{{Short description|2017 manifesto on workplace diversity}} {{redirects|Google memo|the 2018 Dragonfly project memo|Google China#Dragonfly project|another 2011 memo|Steve Yegge#Blog}} {{Use American English|date=August 2017}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}} [[File:James Damore.jpg|right|thumb|James Damore at Portland State University in 2018]] "'''Google's Ideological Echo Chamber: How bias clouds our thinking about diversity and inclusion'''", commonly referred to as the '''Google memo''', is an internal memo, dated July 2017, by US-based Google engineer '''James Damore'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> ({{IPAc-en|d|ə|ˈ|m|ɔr}}) about Google's culture and diversity policies.<ref name="DamoreMemo">{{cite web |url=https://diversitymemo.com |title=Google's Ideological Echo Chamber: How bias clouds our thinking about diversity and inclusion |first=James |last=Damore |date=July 2017 |work=includes abstract entitled "TL;DR", table of contents, diagrams, footnotes, citations, references |access-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809021151/https://diversitymemo.com/ |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The memo and Google's subsequent firing of Damore in August 2017 became a subject of interest for the media. Damore's arguments received both praise and criticism from media outlets, scientists, academics and others.
The company fired Damore for violation of the company's code of conduct.<ref name="guardian_autism">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/16/james-damore-google-memo-interview-autism-regrets |title='I see things differently': James Damore on his autism and the Google memo |date=November 17, 2017 |first=Paul|last=Lewis |author-link=Paul Lewis (journalist) |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=January 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101214345/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/16/james-damore-google-memo-interview-autism-regrets |archive-date=January 1, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Damore filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, but later withdrew this complaint. A lawyer with the NLRB wrote that his firing did not violate Federal employment laws,<ref name="LATimesNLRB">{{cite news |last=Eidelson |first=Josh |date=February 16, 2018 |title=Google's firing of engineer James Damore did not break labor law, NLRB lawyer concludes |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-google-james-damore-20180216-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217003145/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-google-james-damore-20180216-story.html |archive-date=February 17, 2018}}</ref><ref name="GizmodoNLRB">{{cite web |last=Conger |first=Kate |date=February 16, 2018 |title=Labor Board Found Google Was Within Its Rights to Fire James Damore |url=https://gizmodo.com/labor-board-found-google-was-within-its-rights-to-fire-1823086744 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217040903/https://gizmodo.com/labor-board-found-google-was-within-its-rights-to-fire-1823086744 |archive-date=February 17, 2018 |access-date=February 17, 2018 |website=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref name="VergeNLRB">{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=February 16, 2018 |title=Labor board says Google could fire James Damore for anti-diversity memo |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/16/17021714/james-damore-google-nlrb-complaint-diversity-discrimination |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217015148/https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/16/17021714/james-damore-google-nlrb-complaint-diversity-discrimination |archive-date=February 17, 2018 |access-date=February 17, 2018 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 17, 2018 |title=Labor board says Google legally fired diversity memo writer |language=en-US |work=Engadget |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/17/labor-board-says-google-was-allowed-to-fire-james-damore/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701030554/https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/17/labor-board-says-google-was-allowed-to-fire-james-damore/ |archive-date=July 1, 2018}}</ref> as most employees in the United States can be fired at the employer's discretion. After withdrawing this complaint, Damore filed a class action lawsuit, retaining the services of attorney Harmeet Dhillon,<ref name="DhillonCNNMoney">{{cite web |url= https://money.cnn.com/2017/08/23/technology/james-damore-lawyer-harmeet-dhillon/index.html |title= Fired Google engineer James Damore hires prominent Republican lawyer |first= Julia |last=Horowitz |date= August 23, 2017 |work= CNNMoney |access-date= September 1, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180902013707/https://money.cnn.com/2017/08/23/technology/james-damore-lawyer-harmeet-dhillon/index.html |archive-date= September 2, 2018 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="DhillonMercuryNews">{{cite web |first=Ethan|last=Baron|url= https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/16/google-foe-james-damores-lawyer-has-deep-history-defending-conservative-views/ |title= Google foe James Damore's lawyer has deep history defending conservative views |date= January 16, 2018 |work= The Mercury News |quote= Dhillon argues that Google broke the law by punishing Damore for his political views and his complaints about working conditions. |access-date= September 1, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180902012139/https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/16/google-foe-james-damores-lawyer-has-deep-history-defending-conservative-views/ |archive-date= September 2, 2018 |url-status= live }}</ref> alleging that Google was discriminating against conservatives, Whites, Asians, and men.<ref name="vergeLawsuit" /><ref>{{Cite news|first=Jessica|last=Guynn|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/03/01/google-accused-lawsuit-excluding-White-and-asian-men-hiring-boost-diversity/387532002/|title=Google accused in lawsuit of excluding White and Asian men in hiring to boost diversity|newspaper=USA Today|date=March 1, 2018|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818220205/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/03/01/google-accused-lawsuit-excluding-white-and-asian-men-hiring-boost-diversity/387532002/|archive-date=August 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Damore withdrew his claims in the lawsuit to pursue arbitration against Google.<ref name=Baron>{{Cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/10/18/googles-fired-diversity-memo-engineer-exits-lawsuit-for-arbitration/ |title=Google's fired 'diversity memo' engineer exits lawsuit for arbitration |last=Baron |first=Ethan |date=October 18, 2018 |access-date=April 4, 2019 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406122736/https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/10/18/googles-fired-diversity-memo-engineer-exits-lawsuit-for-arbitration/ |archive-date=April 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Course of events == James Damore wrote the memo after a Google diversity program he attended solicited feedback.<ref name="guardian_autism" /> The memo was written on a flight to China.