I'm caught between two opposing forces. I'm working for a start up company that seems to have brought me back to my blog again. If you're curious this post won't be made public until I leave this place.
It seemed to come at the perfect time. I joined a startup company that aims to create a social media network for diverse candidates in all fields. I went out of my way (at least I was paid) to comb through my contacts and get them excited about this platform. I've been here a few weeks, and thought the CEO is a bit "agro," (I figure that is just the way one gets things done. I've been a bit aggressive while driving a product, from the ground up) generally everyone at the company seems very nice and talented. I'm very proud of my team and I realize even more that diversity and inclusion is a prominent field where I can shine.
Slowly, starting last week, I begin to dig through old posts. The website used to be a social group kind of thing, that was somewhat private, for friends only. They hadn't cleaned up a lot of old conversations before deciding to take the platform public. A few weird posts come up on the app's feed, which drives me to investigate. Granted-- this used to be an un-professional network, but they really must clean up. I figure I'm getting paid to clean up their mess, so I start looking for old posts to delete.
Long story short, a lot of the conversations come off as sexist. Mind you, I've taken it upon myself to use my contacts list, filled with women in tech and games, to populate the app and bring the community to the platform. The posts say things like, "Do women not like video games?".... when I founded a women in games COMMUNITY and was about to BRING THEM HERE. Or, "Should women be proposing to men?" on another. And THAT was posted by the CEO in the women in tech group.
When I saw that, I was shocked. Do you think I want to bring my esteemed contacts to a place where the first principle about avoiding condescending, sexist remarks is totally missed?? It would lessen my trust with my contacts that I surround myself with-- people who actually understand diversity and inclusion!! I made a mistake by inviting them to the app, and I can't be a naive person who trusts the wrong people. This app is CALLED "DIVERCITY" and there's screwy gender politics in here, by the very founder of the startup. How disappointing.
All the while, I'm playing the typical UX Female role, where I have to tell the engineers that there are a few things missing for this app. They're men, and maybe they think I'm just nagging them. I'm happy to have a job and I'm happy to be allowed to do some UI work, which I don't always get to do, since it's not my forte (but I've got an eye for it.) And I want to believe I've got a great job because it seems that way at first. After all, not only do I need a job but I long to be surrounded with likeminded people who are doing great things.
And here's my second problem. Facebook ads has rejected the ad we are trying to post to promote the app. I created the ad (a valuable experience!) But Facebook is saying we violated their terms. If they give us the reason that the content is discriminatory, then I'm stuck between two forces: 1.) Facebook personnel who refuse to believe that diversity and inclusion is just that -- people of different races and genders being represented, and 2.) A CEO who is a fake advocate of diversity, because they really only made a platform for people like themselves (and not for other genders). :facepalm:
I realize I'm on my way out of this company. I love the idea that it stands for, but I no longer believe that the team itself is equipped to stand for diversity. I voice with the team that I think the old comments need to be deleted. But even the core people in this company made the comments, so I wonder... since I know that they have sexist politics, what is even the point of helping them to launch this platform, which is set to fail if the team themselves do not actually understand gender politics?
I get an explanation from the CEO and then he says I am in charge of deleting whatever is inappropriate. I cheerfully reply to affirm his reaction and thank him. I try to make it seem authentic, but the damage has been done. I have another interview the day after tomorrow, and I really hope I get it. It's with Google and I applied to work in UX with them twice last year to no avail. I believe that this will be my chance.
It seemed to come at the perfect time. I joined a startup company that aims to create a social media network for diverse candidates in all fields. I went out of my way (at least I was paid) to comb through my contacts and get them excited about this platform. I've been here a few weeks, and thought the CEO is a bit "agro," (I figure that is just the way one gets things done. I've been a bit aggressive while driving a product, from the ground up) generally everyone at the company seems very nice and talented. I'm very proud of my team and I realize even more that diversity and inclusion is a prominent field where I can shine.
Slowly, starting last week, I begin to dig through old posts. The website used to be a social group kind of thing, that was somewhat private, for friends only. They hadn't cleaned up a lot of old conversations before deciding to take the platform public. A few weird posts come up on the app's feed, which drives me to investigate. Granted-- this used to be an un-professional network, but they really must clean up. I figure I'm getting paid to clean up their mess, so I start looking for old posts to delete.
Long story short, a lot of the conversations come off as sexist. Mind you, I've taken it upon myself to use my contacts list, filled with women in tech and games, to populate the app and bring the community to the platform. The posts say things like, "Do women not like video games?".... when I founded a women in games COMMUNITY and was about to BRING THEM HERE. Or, "Should women be proposing to men?" on another. And THAT was posted by the CEO in the women in tech group.
When I saw that, I was shocked. Do you think I want to bring my esteemed contacts to a place where the first principle about avoiding condescending, sexist remarks is totally missed?? It would lessen my trust with my contacts that I surround myself with-- people who actually understand diversity and inclusion!! I made a mistake by inviting them to the app, and I can't be a naive person who trusts the wrong people. This app is CALLED "DIVERCITY" and there's screwy gender politics in here, by the very founder of the startup. How disappointing.
All the while, I'm playing the typical UX Female role, where I have to tell the engineers that there are a few things missing for this app. They're men, and maybe they think I'm just nagging them. I'm happy to have a job and I'm happy to be allowed to do some UI work, which I don't always get to do, since it's not my forte (but I've got an eye for it.) And I want to believe I've got a great job because it seems that way at first. After all, not only do I need a job but I long to be surrounded with likeminded people who are doing great things.
And here's my second problem. Facebook ads has rejected the ad we are trying to post to promote the app. I created the ad (a valuable experience!) But Facebook is saying we violated their terms. If they give us the reason that the content is discriminatory, then I'm stuck between two forces: 1.) Facebook personnel who refuse to believe that diversity and inclusion is just that -- people of different races and genders being represented, and 2.) A CEO who is a fake advocate of diversity, because they really only made a platform for people like themselves (and not for other genders). :facepalm:
I realize I'm on my way out of this company. I love the idea that it stands for, but I no longer believe that the team itself is equipped to stand for diversity. I voice with the team that I think the old comments need to be deleted. But even the core people in this company made the comments, so I wonder... since I know that they have sexist politics, what is even the point of helping them to launch this platform, which is set to fail if the team themselves do not actually understand gender politics?
I get an explanation from the CEO and then he says I am in charge of deleting whatever is inappropriate. I cheerfully reply to affirm his reaction and thank him. I try to make it seem authentic, but the damage has been done. I have another interview the day after tomorrow, and I really hope I get it. It's with Google and I applied to work in UX with them twice last year to no avail. I believe that this will be my chance.
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