Response to Community Post #1- Diversity at Google
New York Times' article "Exposing Hidden Bias at Google" by Farhad Manjoo discuses a very controversial topic that many people have taken an interest in. The topic of diversity and/or racism in the work place. According to the article, 70% of Google's workforce are men, and out of the 36 executives, only 3 are woman. Does this mean google is a sexually bias against woman? Well, it not just google whose workforce is unbalanced. According a chart in the article Apple's workforce consists 70% mal, Facebook 69%, Twitter 70% and yahoo 62%. This sparks an immediate question to reader, does almost every major social media and internet company hire a majority of men? Lets explore that Question.
According to the National Bureau of Economic research, women are outnumbering men as time goes by when it comes to graduating college. The report states that "In 2003, there were 1.35 females for every male who graduated from a four-year college and 1.3 females for every male undergraduate. That contrasts with 1960, when there were 1.6 males for every female graduating from a U.S. four-year college and 1.55 males for every female undergraduate" (http://www.nber.org/digest/jan07/w12139.html). So, are companies like google purposely hiring males even though women are increasing their college graduate rates?
Although google claims to be making efforts to, google employee Mr.Bock read the New York Times article and began to wonder if there really was racism and sexists at google. He conducted many tests and learned something new. Most people were not aware that they were racist or sexist, it was unconsciously coming out. As employees began to evaluate a female worker, Mr. Bock reminded them that they were all men and they should be cautious. Later, she was promoted (NYTimes: Exposing Hidden Biases at Google to Improve Diversity) So maybe google is making a change. We will just have to wait and see.
