Programming Diversity

Talks

Ashe Dryden

@ashedryden

#diversity-inclusion

#women-in-tech

#software-development

Programming Diversity

by Ashe Dryden

The video titled "Programming Diversity" features Ashe Dryden discussing the critical issue of underrepresentation and lack of diversity in the tech industry. The presentation highlights how more diverse communities lead to better products and solutions, yet barriers still prevent women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals from thriving in tech environments. Dryden outlines various concepts and terms related to diversity, including:

Diversity Definition: Diversity extends beyond gender, encompassing various backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including economic class and disabilities.
Intersectionality: This term explains how overlapping identities influence an individual's experiences and opportunities in society.
Privilege: Dryden emphasizes the unearned advantages some people possess, which can lead to inequalities in education, pay, and job opportunities.
Stereotype Threat and Imposter Syndrome: These concepts illustrate how societal pressures can negatively impact performance and self-perception among marginalized groups.
Marginalization: The presentation discusses how certain groups are often relegated to the periphery, facing systemic barriers in tech.

Dryden provides statistics demonstrating the lack of gender diversity, noting that women make up only about 24% of the tech workforce and have significantly lower representation in areas like open-source contributions. She challenges the notion that women are disinterested in technology by referencing historical contexts where women were prominent in programming roles.

To combat these issues, Dryden suggests several strategies:
- Organizations should implement training and awareness programs to address implicit biases.
- Encouraging community initiatives that support diversity in tech.
- Fostering equitable and welcoming workplace cultures.

The conclusion underscores that diversity is not only beneficial for problem-solving and innovation but is also a moral imperative. Dryden calls for collective action to raise awareness and support marginalized groups in the tech industry, emphasizing that everyone has a role in promoting inclusivity.

Overall, the talk advocates for systemic change within tech communities to improve the representation and support of diverse individuals, ultimately leading to a more vibrant and effective tech landscape.

00:00:15.440 Hello! Alright, perfect, not too equally. My name is Ashe Dryden. Before we get started, I'm going to let people sit down real quick.

00:00:22.480 But, before we begin, I need some audience participation. If you are able to, please stand up or raise your hand if you are involved with RailsBridge, Rails Girls, Girl Develop It, Black Girls Code, or related programs.

00:00:34.960 If you teach programming, if you are a mentor, or if you in any way help someone new get into programming or into Ruby or Rails, please stand up or raise your hand.

00:01:02.480 So, I'm talking today about diversity in tech. It's something that is really important to me and something I've been very lucky to talk to a lot of people about lately.

00:01:13.520 As I said, my name is Ashe Dryden. You can find me by that name pretty much everywhere on the internet. A lot of the information that's in my slides, I also tweet about regularly, so if you're interested in learning more, you can check out my website or my Twitter stream.

00:01:31.520 To set a baseline for our conversation, I want to talk about what diversity actually is. Often, when we have this conversation, it’s kind of code for asking where all the women are. It’s important to remember that diversity is more than just gender, and it transcends the binary of male and female.

00:01:56.079 Diversity encompasses people from various backgrounds, experiences, and lifestyles. It’s a lot more than just gender, and it's not always visible. For example, disabilities, whether physical or mental, aren't always apparent.

00:02:08.000 Economic class deeply impacts many people in programming and education as well.

00:02:19.520 To provide context for our discussion, I want to define some vocabulary terms. The first term is intersectionality.

00:02:25.920 Intersectionality refers to the traits that make up a person and how they interact with society's treatment based on these traits. It encompasses how overlapping identities can influence someone's experience in life.

00:02:43.200 For example, in the United States, women earn approximately 80.9% of what men do. Although this is an improvement from previous years, it’s still disappointing—and intersectionality shows us that this isn't the whole story. Latinas, for instance, earn just 59.3% of what their white male counterparts make.

00:03:09.760 This stark contrast illustrates that just being a woman and being a woman of color significantly decreases one's earning potential. In the blind community, the unemployment rate is about 7.5%, while it’s 10 times higher for blind individuals, showcasing a huge disparity.

00:03:43.920 Another key term is privilege, which represents an unearned advantage simply because of who you are or the traits you possess. For instance, I have specific privileges based on factors like being white, appearing straight, speaking English as my first language, being middle class, and being abled.

00:04:01.360 Having privilege doesn't make someone a bad person. However, it's important to recognize these advantages and consider who lacks these privileges. If I get 95 out of 100 in a given context, someone else gets only 5, highlighting an immense inequality in opportunities.

