Current attempts to promote racial, sexual and gender based diversity amongst technology companies are beneficial to the health of said companies. Diversity initiatives are important for three reasons: the increased importance of technology in the 21st century, tech companies’ need to support their audience and the enhanced performance diverse teams bring.
1. Tech Careers Are Increasingly Important in the 21st Century
Digital technology is a continuously growing part of American life. The tech workforce is growing to match. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or “STEM,” jobs are projected to reach 8,650,000 by 2018 (Newlands). As the digital technology industry grows, the need for women, people of color grows as well. Technology companies …show more content…
With the increasing importance of technology in the 21st century, if tech companies begin to reflect their diverse audiences, these companies will see their teams performing better.
Tech Careers Are Increasingly Important in the 21st Century
Digital technology is an increasingly important part of American life. It is to the point that Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicts technology improvements will continue to supplement and eventually replace large swaths of the American workforce (Clifford). STEM jobs are projected to reach 8,650,000 by 2018 (Newlands).
As STEM industries are growing, the demographics of the United States are changing as well. By the year 2055, people of color are projected to make up more than 50% of the population (Bump). White Americans are expected to see a drop of 16.3%, while Hispanic Americans will see the largest increase at nearly 10%.
Tech companies have a social responsibility to ensure that marginalized historically marginalized groups—women, people of color, and LGBT—are welcomed and included in this burgeoning industry. In the history of the United States, these groups have faced resistance from various industries, a trend that tech does not need to …show more content…
An example of this can be in the design of the iPhone. Most apps are designed with right-handed people in mind, and icons within apps are placed with this intention. Left-handed users report difficulty using these apps. If a left-handed person was on the User Interface team of these applications, accessibility issues like this could be avoided. All tech employees have the ability to empathize with groups not present on their team. This process of empathy, however, is much faster achieved with members of the groups otherwise
1. Tech Careers Are Increasingly Important in the 21st Century
Digital technology is a continuously growing part of American life. The tech workforce is growing to match. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or “STEM,” jobs are projected to reach 8,650,000 by 2018 (Newlands). As the digital technology industry grows, the need for women, people of color grows as well. Technology companies …show more content…
With the increasing importance of technology in the 21st century, if tech companies begin to reflect their diverse audiences, these companies will see their teams performing better.
Tech Careers Are Increasingly Important in the 21st Century
Digital technology is an increasingly important part of American life. It is to the point that Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicts technology improvements will continue to supplement and eventually replace large swaths of the American workforce (Clifford). STEM jobs are projected to reach 8,650,000 by 2018 (Newlands).
As STEM industries are growing, the demographics of the United States are changing as well. By the year 2055, people of color are projected to make up more than 50% of the population (Bump). White Americans are expected to see a drop of 16.3%, while Hispanic Americans will see the largest increase at nearly 10%.
Tech companies have a social responsibility to ensure that marginalized historically marginalized groups—women, people of color, and LGBT—are welcomed and included in this burgeoning industry. In the history of the United States, these groups have faced resistance from various industries, a trend that tech does not need to …show more content…
An example of this can be in the design of the iPhone. Most apps are designed with right-handed people in mind, and icons within apps are placed with this intention. Left-handed users report difficulty using these apps. If a left-handed person was on the User Interface team of these applications, accessibility issues like this could be avoided. All tech employees have the ability to empathize with groups not present on their team. This process of empathy, however, is much faster achieved with members of the groups otherwise