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

@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

MIND BLOWN@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?


RISKS• WE’LL GET THROWN OUT • UNPROFESSIONAL • DISRUPTIVE/DISRESPECTFUL • LOSE CREDIBILITY • BABY NEEDIER THAN WE THOUGHT


BENEFITS• BOTH ATTEND CONFERENCE • BABY GETS WHAT SHE NEEDS • ICEBREAKER • GOOD BONDING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL • DEMONSTRATE NEED FOR CHILD CARE


What will they think of me?


What will they think of me?

ANDREA ALMOST BAILED AT THE LAST MINUTE


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


LESSONS LEARNED• KNOW YOUR CHILD • STAY IN CONFERENCE HOTEL • SMILE & MAKE EYE CONTACT • BRING A PARTNER • BE PREPARED TO MISS CONTENT


HTTP://GRACEHOPPER.ORG/ATTEND/CHILD-CARE/


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!!


so a baby walks into a tech conference: confronting maternal bias in the software industry

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