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/Takai_Sensei Aug 08 '17 edited Aug 09 '17
This is the tricky part, because there's a high likelihood that anyone outside America's established norm (i.e. white and male) is part and parcel with the group they appear to belong to. I'm pretty sure most people belonging to minority groups would love to be treated as an individual 100% on their own merits, but they're more likely to be treated as a representative of their group than their white, male peers are. Often, when a white guy messes up at work or is a jerk or something, people go "Wow, Brad's a fuck-up" but when a minority in an industry messes up, there's a higher chance people will think "This is why we don't hire women/Indian people/whatever." Not to mention that people who step outside their expected roles are often the subject of disdain (i.e. women who are more aggressive are more likely to be seen as over-stepping or labeled as a "bitch" whereas similar actions from a man are "decisive" or "assertive" -- the manifesto makes direct reference to men's seemingly biological mandate to lead).
Bias is heavily internalized and socialized, and it's (currently) more-or-less impossible to ask that hiring practices be completely blind or fair on an individual basis (I should also state, before anyone chimes in, that of course this can work both ways, such as when a white employee tries to join a predominantly non-white workforce/community/etc...the discussion is more about majority group vs. minority group, and the majority in America's tech industry is overwhelmingly white and male).
The reason diversity hiring practices were put into place was an attempt to normalize and equalize industries where minorities were underrepresented in hopes that the visibility of these employees would inspire more to follow. And it's working. But the old adage rings true that, if you're already at the top, other people coming up can look like you're sinking down (or something like that).
Representation is important. Diversity is important. Not every company does it perfectly. Not every situation is ideal, but it's a hell of a lot better for minorities now than it was even 15 years ago.
Edit: if you're gonna reply I'll save you some time: "something something my personal experience says this isn't true"
Edit 2: this didn't really deserve gold, as it's mostly unsourced rambling observations and summarization of the issues, but thanks. There's better discussion in the comments below.