Geek Girls: Inequality and Opportunity in Silicon Valley

Geek Girls is an outstanding academic title for 2023 that provides an inside account of gender and racial discrimination in the high-tech industry. France Winddance Twine's book draws on close to a hundred interviews with male and female technology workers of diverse racial, ethnic, and educational backgrounds to reveal how the industry remains rigged against women, especially Black, Latinx, and Native American women from working-class backgrounds. Twine offers concrete insights into how the technology industry can address ongoing racial and gender disparities, create more transparency, and empower women from underrepresented groups.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

An in-depth exploration of gender and racial discrimination within the high-tech industry

Why is the perception of being a computer "geek" still predominantly associated with masculinity?

Why do men continue to significantly outnumber women in the high-technology sector?

Since 2014, a growing number of employment discrimination lawsuits have brought attention to a persistent pattern of gender discrimination in the tech world.

Much has been written about the industry's failure to adequately address gender and racial inequalities, yet rarely have we gotten an intimate look inside these companies.

In Geek Girls, France Winddance Twine offers the first book by a sociologist that "lifts the Silicon veil" to provide firsthand accounts of inequality and opportunity within the tech ecosystem.

This work draws on close to a hundred interviews with male and female technology workers of diverse racial, ethnic, and educational backgrounds who are currently employed at tech firms such as Apple, Facebook, Google, and Twitter, as well as various start-ups in the San Francisco Bay area.

Geek Girls captures what it is like to work as a technically skilled woman in Silicon Valley.

With a sharp eye for detail and compelling testimonials from industry insiders, Twine showcases how the technology industry remains rigged against women, particularly Black, Latinx, and Native American women from working-class backgrounds.

From recruitment and hiring practices that prioritize individuals with family, friends, and classmates employed in the industry, to social and educational segregation, to academic prestige hierarchies, Twine reveals how women are blocked from entering this industry.

Women who do not belong to the dominant ethnic groups in the industry face employment opportunities, and women who do not conform to traditional gender roles are often marginalized and devalued within the workplace.

The book also highlights the experiences of women of color who have faced additional barriers to success, such as racism, sexism, and microaggressions.

Twine argues that the tech industry must address these issues and create a more inclusive and equitable environment for all workers.

She calls for increased diversity and representation in the industry, as well as policies that promote equal pay and opportunities for advancement.

Geek Girls is a powerful and eye-opening exploration of gender and racial discrimination in the high-tech industry.

It provides a valuable insight into the experiences of women and people of color who are working to break into and thrive in this male-dominated field.

The book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the challenges faced by marginalized groups in the tech industry and the steps that must be taken to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 161 x 237 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479803828