00:04:32.160 People in privileged positions access better education, receive higher pay, and face fewer biases. Indeed, being assumed to be competent is significant during job interviews, where women often have to counter preconceived notions about their abilities.

00:05:04.080 This concept also extends to social and professional networks, particularly in STEM fields, where familial connections and networks influence access to higher educational institutions and job opportunities.

00:05:36.400 Moreover, our definition of skill sets often relies on stereotypes. For instance, being labeled as a 'geek' often defaults to a young, white male image, limiting broader identification within the culture.

00:06:02.720 The next vocabulary term is stereotype threat. A stereotype threat occurs when individuals fear confirming negative stereotypes about their identity group, which may hinder their performance.

00:06:42.560 Studies have shown, for instance, that women prime with negative messages about math tend to perform worse than those who aren't subjected to such primes. It demonstrates how this external pressure can significantly impact performance.

00:07:11.680 Imposter syndrome is another term worth mentioning. This affects many people, as it involves the inability to internalize one's accomplishments.

00:07:22.400 Individuals may feel unworthy or incapable, even if they have the qualifications and expertise to succeed. This phenomenon can be especially pronounced among marginalized groups, leading to hesitance in pursuing certain jobs or opportunities.

00:07:53.760 Another concept is marginalization, which refers to pushing certain individuals or groups to the peripheries of society, disregarding their needs and desires simply due to their status as 'other.'

00:08:03.760 It's crucial to be aware that many people think they are logical and don’t see gender in the workplace. However, the people celebrated in society, such as scientists and professors, often exhibit these biases as well.

00:08:19.840 Research has illustrated this through experiments where identical resumes with different names were rated differently, with women often receiving lower scores and recommended salaries.

00:08:49.919 It highlights how, even in mixed-gender review teams, women were subjected to the same unfavorable assessments as their male counterparts, which reinforces systemic gender biases.

00:09:11.040 So how diverse is the tech industry? Recent demographics show that women in tech hold positions at about half the rate they do in the general population.

00:09:26.280 Particularly concerning are the Hispanic and Black communities, which are significantly underrepresented within the tech sector.

00:09:45.920 For instance, women comprise about 24% of the overall tech workforce, yet account for only 3% of open-source contributions.

00:10:03.440 Given that many job opportunities are often contingent upon open-source contributions, the limited representation raises serious questions about the viability of finding diverse candidates.

00:10:20.800 This issue isn't isolated to the United States alone; various countries around the world show a similar pattern in regards to gender representation in computer science.

00:10:41.920 The perception that women simply aren't interested in programming overlooks the historical context where programming was once a predominantly female profession.

00:11:06.080 It’s vital to acknowledge changing perceptions and societal influences affecting who enters these fields today.

00:11:18.560 The narrative surrounding programming can deter young women, as many lack visible role models or environments that encourage them to explore tech.

00:11:43.360 This lack of representation begins early; cultural cues from a young age suggest what roles are suitable for boys versus girls, affecting their aspirations.

00:12:05.920 Recent initiatives, such as toys designed to introduce girls to engineering, play a pivotal role in closing these gaps.

00:12:30.560 As we continue to explore and cultivate diverse communities, we must focus on addressing existing inequalities and preventative measures to combat these biases.

00:12:58.560 Studies show systemic barriers impede opportunities—a clearer understanding of these dynamics can guide us towards greater inclusivity.

00:13:15.680 In addition to attention to diverse recruiting, organizations should implement training and awareness programs aimed at confronting implicit biases.

00:13:31.760 It’s essential that we support communities that prioritize a diverse workplace and foster understanding and respect for different experiences.

00:14:03.120 Further, companies must assess their workplace culture, ensuring it's equitable and welcoming to all employees.

00:14:16.000 Diversity improves overall problem-solving and innovation. A diverse team can tackle complex challenges more effectively, leading to better outcomes within tech projects.

00:14:32.560 This leads to improved financial performance, and diverse teams are proven to be more creative, contributing to sustainable growth.

00:15:07.040 Ultimately, diversity matters not only for financial reasons but also as a moral obligation. It's vital for our communities and industries to become inclusive spaces.

00:15:21.360 Advancement in diversity creates spaces where everyone is welcomed to contribute and share their experiences, fostering a stronger sense of community.

00:15:41.680 In closing, we each have a role in the effort toward raising awareness and encouraging participation of marginalized groups in tech.

00:16:05.680 I urge collective action, speaking up against discrimination and actively supporting initiatives that promote inclusivity.

LoneStarRuby Conf 2013