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More White Girl Problems

Jenny October 9, 2012 Uncategorized 1 Comment
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Continuing this theme of college admissions and White Girl Problems (we still love you, Maddy!) is today’s post about Abigail Fischer, a white 22-year-old who didn’t get into the school of her dreams (University of Texas) and is now taking her case to the Supreme Court, saying she was discriminated against because of her majority race. (See New York Times story here.)

Affirmative Action has long been the source of debate in this country, and even I find myself floundering on the issue at times (but then my dad, as per usual, says some strikingly convincing argument and sets me straight). But enough is enough. Is it possible that little Miss Abigail was rejected because–and I don’t want to make any ground-breaking assumptions here–she just wasn’t qualified? Maybe her SAT scores fell short, maybe she didn’t found a shelter for abandoned kittens, or perhaps she wrote that her greatest adversity in life was taking the bus to school? But sometimes, instead of accepting our flaws, we must blame it on the underdogs, and then take up valuable time and tax dollars having our complaints heard at a federal level. Although there are many situations where I would cry out, “Props to you! This is democracy in action!” and further encourage a challenge to the justice system, Miss Abigail’s case isn’t one of these times.

Her headlining quote particularly irks me: “I probably would have gotten a better job had I gone to UT.” Let’s discuss the facts, Abigail:
1. You still got into, and can afford, a college, which is more than many people, especially the ones you are pitting your problems against, can say.
2. We could all hypothetically have “better” jobs; Sophomore year, for example, I could have been writing freelance for The New Yorker instead of being paid $8.50 an hour to clean work-out equipment and watch guys drink muscle milk while bench-pressing. The point is you have a job upon graduation, which is not a guaranteed reality these days.
3. We all must face rejection. I am not suing UCLA for rejecting me. In fact, I am now rejoicing the fact that they did so because UCSB allows me an ocean view from my balcony.

So learn from these tough times and know that, perhaps if you had spent less time on the bowling team at Louisiana State and more time pursuing internships and club leadership positions, then even you, poor little White Girl, could have strong prospects in the future.

(Any thoughts? Especially if you disagree, I’d love to hear opinions.)

About The Author

Jenny

Jenny Marshall studied Language, Culture, and Society at the University of California Santa Barbara, and now teaches English in Spain. Here she writes about the intersection of language and culture, and lives a life translated by travel.

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