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I would assume that there isn't a 'Google Brain Men and Allies' affinity group. "Google Brain" does likely have its own general distro where standard work-relat
by whoknew1122 6y ago
I would assume that there isn't a 'Google Brain Men and Allies' affinity group. "Google Brain" does likely have its own general distro where standard work-related topics are discussed.
At the hazard of becoming 'political' and triggering people, affinity groups are typically created for groups that have traditionally been underserved, marginalized, or have special considerations.
As a cis male, I don't really see the need for a 'Google Brain Men and Allies' distro list because the issues that men face in the workplace are generally the same issues everyone faces. Women (and nonbinary people) can be confronted with issues that men simply aren't.
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At Amazon, there are groups for Black employees, Latinx employees, LGBTQA+ employees, transgender employees, women, disabled employees, etc.
Sometimes these groups talk about work; but sometimes they talk about just life things. For example, often cisgendered employees will have children that come out as trans. So they'll reach out to the transgender community for help and support as to how to be the best advocate for their child.
Or, as a personal example, I moved to a new city to take the job at Amazon. I was looking for a therapist, and it was important that the therapist be supportive of LGBTQA+ issues and ethical non-monogamy. So I reached out to the LGBTQA+ group for therapist recommendations.
- PeterStuer 6y agoI understand these seem to be sensitive and 'political' issues in the US. I just do not understand how any of this labeling and segregation can be productive in a workplace.
- skywhopper 6y agoYou don’t understand how trans people might have specific things in common to talk about that non-trans people don’t relate to? These groups aren’t just for political hot topics, but also for parents or for musicians or runners or any other affinity group.
- PeterStuer 6y agoI can surely understand how that can be the case. I just don't see why that would be specifically relevant to generally working on Google Brain.
- whoknew1122 6y agoI can't speak for Google Brain specifically, or AI/ML (I do InfoSec). Perhaps there is a need for discussing the Google Brain project specifically from a woman's point of view. But when I hear about a 'Google Brain Women and Allies' distro, I'm more thinking about peers which discuss things which impact them. I wouldn't get too hung up about the 'Google Brain' portion of the distro; it's likely just a way to self-select a group of peers which share a common interest.
- zzackk 6y agoAhh I got it now. This is great answer and would make a lot of sense. The tech industry is very male-driven and plagued with a lot of issues, so I’d only imagine these groups as essential part of many employees survival / wellbeing. Also I’d argue that these are people issues and not US political issues.
- jldugger 6y ago> Also I’d argue that these are people issues and not US political issues. Gender equality activism has been part of US politics since at least 1776: http://www.thelizlibrary.org/suffrage/abigail.htm http://www.thelizlibrary.org/suffrage/abigail.htm (Abigail Adams advocating to the constitutional convention)
- joijoiwejrr 6y ago> Latinx employees Is there an affinity group for the overwhelming majority of "Latinx" people who don't use or like this term?
- pinewurst 6y agohttps://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2020/08/11/about-one-in-four-u-s-hispanics-have-heard-of-latinx-but-just-3-use-it/ https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2020/08/11/about-one-in...
- joijoiwejrr 6y agoExactly.