<ref name="LATimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-james-damore-google-20170809-story.html |title=Diversity training was supposed to reduce bias at Google. In case of fired engineer, it backfired |first1=David |last1=Pierson |first2=Tracey |last2=Lien |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 9, 2017 |access-date=August 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809212116/http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-james-damore-google-20170809-story.html |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/11/fired-google-engineer-damore-says-company-is-like-a-cult.html |title=Fired Google engineer James Damore says company is 'like a cult' |last=Shinal |first=John |work=CNBC |date=August 11, 2017 |access-date=August 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811234756/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/11/fired-google-engineer-damore-says-company-is-like-a-cult.html |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Calling the culture at Google an "ideological echo chamber", the memo states that, although discrimination exists, it is extreme to ascribe all disparities to oppression, and it is authoritarian to try to correct disparities through reverse discrimination. Instead, the memo argues that male to female disparities can be partly explained by biological differences.<ref name="DamoreMemo" /><ref name="Friedersdorf">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/the-most-common-error-in-coverage-of-the-google-memo/536181/ |title=The Most Common Error in Media Coverage of the Google Memo |first=Conor |last=Friedersdorf |author-link=Conor Friedersdorf |date=August 8, 2017 |work=The Atlantic |access-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808230220/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/the-most-common-error-in-coverage-of-the-google-memo/536181/ |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Alluding to the work of Simon Baron-Cohen,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baron-Cohen |first=Simon |title=The Essential Difference: Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain |publisher=Penguin |year=2012 |isbn=978-0241961353}}</ref> Damore said that those differences include women generally having a stronger interest in people than in things, and tending to be more social, artistic, and prone to neuroticism (a higher-order personality trait).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/google-fires-employee-behind-anti-diversity-memo-reports-say/ |title=Google fires employee behind anti-diversity memo, reports say |date=August 7, 2017 |website=Fox Channel|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808235107/http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/08/07/google-fires-employee-behind-controversial-memo-on-diversity-reports-say.html |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Damore's memorandum also suggests ways to adapt the tech workplace to those differences to increase women's representation and comfort, without resorting to discrimination.<ref name="DamoreMemo"/><ref name="Friedersdorf" />
The memo is dated July 2017 and was originally shared on an internal mailing list.<ref>{{cite web |first=Shona|last=Ghosh|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/james-damore-wrote-his-memo-after-attending-a-google-diversity-programme-2017-8?r=UK&IR=T |title=The fired Google engineer wrote his memo after he went to a 'shaming,' 'secretive' diversity program |work=Business Insider |date=August 9, 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809212938/http://www.businessinsider.com/james-damore-wrote-his-memo-after-attending-a-google-diversity-programme-2017-8?r=UK&IR=T |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Fortune">{{cite magazine|url=http://fortune.com/2017/08/08/wikileaks-google-anti-diversity-memo/ |title=WikiLeaks' Julian Assange just offered Google's fired anti-diversity employee a job |first=Kate |last=Samuelson |magazine=Fortune |date=August 8, 2017 |access-date=August 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810185518/http://fortune.com/2017/08/08/wikileaks-google-anti-diversity-memo/ |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> It was later updated with a preface affirming the author's opposition to workplace sexism and stereotyping.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/08/08/the-google-memo-is-a-reminder-that-we-generally-dont-have-free-speech-at-work |title=The Google memo is a reminder that we generally don't have free speech at work |first=Jena |last=McGregor |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 8, 2017 |access-date=August 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809140828/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/08/08/the-google-memo-is-a-reminder-that-we-generally-dont-have-free-speech-at-work/ |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On August 5, a version of the memo (omitting sources and graphs) was published by Gizmodo.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rachael|last=Revesz|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/google-anti-diversity-memo-manifesto-lgbt-gender-equality-backlash-a7879756.html|title=A man at Google wrote an 'anti-diversity memo'. The backlash was predictably huge|date=August 6, 2017|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=January 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140551/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/google-anti-diversity-memo-manifesto-lgbt-gender-equality-backlash-a7879756.html|archive-date=January 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The memo's publication resulted in controversy across social media, and in public criticism of the memo and its author from some Google employees.<ref name=motherboard1>{{Cite web |first=Louise |last=Matsakis|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/employees-anti-diversity-manifesto-goes-internally-viral-at-google/ |title=Google Employee's Anti-Diversity Manifesto Goes 'Internally Viral' |website=Vice |language=en-us |date=August 4, 2017|access-date=August 8, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808021306/https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/kzbm4a/employees-anti-diversity-manifesto-goes-internally-viral-at-google |archive-date=August 8, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=motherboard2>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/google-on-anti-diversity-manifesto-employees-must-feel-safe-sharing-their-opinions/ |title=Google on Anti-Diversity Manifesto: Employees Must 'Feel Safe Sharing Their Opinions' |last=Emerson |first=Sarah |work=Vice |date=August 5, 2017 |access-date=August 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806052020/https://motherboard.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/vbv54d/google-on-anti-diversity-manifesto-employees-must-feel-safe-sharing-their-opinions |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/google-anti-diversity-memo-leaked-women-tech |title=Google employee's leaked anti-diversity memo sparks evaluation of tech culture |first=Omar |last=Etman |work=PBS Newshour|publisher=PBS|location=Boston, Massachusetts|date=August 6, 2017 |access-date=August 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807154743/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/google-anti-diversity-memo-leaked-women-tech/ |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to ''Wired'', Google's internal forums showed some support for Damore, who said he received private thanks from employees who were afraid to come forward.<ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine |last=Feinberg |first=Ashley |url=https://www.wired.com/story/internal-messages-james-damore-google-memo/ |title=Internal Messages Show Some Googlers Supported Fired Engineer's Manifesto |magazine=Wired |date=August 8, 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808233253/https://www.wired.com/story/internal-messages-james-damore-google-memo/ |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-google-diversity-reaction-20170807-story.html|title=Here's what Google workers are saying about an employee's controversial diversity manifesto |first=Samantha |last=Masunaga |date=August 7, 2017 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809130728/http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-google-diversity-reaction-20170807-story.html |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{Cite news |last1=Wakabayashi |first1=Daisuke |title=Contentious Memo Strikes Nerve Inside Google and Out |work=The New York Times |date=August 8, 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/08/technology/google-engineer-fired-gender-memo.html |issn=0362-4331 |df=mdy-all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809012140/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/08/technology/google-engineer-fired-gender-memo.html |archive-date=August 9, 2017 }}</ref>
Damore was fired remotely by Google on August 7, 2017.<ref name=wsjDamore>{{cite news |last1=Damore |first1=James |title=Why I was fired by Google |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-i-was-fired-by-google-1502481290 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 11, 2017 |date=August 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811201621/https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-i-was-fired-by-google-1502481290|archive-date=August 11, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The same day, prior to being fired, Damore filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Booth|first1=Robert|last2=Hern|first2=Alex|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/aug/08/google-employee-fired-diversity-row-considers-legal-action-james-damore|title=Google employee fired over diversity row considers legal action|work=The Guardian|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=August 8, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808143244/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/aug/08/google-employee-fired-diversity-row-considers-legal-action-james-damore|archive-date=August 8, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Klint|last=Finley |url=https://www.wired.com/story/google-manifesto-author-just-might-have-a-legal-case/|title=Google Manifesto Author Just Might Have A Legal Case |magazine=Wired |date=August 8, 2017 |access-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809042407/https://www.wired.com/story/google-manifesto-author-just-might-have-a-legal-case/ |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Kovachn|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/james-damore-files-nlrb-complaint-against-google-2017-8|title=The engineer Google fired over the diversity memo has filed a complaint with federal labor officials |work=Business Insider|date=August 8, 2017 |access-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809211609/http://www.businessinsider.com/james-damore-files-nlrb-complaint-against-google-2017-8|archive-date=August 9, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nlrb.gov/case/32-CA-203891|title=NLRB|website=nlrb.gov|access-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810014100/https://nlrb.gov/case/32-CA-203891|archive-date=August 10, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The complaint is marked as "8(a)(1) Coercive Statements (Threats, Promises of Benefits, etc.)".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nlrb.gov/case/32-CA-203891|title=NLRB |access-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810014100/https://nlrb.gov/case/32-CA-203891|archive-date=August 10, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{Clarify|date=August 2017}} A subsequent statement from Google asserted that its executives were unaware of the complaint when they fired Damore; it is illegal to fire an employee in retaliation for an NLRB complaint.<ref name="LATimes" /> Following his firing, Damore announced he would pursue legal action against Google.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/the-conversation/sd-google-anti-diversity-manifesto-uproar-20170807-htmlstory.html|title=That divisive Google engineer's diversity memo? Read it first |first=Luis |last=Gomez | work =San Diego Union Tribune |date=August 8, 2017 |access-date=August 12, 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807233348/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/the-conversation/sd-google-anti-diversity-manifesto-uproar-20170807-htmlstory.html|archive-date=August 7, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/08/james-damore-just-filed-a-class-action-lawsuit-against-google-saying-it-discriminates-against-White-male-conservatives/ |title=James Damore just filed a class action lawsuit against Google, saying it discriminates against white male conservatives |first=Connie|last=Loizos |date=January 8, 2018 |work=TechCrunch |access-date=January 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109163635/https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/08/james-damore-just-filed-a-class-action-lawsuit-against-google-saying-it-discriminates-against-White-male-conservatives/ |archive-date=January 9, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Google's VP of Diversity, Danielle Brown, responded to the memo on August 8: "Part of building an open, inclusive environment means fostering a culture in which those with alternative views, including different political views, feel safe sharing their opinions. But that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies, and anti-discrimination laws".<ref name=motherboard2 /> Google's CEO Sundar Pichai wrote a note to Google employees, supporting Brown's formal response, and adding that much of the document was fair to debate. His explanation read "to suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK ... At the same time, there are co-workers who are questioning whether they can safely express their views in the workplace (especially those with a minority viewpoint). They too feel under threat, and that is also not OK."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.blog.google/topics/diversity/note-employees-ceo-sundar-pichai|title=Note to employees from CEO Sundar Pichai |date=August 8, 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808130632/https://www.blog.google/topics/diversity/note-employees-ceo-sundar-pichai/|archive-date=August 8, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Anonymously-placed physical ads criticizing Pichai and Google for the firing were put up shortly after.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Kif|last=Leswing|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/anti-google-ads-pop-up-outside-office-criticizing-ceo-sundar-pichai-2017-8 |title=Someone is plastering anti-Google ads outside Google's office criticizing CEO Sundar Pichai |website=Business Insider |date=August 11, 2017|access-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811210543/http://www.businessinsider.com/anti-google-ads-pop-up-outside-office-criticizing-ceo-sundar-pichai-2017-8 |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Damore characterized the response by Google executives as having "shamed" him for his views.