I would also want to be hired or otherwise chosen based on my merits, or my potential.

I want my merits to show through work, or my potential to show through my intelligence and eagerness to learn new skills.

I would not want it given to me for free, and I certainly wouldn't want to be put into a position where I am guaranteed to fail upward, or hit a ceiling where I fail so much that no one sees my merits or my potential.

Quick edit: And not everyone is intelligent. There are career paths for everyone; substitute intelligence for work ethic and potential to master a single skill very well. This is what should be happening. Not skin, not sex, not sexual orientation.

I would also want to be hired or otherwise chosen based on my merits, or my potential.

I want my merits to show through work, or my potential to show through my intelligence and eagerness to learn new skills.

I would not want it given to me for free, and I certainly wouldn't want to be put into a position where I am guaranteed to fail upward, or hit a ceiling where I fail so much that no one sees my merits or my potential.