Google found itself at the center of controversy on Monday after an employee in a leaked internal document claimed “biological causes” explained the lack of women in tech industry leadership roles.
The screed — dubbed “sexist” by US media — went viral, reviving the simmering debate over a culture of sexism and lack of diversity in tech sectors.
“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,” read the 3,000-word fulmination by an anonymous male software engineer.
According to the author, natural aptitudes of men allow them to become better computer programmers. Women, he said, have more “openness directed towards feelings and aesthetics rather than ideas” — meaning they “prefer jobs in social or artistic areas.”
In response to the leaked memo, Danielle Brown, Google’s new vice-president of diversity, told employees in an email that “it’s not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages.”
“I found that it advanced incorrect assumptions about gender,” she said. “We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and we’ll continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul.”It was unclear whether the memo’s author would face disciplinary action.