<ref name="bloomberg-lawsuit">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-23/ex-google-engineer-james-damore-hires-harmeet-dhillon-as-lawyer|title=Ex-Google Engineer Hires Lawyer Shortlisted as Trump Nominee|first=Ellen|last=Huet|website=Bloomberg|date=August 23, 2017|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824093520/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-23/ex-google-engineer-james-damore-hires-harmeet-dhillon-as-lawyer|archive-date=August 24, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> CNN described the fallout as "perhaps the biggest setback to what has been a foundational premise for [Google] employees: the freedom to speak up about anything and everything".<ref name="nbcmontana">{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/08/11/technology/business/google-memo-aftermath/index.html|title=Google wrestles with aftermath from controversial memo|last1=Fiegerman|first1=Seth|last2=O'Brien|first2=Sara Ashley|date=August 11, 2017|website=CNN Money|publisher=Turner Broadcasting Systems|location=Atlanta, Georgia|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811205754/http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/11/technology/business/google-memo-aftermath/index.html|archive-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Damore gave interviews to ''Bloomberg Technology'' and to the YouTube channels of Canadian professor Jordan Peterson and podcaster Stefan Molyneux.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-10/fired-google-engineer-says-company-execs-shamed-and-smeared-him|title=Fired Google engineer says company execs shamed and smeared him|first1=Ellen|last1=Huet|first2=Mark|last2=Bergen|first3=Emily|last3=Chang|website=Bloomberg|date=August 9, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812223044/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-10/fired-google-engineer-says-company-execs-shamed-and-smeared-him|archive-date=August 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Levin" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/10/16123524/google-anti-diversity-memo-manifesto-james-damore|title=Former Google employee has no regrets over incendiary memo|first=Thuy|last=Ong|work=The Verge|date=August 10, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812113108/https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/10/16123524/google-anti-diversity-memo-manifesto-james-damore|archive-date=August 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Damore stated that he wanted his first interviews to be with media who were not hostile.<ref name="reddit-iama" /> He wrote an op-ed in ''The Wall Street Journal'', detailing the history of the memo and Google's reaction,<!--Unfortunately it is behind the paywall and I don't know what he said--> followed by interviews with ''Reason'', Reddit's "IAmA" section, CNN, CNBC, ''Business Insider'', Joe Rogan, Dave Rubin, Milo Yiannopoulos, and Ben Shapiro.<ref name=wsjDamore/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://reason.com/archives/2017/08/14/an-interview-with-james-damore|title=An interview with James Damore|first=Cathy|last=Young|publisher=Reason|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816051703/https://reason.com/archives/2017/08/14/an-interview-with-james-damore|archive-date=August 16, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="reddit-iama">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/fired-google-engineer-james-damore-defended-himself-on-reddit-2017-8|title=Fired Google engineer James Damore spent hours answering questions on Reddit|first=Shona|last=Ghosh|website=Business Insider|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815024505/http://www.businessinsider.com/fired-google-engineer-james-damore-defended-himself-on-reddit-2017-8|archive-date=August 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/fired-google-engineer-james-damore-says-this-.html|title=Fired engineer James Damore says Google hiring based on race, gender|first=John|last=Shinal|website=CNBC|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815000713/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/fired-google-engineer-james-damore-says-this-.html|archive-date=August 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/james-damore-interview-video-2017-8|title=Fired Google engineer says his memo actually empowered women|first1=Steve|last1=Kovach|first2=Chris|last2=Snyder|website=Business Insider|date=August 17, 2017|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826013911/http://uk.businessinsider.com/james-damore-interview-video-2017-8|archive-date=August 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Max|last=Diamond|url=https://www.weeklystandard.com/max-diamond/the-philosophical-question-underlying-the-google-damore-dispute|title=The Philosophical Question Underlying the Google-Damore Dispute|date=February 6, 2018|work=The Weekly Standard|access-date=November 30, 2018|via=The Washington Examiner|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130071824/https://www.weeklystandard.com/max-diamond/the-philosophical-question-underlying-the-google-damore-dispute|archive-date=November 30, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite report |url=https://datasociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/DS_Alternative_Influence.pdf |title=Alternative Influence: Broadcasting the Reactionary Right on YouTube |last=Lewis |first=Rebecca |date=18 September 2018 |publisher=Data & Society |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214191142/https://datasociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/DS_Alternative_Influence.pdf |archive-date=14 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In response to the memo, Google's CEO planned an internal "town hall" meeting, fielding questions from employees on inclusivity. The meeting was cancelled a short time before it was due to start, over safety concerns as "our Dory questions appeared externally this afternoon, and on some websites, Googlers are now being named personally". Outlets found to be posting these names, with pictures, included 4chan, ''Breitbart News'', and Milo Yiannopoulos's blog.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/08/google-cancels-meeting-on-bad-memo.html|title=Google cancels meeting on memo after employees fear for safety|first=Brian|last=Feldman|magazine=New York|date=August 11, 2017|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819073234/http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/08/google-cancels-meeting-on-bad-memo.html|archive-date=August 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/08/12/how-james-damore-went-from-google-employee-to-right-wing-internet-hero/|title=How James Damore went from Google employee to right-wing Internet hero|first=Abby|last=Ohlheiser|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 12, 2017|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170813052133/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/08/12/how-james-damore-went-from-google-employee-to-right-wing-internet-hero/|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Danielle Brown, Google's VP for diversity, was harassed online, and temporarily disabled her Twitter account.<ref name="nbcmontana" />
