Diversity in Mensa

[beckyzoole]

One of the goals of American Mensa is to increase the diversity of its membership. How can we attract more African-American, Hispanic, and/or GLBT members?

How would YOU go about recruiting and retaining a more diverse membership? If you are a member of an under-represented minority, what attracted YOU to Mensa? What changes would YOU like to see?

Comments

[n5red]

Mensa is short on GLBT members? Not that I have noticed.

[beckyzoole]

Those Mensans who are GLBT are often very active and out. So, among the 10% of all Mensans who are attend local events and RGs, GLBT Mensans are very well represented.

But the vast majority of Mensans are inactive. Most of them are older, white, and straight.

I'd sure love to see more 30-somethings in Mensa, too.

[bluestocking]

"I'd sure love to see more 30-somethings in Mensa, too."

The Gen-X group is helping a lot with that. 1700 members so far, and they're getting more and more active with RGs and the AG.

[n5red]

I resent that! I don't deny it, but I do resent it... :-)

[melsmarsh]

I'm a gay transsexual male and I joined Mensa as soon as my parent's "freeze" on my psychological records expired when I was 25. Then I could request them and join Mensa. I had been wanting to join Mensa since I was 9 years old.

Unfortunately, while I hold a membership, I am inactive. The reason I am inactive is because NOTHING INTERESTING HAPPENS near me. I refuse to drive upwards of 2 hours one way for anything just to hear my partner whine that Mensans all have big heads. (Hey you know what they say about people with big heads? Big hats!) Since I cannot drive due to epilepsy and there is no functional public transportation and my less intellectually gifted partner is jealous, and no one will watch my daughter who I don't want to bring to any Mensa gathering, thus there is nothing I can do but sit here lonely.

[melsmarsh]

And I would want to do that why exactly? That would defeat the purpose of being away from the city. I am a hermit, I hate people, and I really passionately hate parties. My partner is not interested in being involved in Mensa or Mensa related things and I would still have the problem of an annoying 5 year old bothering everyone.

Re: I don't know if this is what you are asking..

[hoshikaze]

That's hard to be involved when everything requires spending to much money. I received an issue of my local Mensa group, and they had some gatherings scheduled in less expensive venues, such as a public park, and a cafe downtown with decent prices (a local place - not a chain).

(That being said, I'm still just a prospect, I need to locate where I took my IQ test when I was younger, or just take the Mensa test when I get a chance).

Re: I don't know if this is what you are asking..

[hoshikaze]

Thanks. I'll probably take the time in January to see about finding my test information. If I can't get it I'll take the Mensa test then.

Affordable gatherings are always nice, people shouldn't have to spend a bunch of money to participate in said gatherings.

[bluestocking]

If Mensa has an advertising budget, it could advertise in communities related to those demographics. Or even just advertise more in general, in colleges, to other high-IQ societies, etc.

I don't think I've ever seen Mensa advertising, though. I just sort of knew what it was, and had an urge to check it out. If Mensa has spread and grown mostly through word of mouth, that would account for the lack of diversity - people tend to know people like themselves, especially if they're a bit older.

[ladytetsu]

Here's an increasingly unpopular idea - but why is actively seeking diversity necessarily a good thing? I do NOT argue that minorities have just as much right to be Mensans or anything else in numbers as great or better than the majority, but when I'm given an opportunity above and beyond, and then I'm told I got it for being a minority, it cheapens the victory a bit. I'd rather earn it on my own merits, than just because "group x hasn't gotten one yet." I think the best groups will attract their own diversity, given that a high-quality whatever will attract a wide consumer base. "Recruiting" makes me nervous.

That said, advertise in learning centers, I'd say, that traditionally have populations of those you seek. There are also numberous free magazines in many LGBT "areas" that are widely read and inexpensive to advertise in. Be visible, but don't "recruit."