so a baby walks into a tech conference: confronting maternal bias in the software industry
TRANSCRIPT
TECH CONFERENCESO A BABY WALKS INTO A
by Andrea Goulet CEO, Corgibytes
CONFRONTING MATERNAL BIAS IN THE SOFTWARE INDUSTRY
@andreagoulet@msco/ord
@andreagoulet@msco/ord
@andreagoulet@msco/ord
GENDERED WORKPLACE NORMS AND POLICIES
LIMIT MEN’S AND WOMEN’S ABILITY TO CREATE GENDER
EGALITARIAN RELATIONSHIPS.@andreagoulet@msco/ord
American Sociological Review February 2015 vol. 80 no. 1 116-‐139
WOMEN AND MEN BOTH WANT EGALITARIAN PARTNERSHIPS. 95% COLLEGE EDUCATED WOMEN
75% COLLEGE EDUCATED MEN@andreagoulet@msco/ord
American Sociological Review February 2015 vol. 80 no. 1 116-‐139
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TRADITIONAL WORKPLACE
POLICIES AND NORMS MAKE EQUALITY DIFFICULT?
@andreagoulet@msco/ordAmerican Sociological Review February 2015 vol. 80 no. 1 116-‐139
TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES
@andreagoulet@msco/ordAmerican Sociological Review February 2015 vol. 80 no. 1 116-‐139
@andreagoulet@msco/ord
MIND BLOWN@andreagoulet@msco/ord
@andreagoulet@msco/ord
PROBLEM STATEMENTHOW CAN WE BOTH ATTEND
AGILE 2015 WHILE GIVING OUR NEWBORN THE ATTENTION (&
FOOD) SHE NEEDS?@andreagoulet@msco/ord
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS• GET IN-LAWS A SEPARATE ROOM? • MOM STAYS HOME? • DAD SPEAKS THEN WATCHES KID? • HIRE A NANNY FOR WEEK? • BABY COMES WITH US?
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@andreagoulet@msco/ord
RISKS• WE’LL GET THROWN OUT • UNPROFESSIONAL • DISRUPTIVE/DISRESPECTFUL • LOSE CREDIBILITY • BABY NEEDIER THAN WE THOUGHT
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BENEFITS• BOTH ATTEND CONFERENCE • BABY GETS WHAT SHE NEEDS • ICEBREAKER • GOOD BONDING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL • DEMONSTRATE NEED FOR CHILD CARE
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What will they think of me?
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What will they think of me?
ANDREA ALMOST BAILED AT THE LAST MINUTE
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@andreagoulet@msco/ord
@andreagoulet@msco/ord
RESULTS• OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE • MANY OTHER PARENTS BROUGHT KIDS • BOTH GOT TO ATTEND CONFERENCE • TALK WENT GREAT • MET LOTS OF AMAZING PEOPLE
@andreagoulet@msco/ord
@andreagoulet@msco/ord
@andreagoulet@msco/ord
LESSONS LEARNED• KNOW YOUR CHILD • STAY IN CONFERENCE HOTEL • SMILE & MAKE EYE CONTACT • BRING A PARTNER • BE PREPARED TO MISS CONTENT
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HTTP://GRACEHOPPER.ORG/ATTEND/CHILD-CARE/
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SUPPORT DIVERSITY IN TECH• REQUEST CHILD CARE AT CONFERENCES • SHOW SUPPORT FOR PARENTS • QUESTION POLICIES & NORMS • LEARN ABOUT UNCONSCIOUS BIAS,
ESPECIALLY MATERNAL BIAS@andreagoulet@msco/ord
THANK YOU!!
@andreagoulet@msco/ord