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Discussion on: Introducing Learn Code from Us

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kurisutofu profile image
kurisutofu

What's the definition of "underrepresented group in tech"? Is it "non-white or female"?

I'm asking because the homepage loaded 2 profiles that were white males (one, I assumed though).

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aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

So I'm really trying to not define it, I did add a field later today asking what underrepresented group participants belong to on the form, but I also don't know how to balance not asking too personal of questions and not being too exclusionary. So for now, I'm hoping that people act in good faith, though I may try and add some sort of quality filter in the future? Not sure. Would actually love input on how to make this as inclusive as possible while still fulfilling its mission.

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kurisutofu profile image
kurisutofu

That's true it could be tricky and to be honest, I don't have any good idea to propose ... Thinking out loud but maybe having in the signing form the gender and ethnicity?
Then if you have (male && caucasian), you could notify that registration is not available to that particular group at the moment.
Then, to avoid dishonesty, maybe show on the profile tile the underrepresented group and the ability to report wrong info (i.e: caucasian guy on the picture but set as a different ethnicity in details). On 3 separate users' reports, account disabled.
Something like that maybe?

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ekafyi profile image
Eka

+1 let them define what group they represent, and even better if they address it in their website/public profile

IMHO there are many ways a person could represent an underrepresented background beyond what's visible. Say folks who spent a large portion of their lives in orphanage, prison (or other type of institutionalization), on welfare, as refugees, to name but a few -- all of whom could be white(/-passing) men(/-passing).

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aspittel profile image
Ali Spittel

Yeah definitely -- I originally had it so that you don't have to say at all, but I got a little nervous about that after some of the comments here. Totally agree that all those people would be part of underrepresented groups in tech.