OK, let’s get this out of the way: Google is a private corporation, which means it can hire whomever it pleases, fire whomever it pleases, serve whomever it pleases. Done. That is out of the way.
Now, the way Google fired a modern day Winston Smith for simply espousing his opinions is absurd.
James Damore published a 10-page memo entitled “Google’s Ideological Echo Chamber” in which he points out a few obvious things:
– Women, on average, are different from men.
– It is wrong to discriminate people.
– Google is biased against conservatives.
– The corporate culture is one of authoritarian silencing.
– Treat people as individuals instead of the collective.
He simply wanted to look at studies, examine statistics and have an honest conversation about gender representation.
How is this wrong?
Well, according to Google’s Ministry of Truth, it ostensibly violated “the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace.” Because of this, the search engine juggernaut fired Damore, and this resulted in a mix of outrage and jubilation – the former far more than the ladder, at least on social media. (Of course, there are some who think fighting for free speech is equal to Nazism, but many are on the side of Damore, even some feminists.)
Here is a statement from Danielle Brown, Google’s new Vice President of Diversity, Integrity & Governance, who suggested that she wants the memo to go down the Memory Hole a la “1984” (emphasis ours):
Many of you have read an internal document shared by someone in our engineering organization, expressing views on the natural abilities and characteristics of different genders, as well as whether one can speak freely of these things at Google. And like many of you, I found that it advanced incorrect assumptions about gender. I’m not going to link to it here as it’s not a viewpoint that I or this company endorses, promotes or encourages.
Diversity and inclusion are a fundamental part of our values and the culture we continue to cultivate. We are unequivocal in our belief that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success as a company, and we’ll continue to stand for that and be committed to it for the long haul. As Ari Balogh said in his internal G+ post, “Building an open, inclusive environment is core to who we are, and the right thing to do. ‘Nuff said.”
Hopefully this is something that the free market corrects. In the same way people are avoiding certain universities that censors students and polices thought, perhaps more consumers will veer away from Google and head towards Duck Duck Go, Bing, Vid.me and other alternatives.
It’s turning out well for James Damore, though. Damore has been offered jobs with Gab, WikiLeaks, Liberty Nation and a few others.
File this under “Truth is treason in the empire of lies.”
Eugene Patrick Devany says
It is very difficult to talk honestly about gender differences in the workplace. Today, the NY Times features a retired judge speculating about why women, equally represented in law school for more than 20 years, are grossly underrepresented as trial attorneys. See https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/08/opinion/female-lawyers-women-judges.html?comments#permid=23617556
Women are also overrepresented in nursing and underrepresented as surgeons. The differences in tech, law and medicine are not the fault of the universities and likely reflect a difference in male and female interests – something which should generally be celebrated. While manliness and womanliness are qualities most appreciated in our private family lives the traits should not be a litmus test in business. The stereotypes should be celebrated and the abortions, cross-overs, and diversity pioneers welcome. Suppressing useful norms and stereotypes leads to well deserved resentment.