Damore withdrew his complaint with the National Labor Relations Board before the board released any official findings. However, shortly before the withdrawal, an internal NLRB memo found that his firing was legal. The memo, which was not released publicly until February 2018, said that, whereas the law shielded him from being fired solely for criticizing Google, it did not protect discriminatory statements, that his memo's "statements regarding biological differences between the sexes were so harmful, discriminatory, and disruptive as to be unprotected", and that these "discriminatory statements", not his criticisms of Google, were the reason for his firing.<ref name="LATimesNLRB" /><ref name="GizmodoNLRB" /><ref name="VergeNLRB" /><ref>{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Machkovek|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/federal-labor-board-google-was-justified-in-firing-engineer-behind-gender-memo/|title=Infamous Google memo author shot down by federal labor board|date=February 16, 2018|website=Ars Technica|access-date=February 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219170158/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/federal-labor-board-google-was-justified-in-firing-engineer-behind-gender-memo/|archive-date=February 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
After withdrawing his complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, Damore and another ex-Google employee instead shifted focus to a class action lawsuit accusing Google of various forms of discrimination against conservatives, white people, and men.<ref name="LATimesNLRB" /><ref name="GizmodoNLRB" /><ref name="vergeLawsuit">{{cite web|last=Lecher|first=Colin|title=James Damore sues Google for allegedly discriminating against conservative white men|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/8/16863342/james-damore-google-lawsuit-diversity-memo|website=The Verge|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108232427/https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/8/16863342/james-damore-google-lawsuit-diversity-memo|archive-date=January 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Weise |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/01/08/ex-google-engineer-damore-sues-alleging-discrimination-against-white-conservative-men/1013024001/ |title=Ex-Google engineer Damore sues alleging discrimination against white, conservative men |work=USA Today |date=January 8, 2018|access-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108210908/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/01/08/ex-google-engineer-damore-sues-alleging-discrimination-against-white-conservative-men/1013024001/ |archive-date=January 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2018, Damore and the other former Google employee dismissed their claims in the lawsuit, in order to pursue private arbitration against Google.<ref name=Baron/> Another engineer, Tim Chevalier, later filed a lawsuit against Google claiming that he was terminated in part for criticizing Damore's memo on Google's internal message boards.<ref name="WiredChevalier">{{cite magazine |first=Nitasha|last=Tiku|url=https://www.wired.com/story/ex-google-employee-claims-wrongful-firing-for-criticizing-james-damores-memo/ |title=Ex-Google Employee Claims Wrongful Firing For Criticizing James Damore's Memo |magazine=Wired |date=February 2, 2018|access-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222182825/https://www.wired.com/story/ex-google-employee-claims-wrongful-firing-for-criticizing-james-damores-memo/ |archive-date=February 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="VergeChevalier">{{cite web |first=Shannon|last=Lao|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/21/17038430/google-james-damore-memo-tim-chevalier-lawsuit-liberal-conservative-backlash |title=Former Google employee files lawsuit alleging the company fired him over pro-diversity posts|website=The Verge|date=February 21, 2018|access-date=February 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223205154/https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/21/17038430/google-james-damore-memo-tim-chevalier-lawsuit-liberal-conservative-backlash |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="EngadgetChevalier">{{cite web |first=Timothy J.|last=Seppata|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/22/google-diversity-memo-lawsuit/ |title=Google faces lawsuit for firing critic of anti-diversity memo |website=Engadget |date=February 22, 2018|access-date=February 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224111549/https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/22/google-diversity-memo-lawsuit/ |archive-date=February 24, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Damore and Google came to an undisclosed settlement and agreed to dismiss the lawsuit in 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/james-damores-diversity-lawsuit-against-google-comes-to-a-quiet-end/ | title=James Damore's diversity lawsuit against Google comes to quiet end }}</ref>
==Reactions on the science== {{see also|Sex differences in psychology}} Some commentators in the academic community said Damore had understood the science correctly, such as Debra W. Soh, a columnist and psychologist;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/no-the-google-manifesto-isnt-sexist-or-anti-diversity-its-science/article35903359/|title=No, the Google manifesto isn't sexist or anti-diversity. It's science|last=Soh|first=Debra|date=August 8, 2017|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810101208/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/no-the-google-manifesto-isnt-sexist-or-anti-diversity-its-science/article35903359/|archive-date=August 10, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Lee Jussim, a professor of social psychology at Rutgers University;<ref name="jussimFounderHA">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cmc.edu/athenaeum/science-going-bad-and-how-to-improve-it |title=Science Going Bad and How to Improve It |last=Jussim |first=Lee |date=January 30, 2017 |website=Claremont McKenna College |access-date=August 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814215557/https://www.cmc.edu/athenaeum/science-going-bad-and-how-to-improve-it |archive-date=August 14, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BrooksNYT" /> and Geoffrey Miller, an evolutionary psychology professor at University of New Mexico.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-40865261|title=Was Google wrong to fire memo author?|last=Eggert|first=Nalina|date=2017-08-09|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-12-09|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128154828/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-40865261|archive-date=November 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Others said that he had got the science wrong and relied on data that was suspect, outdated, irrelevant, or otherwise flawed; these included Gina Rippon, chair of cognitive brain imaging at Aston University;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-40865261|title=Was Google wrong to fire James Damore after memo controversy?