5 ms·

There are a lot of reasons for the persistent sexual harassment and sexism in Silicon Valley. A narrow and self-reinforcing culture, complacency stemming from t

by billiam 11y ago

There are a lot of reasons for the persistent sexual harassment and sexism in Silicon Valley. A narrow and self-reinforcing culture, complacency stemming from the misconception that it is a meritocracy, and the relative immaturity of a lot of employees. But as I see more and more talented women at good companies opt out in one way or another, more serious measures need to be taken. More training that is not seen as a joke, and just a lot more large and small ways to show that women will have a safe and supportive workplace. I'm hopeful that that ultimately the selfish demand for good engineers from this immensely talented group will drive change.

mc32 11y ago
Sexual harassment is hardly the province of technology focused companies. Its reasons are varied and at times culture affects perception (compare behavior and acceptance in France, Mexico, and the US) not saying one or the other is worse, just different. Never the less, sexual harassment is an issue, it's an issue in tech, but it's an issue in the workplace in general. I think one difference is the willingness to report sexual or any harassment tends to be higher where the workforce is more economically secure as well as better educated. I other words a server at McDs might not be willing to be as jeopardize a job as someone with alternatives, access to attorneys and support network. So, it will seem like the problem is more problematic in tech, finance, etc, whereas in actuality the problem may be much bigger in other areas of the economy. The point is this tech isn't an incubator for harassment, it's present everywhere in perhaps greater degree, so addressing it as such (a big issue) rather than that thing that happens in tech, would better serve American society.
- knughit 11y ago
  Male on female sexual harassment is worse per female capita (which is the effect people complain about, whether the realize it or not) wherever women are a smaller minority. This is basic math. It isn't anything special about SV culture beyond that. The base rate of male on female sexual harassment varies locally due to accidents of cultural background history. Having females in positions of power can likely help with that, so it is all tied into the virtuous/vicious cycles that relate to gender imbalance. And techie women are better than average of raising awareness of problems in their industry, because they know how to Internet.
- kelukelugames 11y ago
  If you look at EEOC cases, most of them are from less prestigious industries. However, of all the elite professionals, tech workers seem the most immature. I think it's a combination of gender ratio and less developed soft skills. Though my friends have horror stories from law, finance, and consulting too. Link: http://www.eeoc.gov/search/search?access=p&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&btnG=Search&client=press_frontend&q=sexual&filter=0&ud=1&site=PressReleases&oe=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=press_frontend&ip=10.5.0.19&sort=date%3AD%3AS%3Ad1 http://www.eeoc.gov/search/search?access=p&entqr=0&output=xm...
  - smacktoward 11y ago
    And, possibly, the youth fetish. When the portrait of the ideal is a 19-year-old guy who dropped out of an elite school, it's not surprising to see the ethics of the over-entitled rich boy everywhere you turn.
    - mc32 11y ago
      I'm not sure that assumption works out. Yes, there are frat boys, but I've also stood in many bus stops and taken many buses in not yet gentrified neighborhoods and highschool drop outs can also be quite aggressive in approaching strangers and chatting them up all the while their target is trying hard to get out of any interaction.

by billiam 11y ago

mc32 11y ago

Sexual harassment is hardly the province of technology focused companies. Its reasons are varied and at times culture affects perception (compare behavior and acceptance in France, Mexico, and the US) not saying one or the other is worse, just different. Never the less, sexual harassment is an issue, it's an issue in tech, but it's an issue in the workplace in general. I think one difference is the willingness to report sexual or any harassment tends to be higher where the workforce is more economically secure as well as better educated. I other words a server at McDs might not be willing to be as jeopardize a job as someone with alternatives, access to attorneys and support network. So, it will seem like the problem is more problematic in tech, finance, etc, whereas in actuality the problem may be much bigger in other areas of the economy. The point is this tech isn't an incubator for harassment, it's present everywhere in perhaps greater degree, so addressing it as such (a big issue) rather than that thing that happens in tech, would better serve American society.

knughit 11y ago
Male on female sexual harassment is worse per female capita (which is the effect people complain about, whether the realize it or not) wherever women are a smaller minority. This is basic math. It isn't anything special about SV culture beyond that. The base rate of male on female sexual harassment varies locally due to accidents of cultural background history. Having females in positions of power can likely help with that, so it is all tied into the virtuous/vicious cycles that relate to gender imbalance. And techie women are better than average of raising awareness of problems in their industry, because they know how to Internet.
kelukelugames 11y ago
If you look at EEOC cases, most of them are from less prestigious industries. However, of all the elite professionals, tech workers seem the most immature. I think it's a combination of gender ratio and less developed soft skills. Though my friends have horror stories from law, finance, and consulting too. Link: http://www.eeoc.gov/search/search?access=p&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&btnG=Search&client=press_frontend&q=sexual&filter=0&ud=1&site=PressReleases&oe=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=press_frontend&ip=10.5.0.19&sort=date%3AD%3AS%3Ad1 http://www.eeoc.gov/search/search?access=p&entqr=0&output=xm...
- smacktoward 11y ago
  And, possibly, the youth fetish. When the portrait of the ideal is a 19-year-old guy who dropped out of an elite school, it's not surprising to see the ethics of the over-entitled rich boy everywhere you turn.
  - mc32 11y ago
    I'm not sure that assumption works out. Yes, there are frat boys, but I've also stood in many bus stops and taken many buses in not yet gentrified neighborhoods and highschool drop outs can also be quite aggressive in approaching strangers and chatting them up all the while their target is trying hard to get out of any interaction.