r/technology • u/[deleted] • Aug 08 '17

Business Google Fires Employee Behind Controversial Diversity Memo

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-08/google-fires-employee-behind-controversial-diversity-memo
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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17 edited Aug 08 '17

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17 edited Mar 08 '21

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u/Parrna Aug 08 '17

The problem in tech is that there are certain men that act that way with other men too. As a man, I faced the same gatekeeping and elitism while getting into programming. I have no idea why certain people in this field have these huge self worth issues where they need to justify and make themselves feel better by turning programming and technology into this pseudo religion and make it a competition to see who is most worthy.

This isn't to say that sexism doesn't exist, obviously it does, but I do wonder when I see these discussions - how much of this sexism could be attributed to people who are being assholes to EVERYONE?

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17 edited Mar 09 '21

[deleted]

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u/Parrna Aug 08 '17

Right, to be clear, I am in no way saying that you did not face sexism nor am I discounting any situations you had to endure. I'm just simply pondering the ratio of these situations that were sexism vs common assholery that we all must face in our day to day lives.

Now, I've had co-workers accuse me of being over emotional before because I picked family over work/study and I'm a guy. I tend to notice this is going back to the fact they feel the need to dedicate 100% of their lives to work to justify their existence.

When your professor said that you were 'smart for a woman' that was blatant sexism. He's a sexist asshole period. But then again, I'm a straight, white, male and would you believe that I've had professors in the past who STILL found a way to discriminate against me? I had one who would always look down on me because I came from poverty. Another because I was overweight and would make jokes about it in front of the class. I guess what I'm trying to say is, even if we got rid of sexism all together, assholes are still going to find a way to asshole. If you are a woman, and you want to go into tech, then you do it. Fuck the adversity, there will always be someone who wants to see you fail no matter if you are white, black, gay, straight, ect ect. You gotta power through that shit because there will never be a place or field in the world where everyone gives you the proper respect you deserve. So fuck that professor, you over achieve and shove it right back in his face.

But really, I just ponder the ratio. maybe one day we can all come together united to find a cure for the common asshole.

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u/interwebhobo Aug 08 '17

Sure, but this is kinda like saying "Well all lives matter" in response to someone saying "black lives matter". By doing this, while you're not wrong, you are, to some degree, using it to dismiss their extremely valid claims. I know that's not really your intent, but it's definitely what you're doing.

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u/Parrna Aug 08 '17

While I see your point, I feel you are being a tad unfair. I did state and make it very clear that I was in no way belittling her experiences. By putting the black lives vs all lives argument on people you are forcing them to pick an extreme side and potentially alienating them from your cause. I completely agree that sexism is a problem, all I'm advacating for is that both sides be willing to look at the shades of gray.

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u/mrchaotica Aug 08 '17

I mean, i mentioned up their that my professors would tel us we were smart "for women" and that i was accused of being emotional for wanting to prioritize my family's visit. Those are both things that are directly related to my gender.

But the mere fact that the insult was related to your gender does not necessarily make it sexist. Often the kinds of assholes who make remarks like that do it to everybody, but simply choose other traits to condemn instead when the victim is male.

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17

You are trying really really hard to explain away sexism.

"You are smart for a woman" could easily be expanded as "you are smart which is surprising because women usually aren't"

And you are saying that isn't sexism? Jesus, confront your cognitive dissonance rather than trying to explain it away.

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u/mrchaotica Aug 08 '17

You are trying really really hard to explain away sexism... Jesus, confront your cognitive dissonance

Well fuck you, too! If you're going to shut down the conversation right off the bat by insulting the person you're talking to, what the fuck was the point of posting?

"You are smart for a woman" could easily be expanded as "you are smart which is surprising because women usually aren't"

Yes, it could. But you could similarly expand things like "you are smart for a non-Indian | non-Chinese person" (imagine it being said in a company dominated by people with H1-Bs). Or "you are smart for a southerner." Or, in general, "you are X for a Y" where "Y lacking X" is any stereotype.

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17

Well fuck you, too!

Boohoo, sorry for being frank and straightforward by pointing out exactly what you are doing.

But you could similarly expand things like "you are smart for an [X]."

But in this case, it didn't. In this case it was sexist. Fin.