|last=Eggert|first=Nalina|date=August 9, 2017|website=BBC News|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811161055/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-40865261|archive-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=August 12, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> evolutionary biologist Suzanne Sadedin;<ref name="Levin">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/aug/13/james-damore-google-memo-youtube-white-men-radicalization|title=James Damore, Google and the YouTube radicalization of angry white men|first=Sam|last=Levin|newspaper=The Guardian|date=August 13, 2017|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813140611/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/aug/13/james-damore-google-memo-youtube-white-men-radicalization|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/08/some-scientific-arguments-james-damore-has-yet-to-respond-to.html|title=Some scientific arguments James Damore has yet to respond to|first=Brian|last=Feldman|publisher=NY Mag|date=August 11, 2017|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811224908/http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/08/some-scientific-arguments-james-damore-has-yet-to-respond-to.html|archive-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/08/10/a-scientists-take-on-the-biological-claims-from-the-infamous-google-anti-diversity-manifesto|title=A scientist's take on the biological claims from the infamous Google anti-diversity memo|first=Suzanne|last=Sadedin|magazine=Forbes|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813232136/https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/08/10/a-scientists-take-on-the-biological-claims-from-the-infamous-google-anti-diversity-manifesto|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and Rosalind Barnett, a psychologist at Brandeis University.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.recode.net/2017/8/11/16127992/google-engineer-memo-research-science-women-biology-tech-james-damore|title=We've studied gender and STEM for 25 years. The science doesn't support the Google memo.|first1=Rosalind|last1=Barnett|first2=Caryl|last2=Rivers|work=Recode|date=August 11, 2017|access-date=January 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126113115/https://www.recode.net/2017/8/11/16127992/google-engineer-memo-research-science-women-biology-tech-james-damore|archive-date=January 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
David P. Schmitt, former professor of psychology at Bradley University, said that while some sex differences are "small to moderate" in size and not relevant to occupational performance at Google, "culturally universal sex differences in personal values and certain cognitive abilities are a bit larger in size, and sex differences in occupational interests are quite large. It seems likely these culturally universal and biologically-linked sex differences play some role in the gendered hiring patterns of Google employees."<ref>{{cite news | last = Schmitt | first = David P. | author-link = David P. Schmitt | title = On that Google memo about sex differences | url = https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sexual-personalities/201708/google-memo-about-sex-differences | work = Psychology Today | date = August 7, 2017 | access-date = August 9, 2017 | archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170813080457/https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sexual-personalities/201708/google-memo-about-sex-differences | archive-date = August 13, 2017 | url-status = live }}</ref>
British journalist Angela Saini said that Damore failed to understand the research he cited,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Saini|first1=Angela|author-link1=Angela Saini|title=Silicon Valley's weapon of choice against women: shoddy science|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/07/silicon-valley-weapon-choice-women-google-manifesto-gender-difference-eugenics|access-date=August 9, 2017|work=The Guardian|date=August 7, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808235802/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/07/silicon-valley-weapon-choice-women-google-manifesto-gender-difference-eugenics|archive-date=August 8, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=vox>{{cite news|last1=Romano|first1=Aja|title=Google has fired the engineer whose anti-diversity memo reflects a divided tech culture|url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/8/8/16106728/google-fired-engineer-anti-diversity-memo|access-date=August 9, 2017|work=Vox|issue=August 8, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809091020/https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/8/8/16106728/google-fired-engineer-anti-diversity-memo|archive-date=August 9, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> while American journalist John Horgan criticized the track record of evolutionary psychology and behavioral genetics.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/google-engineer-fired-for-sexist-memo-isnt-a-hero/|title=Google engineer fired for sexist memo isn't a hero|first=John|last=Horgan|magazine=Scientific American|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=August 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828012934/https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/google-engineer-fired-for-sexist-memo-isnt-a-hero/|archive-date=August 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Columnist for ''The Guardian'' Owen Jones said that the memo was "guff dressed up with pseudo-scientific jargon" and cited a former Google employee saying that it failed to show the desired qualities of an engineer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/08/google-sexist-memo-alt-right-martyr-james-damore|title=Google's sexist memo has provided the alt-right with a new martyr|first=Owen|last=Jones|newspaper=The Guardian|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813192620/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/08/google-sexist-memo-alt-right-martyr-james-damore|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/google-sexist-memo-employee-software-engineer-women-biological-controversy-feminism-a7880476.html |title=I just left a senior job at Google – so let me clear up this latest controversy about software engineer sexism |first=Yonatan |last=Zunger |newspaper=The Independent |date=August 7, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816020018/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/google-sexist-memo-employee-software-engineer-women-biological-controversy-feminism-a7880476.html |archive-date=August 16, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Feminist journalist Louise Perry in her book ''The Case Against the Sexual Revolution'' comments on the affair saying that she is sympathetic to Damore and that the science he quotes is perfectly sound.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Perry |first=Louise |title=The case against the sexual revolution : a new guide to sex in the 21st century |date=2022 |isbn=978-1-5095-4999-3 |location=Cambridge, UK |pages=59, 61 |oclc=1267456537}}</ref>
