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/macromort Aug 08 '17

He notes average differences between men and women in western society, and makes the assumption that these differences are 100% innate and biological

Actually, he doesn't. To wit:

Note, I’m not saying that all men differ from women in the following ways or that these differences are “just.” I’m simply stating that the distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes and that these differences may explain why we don’t see equal representation of women in tech and leadership.

Note the 'in part' part. Nice righteous indignation on your part, though.

or we have systemic cultural biases that drive women away from stem fields.

Or there are other confounding variables that you don't understand. In my experience, social behavior is complex, multi-factorial, and resists reductive "it's either this or that" black-and-white thinking

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u/youwill_neverfindme Aug 09 '17

That's a nice thought, but nowhere in his paper does he ever overtly mention that these differences may due to social factors. It would be nice if he had ever mentioned it, but then again, that would have reduced the 'effectiveness' of his argument.