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Uber Manager Told Female Engineer That 'Sexism is Systemic in Tech' (theguardian.com)

Posted by msmash on from the here-we-go-again dept.

Sam Levin, writing for The Guardian: Uber is facing yet another discrimination scandal after a manager who was recruiting a female engineer defended the company by saying "sexism is systemic in tech." On 14 March, an engineering manager at Uber tried to recruit Kamilah Taylor, a senior software engineer at another Silicon Valley company, for a developer position at the San Francisco ride-hailing startup, which is struggling to recover from a major sexual harassment controversy. Taylor, who provided copies of her LinkedIn messages with the Guardian, responded by saying: "In light of Uber's questionable business practices and sexism, I have no interest in joining." Taylor was stunned by the reply she received from Uber. The manager, who is a woman, wrote: "I understand your concern. I just want to say that sexism is systemic in tech and other industries. I've met some of the most inspiring people here."

7 of 272 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That sounds like the recruiter is agreeing/commiserating with her. Nothing to see here?

    1. Re:Hmmm... by gfxguy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Agreed.... did not sound like she was justifying it, just making a (sadly) honest statement. What she was saying was that there are good people at Uber, which I'm sure is also true. It's a big company, there will be #@holes and there will be good people.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    2. Re:Hmmm... by mutantSushi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The woman was not an "applicant"... She was actively RECRUITED by Uber thru LinkedIn. The woman ALREADY STATED she wasn't interested in working at Uber because of it's reputation.
      IMHO, at that point, the woman has turned down the job offer herself, so the job application is over. So what the HR manager says after that is irrelevant to discrimination claim.

      Now maybe that's not the IDEAL statement to make or stance to project, but it's not job discrimination.
      There are laws against ACTUAL job discrimination, not laws against statements which don't maximally promote the official ideology.
      Companies which fall in latter category are highly likely to also violate the actual law, but such cases must be proven on their own merits by victims with actual standing re: specific law.

      That said, don't use Uber, folks. For many other reasons as well.

  2. Please stop by Iamthecheese · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Please stop putting a "sexism in tech" story on the front page. three times a week. Please! I know you get more clicks and ad views but I beg you not to descend to that level. It's all been said. Every possible part of this debate has been had. Dozens of times. Enough is enough. Gut check: Are you ready to become a Gawker in your quest for shareholder value? I love Slashdot and I don't want to see it go down that road. Down the path to posting more inflammatory posts for clicks or worse, to push a narrative. Don't do this to me. Don't do this to yourself. You're better than this.

    --
    If video games influenced behavior the Pac Man generation would be eating pills and running away from their problems.
  3. Sexism is systematic in tech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've worked in technology for a few years. When I was a floor technician assembling stuff Sexism was less pervasive since there was more gender equality.

    When I shifted to IT (network / system admin) it was 99% guys and was quite shocked how nerds could have such filthy mouths and that a lot of the guys had a bizzare nerd bravado I never experienced until entering IT.

    More women need to be in hand on tech roles and stop going into sales, client relations, office administration, etc.... When entering the tech industry.

    Until then nerd bravado Sexism will remain pervasive.

    An easy temp gap fix would be to put these guys back into the sub basement where their conversations can't be overheard anymore. :)

  4. Re:Because you say so? by OhPlz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And men are under representing in nursing and child care.. so what? People are going to choose career paths that interest them. Not being 50/50 is not evidence of a problem.

  5. Re:Uber issue, not a tech issue by Dixie_Flatline · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Your anecdote isn't data. It's nice that you've worked for progressive companies and that you yourself are good about working with women, but it's absolutely a systemic issue. Story after story after story confirms it.

    Rather, I think you and the companies you work for are outliers. Congratulations on that; I hope you keep your streak.