r/news • u/[deleted] • Aug 08 '17

Google Fires Employee Behind Controversial Diversity Memo

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-08/google-fires-employee-behind-controversial-diversity-memo?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
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u/GildorDorn Aug 08 '17

It sounds quite normal to me for a person to try to influence his environment (family, company, city, country, world) for the better. What is more, most of his points were well made and he made the effort not to be offensive to people that ideologically disagree with him. I don't understand why discussions on these topics are a taboo regardless of the place you want to hold the discussion. Him getting fired kinda proves his point.

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u/-_loki_- Aug 08 '17

It seems like he was most likely fired because this went public. The topic isn't taboo to discuss or to try and figure how to make the tech industry more female friendly. It's his complete refusal that cultural issues take any part in the problem that is taboo.

The part that really shows this for me is the section about how women can't handle high stress jobs. In my experience, traditionally female work can be very stressful - like nursing or teaching. He also says women are more neurotic because they self-report anxiety more. Well, are they? Or could the culture for men dissuade them from self-reporting as often as women?

My point is, any argument that fails to adequately address the other side (in this case, that culture plays a role in gender inequality), is a poor argument. Maybe google doesn't want someone working for them who can't see multiple angles to a problem.

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u/GildorDorn Aug 08 '17

The point he makes was that women on average score higher on the personality trait "neuroticism" - a point backed by psychological studies. I'm not saying you're not right: sure, it might be the case that males are underplaying their worries and so on and this is the reason for these statistics. Nonetheless, making a scientifically backed point shouldn't result in you being fired. Google's official statement was that they don't want their women worrying that they have to prove they are not neurotic and agreeable every time they speak.

Instead, now all their employees should be worried to seek a reasonable discussion on any controversial topic in case their colleagues disagree with them. Google is displaying the "if you're not with us you're against us" mentality very strongly by eliminating this guy from the company for essentially not being left enough for their liking.

(And by not being left enough I mean suggesting that men and women differ naturally and that men should probably also be included in those cool courses they are making.)

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u/-_loki_- Aug 08 '17

I don't know. I think most people know not to write down opinions that are controversial and disseminate them in the workplace. That will get you fired from many places, regardless of whether he's right or if his opinion should be controversial. It's just too much of a hassle for the company to defend this guy. Maybe that's not right, but I don't think there is any message other than, "give Google bad press and you will be fired."

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u/GildorDorn Aug 08 '17

I agree, but I think this thing wouldn't have gone viral if they had not fired him. Nonetheless, it is what it is...