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"That's a good suggestion Mrs Triggs, perhaps one of the men in the room would like to make it?" As a society we have an attribution problem. People who look like me get it easy. Join me to explore how we can push back on the default stories & myths of who is providing value in our community. Warning, may contain content that will make you uncomfortable about your own past behaviour. But you'll leave better able to provide a better industry for your fellow humans.
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In the talk titled "The Mrs Triggs Problem," presented by Andy Croll at RailsConf 2022, the speaker delves into the pervasive issues of attribution and representation within the tech industry. The core theme revolves around the societal misconceptions that favor individuals, particularly white men, in discussions of who provides value in the community. Key Points Discussed: - **Visual Perception and Bias**: Croll introduces the idea with an interactive visualization of two circles, prompting the audience to challenge their instincts and assumptions about size, paralleling how biases affect perception in the workplace. - **Historical Context**: The speaker recounts the story of Steve Shirley, a pioneering female entrepreneur who successfully built a software company in the 1960s, employing primarily women. This case highlights women's substantial contributions to coding and software development, which have often been overlooked. - **Underrecognized Contributions**: Croll shares stories of influential women like Grace Hopper, who played key roles in programming history yet often remain unacknowledged. He emphasizes that many foundational contributions were made by women, such as the development of COBOL and ENIAC, challenging the male-dominated narrative of tech history. - **Broader Social Implications**: The speaker underscores that issues of representation extend beyond gender to race and sexual orientation, suggesting that privilege shapes career trajectories and recognition in tech. - **Actionable Steps**: Croll promotes strategies for improving diversity and fairness in the tech community, urging attendees and those like him to actively engage in the fight against stereotypes, bias, and unequal treatment. He highlights the importance of equitable pay, fostering an inclusive hiring process, and using one's power to uplift marginalized voices in discussions. Conclusions and Takeaways: - **Personal Responsibility**: Croll's talk challenges predominantly white male audiences to recognize their privilege and take active steps toward equity in the workplace. - **Cultivating Inclusion**: Croll asserts that tech professionals should strive to create environments that actively seek and promote diversity. - **Commitment to Change**: He emphasizes that acknowledging historical biases and making incremental changes can significantly improve the industry, benefiting everyone involved. The talk aims to engage those who benefit from the status quo in meaningful dialogue and action for inclusivity in the tech community.
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