We got issues

...but we can work on fighting back!

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Lewis Maday-Travis 2016

First… a review

In the TED Talk last week, Cabrera Salazar discussed two main ways that underrepresented groups encounter obstacles when entering STEM.

• SOCIALIZATION: How people are taught to act and move in society, often from a young age, based on their assigned identity.
• INSTITUTIONAL BIAS: How large organizations/employers/companies maintain specific roles/stereotypes about specific identity groups.

...from our class discussions

SOCIALIZATION

• Stereotypes about who is good at math/science
• Microagressions
• Gender segregation of tasks/toys
• Stereotype threat
• Lack of role models
• Encouraging/discouraging questions, strong voice, or other behavior based on assigned ID

...from our class discussions

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INSTITUTIONAL BIAS

• Fraternalism & interviews for those with male/white-sounding names
• Wage gaps
• History of power in white, male hands
• Segregation by race, ability, etc.
• Wealth gaps/need for $ safety net
• Disciplinary systems in schools and beyond

...from our class discussions

SOCIALIZATION

• Stereotypes about who is good at math/science
• Microagressions
• Gender segregation of tasks/toys
• Stereotype threat
• Lack of role models
• Encouraging/discouraging questions, strong voice, or other behavior based on assigned ID

INSTITUTIONAL BIAS

• Fraternalism & interviews for those with male/white-sounding names
• Wage gaps
• History of power in white, male hands
• Segregation by race, ability, etc.
• Wealth gaps/need for $ safety net
• Disciplinary systems in schools and beyond

What people are doing about it: Institutionally

In small groups, you will learn about a specific initiative to fight institutional bias and share it with the class. In your quick overview, include:

• What issue the group is focused on
• The strategy used by the group to fight against that bias
• Where/when it was implemented, and
• Who was behind the project’s work

Making Job Applications Anonymous: Blendoor

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Stephanie Lampkin http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2016/03/03/black-woman-engineer-launches-blind-job-match-app-to-take-bias-out-of-tech-hiring/#321c7e8a601c

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Creating safe(r) spaces: Seattle Attic

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https://www.seattleattic.com/

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Integrating education: Leschi Elementary

http://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/how-a-diverse-yet-divided-school-blended-segregated-classes

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Supporting scientists with disabilities: DO-IT

http://www.washington.edu/doit/about/overview

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Centering black community in tech: Hack the CD

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http://hackthecd.org/

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Summary: strategies to fight institutional bias

• Remove visibility of identity when applying for programming
• Create separate spaces safer for those who experience stereotype threat
• Integrate segregated institutions
• Provide special programming for underrepresented groups
• Use STEM to organize community