindsight, if I had a role model and increased exposure to the belief that women of colour can be successful, powerful, and knowledgeable, I may have had more confidence in myself and explored my culture to a greater extent. Something which I’m learning and welcoming in adulthood.
Whilst this was a barrier, I acknowledge my privilege - receiving an education and having the freedom to choose my future. A large part of me wants to use this to help young people who find themselves without role models or struggling to overcome racial, social, or other obstacles.
“Working with BSWN to spotlight the race disparities in the southwest and previously with Dorset County Council to improve social mobility has made me feel that I can use my privilege to change policy in a top down approach.”
However, there are many challenges to reach racial justice as the issue is complex and multifaceted. It often feels like a losing battle which deepens the complexity of how I foresee my post-graduate life and career prospects. Racial disparities are rooted systemically meaning often work done by myself and peers only manages to scratch the surface. This makes me question the extent of change that I can make. The internal conflict of using my education to better the system using policy reformation or to benefit from a financial perspective leaves me at a crossroads.
The reality is we can all sit somewhere in the middle of our ideals, and we don’t always have a clear solution. With balance, we can find ways to reach our goals, benefitting both ourselves and wider society alike. We all face tough choices in the aim of creating equal opportunities, but we shouldn’t have to choose between our identity to succeed.