Google employee claims “biological causes” behind tech gender gap
A Google employee has claimed that “biological causes” are responsible for the lack of women in leadership roles in the tech sector, according to a leaked internal document. The document, written by anonymous male software engineer, claims that men have a greater natural aptitude for computer programming, whereas women “prefer jobs in social or artistic areas”. Google’s new vice president of diversity, Danielle Brown, emailed employees, stating that such an opinion was “not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages". The leak follows a number of accusations by women of gender-discrimination in Silicon Valley.
New York (AFP) –

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Google found itself at the center of controversy Sunday 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 -- revived 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".

"Changing a culture is hard, and it's often uncomfortable," she said.

Brown added, however, that "part of building an open, inclusive environment means fostering a culture in which those with alternative views, including different political views, feel safe sharing their opinions."

The controversy comes as increasing numbers of women are going public with complaints of gender-based discrimination in Silicon Valley.

Uber's embattled chief executive Travis Kalanick resigned earlier this year under pressure from investors seeking to clean up the company's allegedly toxic corporate culture.

His departure capped a rocky period for the global ridesharing giant, which has been roiled by disturbing reports of cutthroat workplace conditions, harassment and discrimination.

© 2017 AFP