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If lack of diversity isn't a problem, why aren't these companies open with their figures? Why go to such extents? There's also research to suggest women and min
by felinista 8y ago
If lack of diversity isn't a problem, why aren't these companies open with their figures? Why go to such extents? There's also research to suggest women and minorities are underpaid relative to their male, white counterparts, shouldn't companies fix that?
- crististm 8y agoIs it a crazy idea the reason is that the figures themselves are irrelevant?
- felinista 8y agoWhy are they irrelevant? Why can't the data be used to address this disparity? If certain groups shy away from STEM careers, why not try to do something about it?
- SpicyLemonZest 8y agoAll of the companies named in the article are indeed trying to do something about it, and almost certainly use the data internally to address it.
- xamuel 8y agoWomen and blacks should have the right to choose their own destiny, who are we to tell them they're supposed to go into tech?
- felinista 8y agoIs this what I said? Some straw man. What I said was we should we work towards removing any obstacles underrepresented groups may face when trying to enter STEM careers. Plenty of research that supports the existence of such obstacles and the higher drop out rates of these groups even after having a go at pursuing a career in a STEM field (particularly in tech - https://hbr.org/2016/09/what-it-will-take-to-keep-women-from-leaving-stem https://hbr.org/2016/09/what-it-will-take-to-keep-women-from...).
- xamuel 8y agoYou said: "If certain groups shy away from STEM careers, why not try to do something about it?" You didn't say "If certain groups are blocked by obstacles...", you said "If certain groups shy away from". We should respect all peoples' rights to choose their own destinies. As someone who enjoys sitting behind a computer monitor more than half my waking life, I'm solidly in the minority. No amount of derogatory school treatment, opportunity gaps, lack of prestigious work, or any of the other alleged obstacles in your link, would change my mind that I enjoy sitting behind a monitor listening to music through my headphones all day every day!
- felinista 8y agoYou do you.
- bluedevil2k 8y agoBecause the media coverage would turn into a "problem" that would be a PR issue.
- felinista 8y agoDoubtful it can get worse than it already is, lack of diversity in tech is a widespread issue and known all too well. Even the general public is in a sense aware of it, when people picture stereotypical programmers, I doubt they have a black Muslim woman in mind. Transparency is important.
- rndgermandude 8y agoYou're lumping in two different issues: (perceived) lack of diversity on the gender and/or minority axis (or black/Hispanics really, as Asian minorities are well represented it seems), and companies underpaying certain groups. Actually, if you can pay women and minorities less for the same job and get away with it so far, and the abusive companies do just that, I'd guess those abusive companies would hire more, not less, people of those groups to "save" even more money.
- felinista 8y agoMy point was that certain underrepresented groups are treated differently in STEM fields (particularly tech), they either face obstacles to being hired, or, once hired, are not paid proportionately relative to their white, male colleagues. Research exists to support both of these points.