Issue 42
the Week of October 17, 2016
In this issue, we celebrate diversity-in-tech initiatives run by women of color, analyze bullying culture at tech companies, and explore representation of women technologists in a new drama series. We talk to the creator of a unique database of games on sexuality, gender and relationships. Plus, creative writing on the tokenization and labor exploitation faced by technologists of color, and a critique of the assumptions about users, subjectivity and ‘realness’ that shape virtual spaces. Photo CC-BY Tim Geers.
Confronting the Assumption of Whiteness in Virtual Spaces
We must avoid thinking that this new virtual frontier is somehow separate from the violences and exclusions that shape the ‘outside world.’
‘POC Inbox’ and ‘Response Template’
Two poems about the ways I'm tokenized and asked to respond as a technical POC in the industry.
Halt and Watch This: Representation of Women in Tech and The Importance of Relatable Characters in Film & TV
In an online survey I conducted, two-thirds of respondents thought depictions of female tech experts were “not particularly accurate” or even “very inaccurate”.
Finding Ourselves in Play: A New Database of Games on Sexuality, Gender and Relationships
"Opportunities for queer representation are improving, but there are certainly still gaps that need to be filled."
Protecting the “Bro-Club”: Sacrificing Women, Keeping the Bullies at Tech Companies
No one heard us, no one stood up for us, no one tried to help us. Instead they tried to silence us.
Eight Initiatives Run by Women of Color That Are Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in Tech
Support their initiatives, spread the word, and create positive change for someone, too.
This issue is made possible in part by some of our generous readers: Erik Hinton, Josh Lucas, Kristian Glass, Frost–Fong–Jones Family, Jacques Labuschagne and Coraline Ada Ehmke.