Liveblogged at HOPE X.
In this Meet-Up we broke out into groups to talk about common problems related to diversity in tech and to brainstorm solutions. This documents the reports that each breakout group gave.
Problem: How to balance radical inclusion with creating safe spaces for minorities?
Solution: Encourage meaningful interactions that go beyond “don’t do this.”
Solution: Make space sometimes available to closed groups.
Problem: Tech has an image of lacking diversity, which turns people off.
Solution: Help diverse communities develop technical skills internally.
Problem: Differences in ingrained communication styles. The loudest voice often wins.
Solution: Employ different techniques, e.g. roundtables. Encourage a focus on awareness of language, such as gender neutrality.
Problem: How to move from being unaware of a lack of diversity to making improvements.
Problem: Narrow definitions of success, such as entrepreneurial stereotype.
Problem: Lack of buy-in on importance of diversity.
Problem: People taught from an early age that they can’t do tech.
Problem: How to make the leap from intro to intermediate?
Problem: How to allow humor and also address exclusionary humor?
Problem: Work hours in tech are often long and/or inflexible, and difficult for people with families, mental health conditions, etc.
Solution: Overtime laws and offering part-time positions.
Solution: On-site facilities for childcare, exercise, napping.
Solution: Unions.
Problem: Companies don’t see economic value in diversity.
Solution: There is data to support the economic value in diverse workforces, hold workshops and talk about it.
Problem: Tech education has a very uneven gender ratio.
Solution: Actively reach out to and recruit in venues popular with women, or other underrepresented folks.
Solution: Use breakout groups to allow everyone to occasionally work on teams with a mix of gender ratios.
Problem: Learning hardware is expensive and inaccessible to those without disposable income.
Solution: Educational groups, like hackerspaces, which can apply for grants and provide sliding scale fees and resources.