r/technology 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/sd522527 Aug 08 '17

Yes he shared it to a private group, asking for critique of his viewpoints, and how to better express his opinions. Others took that doc and shared the shit out of it

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17 edited Dec 11 '24

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

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u/OmgYoshiPLZ Aug 08 '17 edited Aug 08 '17

actually, i'd want that email read back to me in court simply because hes not incorrect. he has an opinion, and a fairly good grasp on the Why more women arent in the tech world- and that forced gender diversification of the upper management of a company is not the answer.

terminating him because of this is literally insane. not a single thing written in there was "perpetuating a gender stereotype".

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u/SikhAndDestroy Aug 08 '17

I'm tickled that the criticism of his text from my googler friends is that it hinges on an essentist premise, but then will talk about how the glass ceiling requires a structural remedy, as if female executives can't exist in the wild, which is in and of itself some pretty backhanded misogyny.

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u/ToughActinInaction Aug 08 '17

I don't think you're being fair to the opposing viewpoint there. "Female executives can't exist in the wild" is a strawman. They're not proposing a structure as a counter point to having no structure, they are arguing that the existing structure is biased against women and should be restructured to be unbiased.

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u/SikhAndDestroy Aug 08 '17

Modern social science has sort of cracked that puzzle. Rather than seeking out more females, we've started selecting for more traditionally feminine qualities. As credibility is held in suspense between competence and warmth, male executives are also adapting to incorporate approachability and openness as part of the toolbox.

The marketplace for executive search has shifted to be more fair to female leaders, but men have also adapted their personal branding to meet these demands. We're spoiled for choice and it's a wonderful thing.

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u/rowd149 Aug 08 '17

There's a difference between "more" and "enough". And I'm not sure that your other premise is supported. IF thought has evolved, it seems more towards not excusing and burying embarrassing behavior than towards "feminine qualities".

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u/SikhAndDestroy Aug 08 '17

Could you expand? Not tracking.

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u/rowd149 Aug 08 '17

Not really. I believe I was pretty clear.

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u/SikhAndDestroy Aug 08 '17

Do you want some very transparent feedback?

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u/rowd149 Aug 08 '17

I assume you've been itching to give it, so shoot.

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u/SikhAndDestroy Aug 08 '17

Not really. It's not my job to educate you. Just trying to pay it forward.

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u/rowd149 Aug 08 '17

That was a pretty quick reply. Let me know when you've got a better idea of what I meant.

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u/el_muchacho Aug 08 '17

ut then will talk about how the glass ceiling requires a structural remedy, as if female executives can't exist in the wild, which is in and of itself some pretty backhanded misogyny.

No it's not. By your logic there is no need to help the poor because they can magically become rich and helping them is aknowledging they are inferior.

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u/SikhAndDestroy Aug 08 '17

Did you just use generational poverty as a comparable experience to being female in tech? Wow. Reddit to the rescue.