Alice H. Eagly, professor of psychology at Northwestern University, wrote "As a social scientist who's been conducting psychological research about sex and gender for almost 50 years, I agree that biological differences between the sexes likely are part of the reason we see fewer women than men in the ranks of Silicon Valley's tech workers. But the road between biology and employment is long and bumpy, and any causal connection does not rule out the relevance of nonbiological causes."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eagly |first1=Alice H. |title=Does biology explain why men outnumber women in tech? |url=https://theconversation.com/does-biology-explain-why-men-outnumber-women-in-tech-82479 |website=The Conversation |date=August 15, 2017|access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720222640/https://theconversation.com/does-biology-explain-why-men-outnumber-women-in-tech-82479 |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Impact on Google== Prior to his interview with Damore, Steve Kovach interviewed a female Google employee for ''Business Insider'' who said she objected to the memo, saying it lumped all women together, and that it came across as a personal attack.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kovach |first=Steve |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/female-google-employee-responds-to-james-damore-memo-2017-8 |title=Female employee on the Google memo: 'I don't know how we could feel anything but attacked by that' |work=Business Insider |date=August 13, 2017 |access-date=August 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814062523/http://www.businessinsider.com/female-google-employee-responds-to-james-damore-memo-2017-8 |archive-date=August 14, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Business Insider'' also reported that several women were preparing to leave Google by interviewing for other jobs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-sexist-memo-could-cost-google-employees-2017-8|title=The sexist memo could cost Google employees — some say they've already started interviewing elsewhere|first1=Ben|last1=Johnson|first2=Jana|last2=Kasperkevic|website=Business Insider|date=August 9, 2017|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813130424/http://www.businessinsider.com/the-sexist-memo-could-cost-google-employees-2017-8|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Within Google, the memo sparked discussions among staff, some of whom believe they were disciplined or fired for their comments supporting diversity or for criticizing Damore's beliefs.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kate|last=Conger|title=Google Fired And Disciplined Employees For Speaking Out About Diversity|url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2018/02/google-fired-and-disciplined-employees-for-speaking-out-about-diversity/|access-date=24 February 2018|work=Gizmodo Australia|date=22 February 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224113412/https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2018/02/google-fired-and-disciplined-employees-for-speaking-out-about-diversity/|archive-date=February 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://qz.com/1047862/the-google-anti-diversity-manifesto-argues-men-are-born-more-competitive-than-women-this-study-proves-it-wrong/|title=This is the study that definitely proves men aren't born more competitive than women|first=Oliver|last=Staley|work=Quartz|publisher=Atlantic Media|date=January 15, 2019|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813145324/https://qz.com/1047862/the-google-anti-diversity-manifesto-argues-men-are-born-more-competitive-than-women-this-study-proves-it-wrong/|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Concerns about sexism== {{see also|Sexism in the technology industry}} In addition to Sheryl Sandberg, who linked to scientific counterarguments, a number of other women in technology condemned the memorandum, including Megan Smith, a former Google vice president.<ref name=forbesSmith>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2017/08/08/google-fires-anti-diversity-memo-writer-drawing-ire-in-right-wing-circles|title=Google Fires Anti-Diversity Memo Writer, Drawing Ire In Right-Wing Circles|work=Forbes|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=August 9, 2017|last=O'Connor|first=Clare|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810093527/https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2017/08/08/google-fires-anti-diversity-memo-writer-drawing-ire-in-right-wing-circles/|archive-date=August 10, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, wrote an editorial in which she described feeling devastated about the potential effect of the memo on young women.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2017/08/09/google-diversity-memo-wojcicki/|title=Read YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki's response to the controversial Google anti-diversity memo|first=Susan|last=Wojcicki|work=Fortune|date=August 9, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811231745/http://fortune.com/2017/08/09/google-diversity-memo-wojcicki/|archive-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Laurie Leshin, president of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, said that she was heartened by the backlash against the memo, which gave her hope that things were changing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/08/10/google-memo-reflects-familiar-bias-women-stem|title=All too familiar bias|first=Nick|last=Roll|website=Inside Higher Ed|date=August 11, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813105907/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/08/10/google-memo-reflects-familiar-bias-women-stem|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Kara Swisher of ''Recode'' criticized the memo as sexist;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.recode.net/2017/8/5/16102476/google-diversity-vp-employee-memo|title=Google has hired a diversity VP - just as it struggles with a sexist memo from an employee|first=Kara|last=Swisher|work=Recode|date=August 5, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811221911/https://www.recode.net/2017/8/5/16102476/google-diversity-vp-employee-memo|archive-date=August 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Cynthia B. Lee, a computer science lecturer at Stanford University stated that there is ample evidence for bias in tech and that correcting this was more important than whether biological differences might account for a proportion of the numerical imbalances in Google and in technology.<ref>{{cite web|first=Cynthia|last=Lee |date=January 8, 2018|url=https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2017/8/11/16130452/google-memo-women-tech-biology-sexism|title='I'm a woman in computer science. Let me ladysplain the Google memo to you.'|website=Vox|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811161145/https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2017/8/11/16130452/google-memo-women-tech-biology-sexism|archive-date=August 11, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Cathy Young in ''USA Today'' said that while the memo had legitimate points, it mischaracterized some sex differences as being universal, while Google's reaction to the memo was harmful since it fed into arguments that men are oppressed in modern workplaces.<ref>{{cite web |last=Young |first=Cathy |author-link=Cathy Young|date=August 8, 2017 |title=Googler fired for diversity memo had legit points on gender |work=USA Today |access-date=August 9, 2017 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/08/googler-fired-diversity-memo-had-point-researchers-agree/548518001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808231823/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/08/googler-fired-diversity-memo-had-point-researchers-agree/548518001/ |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Libertarian author Megan McArdle, writing for ''Bloomberg View'', said that Damore's claims about differing levels of interest between the sexes reflected her own experiences.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-google-memo-women-tech-20170811-story.html|title=That Google memo about women in tech wasn't wrong|first=Megan|last=McArdle|author-link=Megan McArdle|newspaper=The Chicago Tribune|agency=Bloomberg View|date=August 11, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812000342/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-google-memo-women-tech-20170811-story.html|archive-date=August 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Christina Cauterucci of ''Slate'' drew parallels between arguments from Damore's memo and those of men's rights activists.