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I’m sure you will have a bunch of racial minority members pop up here to defend their white male ally partners, associates and of counsel. But don’t let anybody rewrite your experience. I have seen both sides, white male attorneys who added value to me and enhanced my work and white male attorneys who couldn’t lawyer their way out of a wet paper bag. Both exist. I am sorry you are yoked to a lazy less than competent one. I have been there. Hang in there. When you’re ready, you will find your exit.
I am black, and I have a white male boss who is amazing. Definitely like a big brother to me. We have to be careful making generalizations. My boss is a millennial in his late thirties though, so he may be more attuned with diversity and inclusion. We just really click though.
I’m brown and had two white male bosses that were great and provided mentorship. Both were between the age of 37-40ish. But I’ve seen other friends in the same profession with a different experience.
Some white men for sure. I’ve run into a few older ones trying to hang on for dear life who are almost comic book supervillains. But my mentor is an early 40s white man who has been phenomenal and I would not be where I am without his mentorship, friendship and most importantly, sponsorship. He expended every ounce of political capital he had to help me make partner. Now white women are a whole other story. I thought forever that I had an issue with women. Then I realized it was just white women. I had one white woman mentor who was amazing. She was also Jewish so I don’t really count her. The rest of them have been awful - from superiors to subordinates. Biggest beneficiaries of affirmative action profiting at the expense of WOC with little to no awareness or appreciation for intersectional feminism.
White men - no; white women - YES. I’m a woman and I try to avoid them like the plague
Lol. Dizzy, flustered, rude, racist, entitled, all talk no action, etc. Met my share of nutty white women partners (and counsel). The self confidence level itself is hilarious. Excuse me ma’am, but you’re loud and wrong, have a seat.
Pro
The Caucasian women in the nonprofit world have been pretty incompetent to me except for a couple. They cry on demand to get out of stuff.
C2, whew! I am currently at my desk STEWING because my docile male supervisor is trying to dump the work of another white female attorney in my lap because she “was all worked up,” because she doesn’t want to do it. A previous attorney in my role “used to take care of it for her because she didn’t want to.” Um… what?
Rising Star
Not sure why we are only focused on white male bosses.
A5, i have too but Usually because they’re aspiring to be (or please) a mediocre white man
Geez, I am so sorry that this is your experience. That feeling is awful and annoying and how you feel is valid. My personal experience is a little different although I’m not a lawyer yet. Both of my white male attorney bosses are respectful and very personable but very human. Thankfully, their social and political values loosely line up with mine and they actually live out what they preach. I hope you get to be in a better situation sooner rather than later. Don’t lose hope, there are reasonable bosses out there
Workin' 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
They just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
9 to 5, for service and devotion
You would think that I would deserve a fair promotion
Want to move ahead but the boss won't seem to let me
I swear sometimes that man is out to get me
I can only speak to my experience but some white male partners have been better mentors and advocates for me in the firm than...ahem...my own kind. Honestly I'll take it wherever I can get it, no matter if the partner is white black blue green or orange.
Chief
I have only had great white male partners. But i’ve heard stories from my non-POC friends in other firms that had terrible experiences.
Yes 😔 + the aggravation of having to fight through interruptions to provide responses requested, and fight to validate the work product.