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Writing Inclusively about Technology Topics by Thursday Bram Whether you're writing documentation, a talk for a technical conference, or a blog post on your work, identity can impact how your audience perceives and uses both written material and code repositories. If you want your work to be accessible to a wide audience, you need to write about it in an inclusive way. This talk will give you hands-on examples and resources to do just that!
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The video "Writing Inclusively about Technology Topics" presented by Thursday Bram at RubyConf 2017 focuses on the significance of inclusive writing within the technology sector. The speaker, an experienced writer and editor of the Responsible Communications Style Guide, begins by defining inclusive writing as communication that avoids assumptions about identity (gender, sexuality, etc.) and respects the humanity of the audience. She emphasizes engaging the audience by providing context and diverse perspectives, illustrating the evolving standards of inclusivity through concepts like the Bechdel Test, which, while merely a starting point, highlights the need for deeper inclusivity in writing. Key points discussed include: - **Inclusive Writing Definition:** Thursday provides her personal definition as writing that respects the humanity of individuals, avoids assumptions, and allows audience connection. - **Evolving Standards:** The evolving nature of inclusive writing, as seen through the Bechdel Test and its limitations. - **Style Guides:** Style guides as essential tools that help writers maintain consistency and respect in their communication. She encourages creating project-specific style guides to avoid biases and stereotypes. - **Interview Techniques:** Importance of asking, rather than assuming, individual's preferred terminology, especially regarding pronouns, and the significance of preparation in interviews to promote inclusivity. - **Editing for Inclusivity:** Emphasizes having a structured editorial process that checks for biases, stereotypes, and ensures accurate representation. Techniques like diversity metrics and unconscious bias training are highlighted as valuable tools. - **Practical Exercises:** Several activities engage the audience in recognizing how to make job listings more welcoming and discuss which details to include when writing biographies. Throughout the talk, Thursday provides practical insights and engaging quizzes to reinforce the message about accessibility and openness in technical writing. She underscores that inclusivity is a skill developed over time through practice and continual learning. Concluding the talk, she advocates for the establishment of style guides within teams to streamline writing processes and ensure coherence in documentation. The main takeaway is that inclusive writing not only enhances communication but significantly contributes to fostering a more welcoming and effective technology community.
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