So a Baby Walks Into a Tech Conference: Confronting Maternal Bias in the Software Industry

TECH CONFERENCESO A BABY WALKS INTO A

by Andrea Goulet CEO, Corgibytes

CONFRONTING MATERNAL BIAS IN THE SOFTWARE INDUSTRY

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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

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MIND BLOWN@andreagoulet@msco/ord

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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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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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RESULTS• OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTIVE • MANY OTHER PARENTS BROUGHT KIDS • BOTH GOT TO ATTEND CONFERENCE • TALK WENT GREAT • MET LOTS OF AMAZING PEOPLE

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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!!

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