Google employee sacked over ‘anti-diversity’ memo

IF YOU don’t support affirmative action, you’re evil.

That’s the only logical conclusion one can reach, judging by the insane reaction to — and media coverage of — Google employee James Damore’s critique and discussion of the internet giant’s “diversity” policies.

After the memo went viral, Mr Damore was sacked for “perpetuating gender stereotypes”, he confirmed in an email to Bloomberg on Tuesday.

It’s worth reading the entire 10-page document, which was first published by Gizmodo and has been described by most outlets as an “anti-diversity screed” or “manifesto”. And it’s worth reading precisely for that reason — they lie even in their headlines.



“I strongly believe in gender and racial diversity, and I think we should strive for more,” Mr Damore writes. “However, to achieve a more equal gender and race representation, Google has created several discriminatory practices.”

Those include “programs, mentoring, and classes only for people with a certain gender or race”, “a high priority queue and special treatment for ‘diversity’ candidates”, and “reconsidering any set of people if it’s not ‘diverse’ enough”.

He points out that there are natural biological differences between men and women which lead to differences in behaviour and personality, which in turn result in differences at a “population level”.

This is not the author’s opinion or some radical ideology. The science on the effects of sex hormones on behaviour, including occupational interests, is very clear. “Note, I’m not saying that all men differ from women in the following ways or that these differences are ‘just’,” he writes.


“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.

“Many of these differences are small and there’s significant overlap between men and women, so you can’t say anything about an individual given these population level distributions.”

He points out that “if we can’t have an honest discussion about this, then we can never truly solve the problem”, urging his employers to “be open about the science of human nature” and warning against “silencing” views to create an “ideological echo chamber”.

“Once we acknowledge that not all differences are socially constructed or due to discrimination, we open our eyes to a more accurate view of the human condition which is necessary if we actually want to solve problems,” he writes.


continued at source
http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/why-you-should-read-the-whole-google-memo/news-story/1d900d80d9bc1b6a9185acb622f51a0b