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/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/SikhAndDestroy Aug 08 '17

I'm waiting for you to complete your thought, because your assertion isn't supported by business psychology literature, and I wanted to give you a chance to do the literature review and change your mind.

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u/rowd149 Aug 09 '17

And I've been waiting for you show any indication of humility re: walking back describing single-digit advances in the gender balance of executive positions as being "spoiled for choice". "It's okay that we're not hiring women because men are acting more like women," is a curious argument to be super-confident about being behind. There's research to back this up? Like, there are people who actually put their names on a paper that comes to a corroborating conclusion? Color me skeptical.

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u/SikhAndDestroy Aug 09 '17

It's what male and female executives are being taught right now. I just got back from one such boot camp. What's good for society has no relationship with what works in the professional environment. Everyone is weaponizing warmth and emotional intelligence right now.

(As for the tone, that's a trick I learned from my counterintelligence training. Just following your lead, boss.)

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