<ref name=slateCatterucci>{{cite web|first=Christina |last=Cauterucci |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2017/08/07/the_google_anti_diversity_memo_cribs_its_worst_arguments_from_men_s_rights.html |title=The Google Anti-Diversity Memo Cribs Its Worst Arguments From Men's Rights Activists |date=August 7, 2017 |access-date=August 9, 2017 |work=Slate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809094033/http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2017/08/07/the_google_anti_diversity_memo_cribs_its_worst_arguments_from_men_s_rights.html |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>, while UC Law legal scholar Joan C. Williams expressed concerns about the prescriptive language used by some diversity training programs and recommended that diversity initiatives be phrased in problem-solving terms.<ref name="LATimes" />
==Employment law and free speech concerns== Yuki Noguchi, a reporter for NPR (National Public Radio), said that Damore's firing has raised questions regarding the limits of free speech in the workplace. First Amendment free speech protections usually do not extend into the workplace, as the First Amendment restricts government action but not the actions of private employers, and employers have a duty to protect their employees against a hostile work environment.<ref name=fs_npr>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/08/08/542286029/google-memo-raises-questions-about-limits-of-free-speech-in-the-workplace |title=Google Memo Raises Questions About Limits Of Free Speech In The Workplace |first=Yuki |last=Naguchi |work=NPR |date=August 8, 2017 |access-date=August 10, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808234725/http://www.npr.org/2017/08/08/542286029/google-memo-raises-questions-about-limits-of-free-speech-in-the-workplace |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Several employment law experts interviewed by CNBC said that while Damore could challenge his firing in court, his potential case would be weak and Google would arguably have several defensible reasons for firing him; had Google not made a substantive response to his memo, that could have been cited as evidence of a "hostile work environment" in lawsuits against Google.<ref name=CNBCLaw /> Additionally, they argued that the memo could indicate that Damore would be unable to fairly assess or supervise the work of female colleagues.<ref name=CNBCLaw>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-diversity-legal-idUSKBN1AO2KZ|title=Google memo writer faces tough legal road challenging firing|last1=Wiessner|first1=Daniel|last2=Wolfe|first2=Jan|date=2017-08-08|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-01-04|language=en|df=mdy-all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104175942/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-diversity-legal-idUSKBN1AO2KZ|archive-date=January 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Cultural commentary== Google's reaction to the memo and its firing of Damore were criticized by several cultural commentators, including Margaret Wente of ''The Globe and Mail'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/nerdy-guy-writes-memo-world-has-nervous-breakdown/article35960330/?reqid=a5d2a8b1-864c-4dbf-973d-08db04b1f03d|title=Nerdy guy writes memo, world has nervous breakdown|first=Margaret|last=Wente|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=August 11, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813081735/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/nerdy-guy-writes-memo-world-has-nervous-breakdown/article35960330/?reqid=a5d2a8b1-864c-4dbf-973d-08db04b1f03d|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Erick Erickson, a conservative writer for ''RedState'',<ref>{{cite news |last=Erickson |first=Erick |author-link=Erick Erickson|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/08/08/why-googles-firing-terrifies-social-conservatives-so-much/ |title=Why Google's firing terrifies social conservatives so much |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 8, 2017 |access-date=August 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808220358/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/08/08/why-googles-firing-terrifies-social-conservatives-so-much/ |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> David Brooks of ''The New York Times'',<ref name="BrooksNYT">{{cite web |last=Brooks |first=David |author-link=David Brooks (political commentator)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/11/opinion/sundar-pichai-google-memo-diversity.html |title=Sundar Pichai Should Resign as Google's C.E.O. |work=The New York Times |date=August 11, 2017 |access-date=August 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811124216/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/11/opinion/sundar-pichai-google-memo-diversity.html |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |df=mdy-all |url-access=limited }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Avery|last=Hartmans|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/david-brooks-sundar-pichai-resignation-james-damore-2017-8 |title=New York Times columnist David Brooks wants Google's CEO to resign |website=Business Insider |date=August 11, 2017|language=en |access-date=August 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170812131604/http://www.businessinsider.com/david-brooks-sundar-pichai-resignation-james-damore-2017-8 |archive-date=August 12, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Clive Crook of ''Bloomberg View'',<ref>{{cite web |first=Clive |last=Crook |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-08-14/google-moves-into-the-business-of-thought-control |title=Google moves into the business of thought control |website=Bloomberg |date=August 14, 2017 |access-date=August 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815024811/https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-08-14/google-moves-into-the-business-of-thought-control |archive-date=August 15, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and moral philosopher Peter Singer, writing in New York ''Daily News''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Singer|first=Peter|date=August 10, 2017|title=Why Google was wrong: Did James Damore really deserve to be fired for what he wrote?|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/google-wrong-article-1.3399750|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810152845/http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/google-wrong-article-1.3399750|archive-date=August 10, 2017|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=Daily News}}</ref>
Others objected to the intensity of the broader response to the memo in the media and across the internet, such as CNN's Kirsten Powers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2017/08/08/kirsten-powers-and-others-whove-read-the-google-anti-diversity-memo-slam-hysterical-media-coverage/|title=Kirsten Powers and others who've read the Google 'anti-diversity' memo slam hysterical media coverage|website=Twitchy|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812030903/http://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2017/08/08/kirsten-powers-and-others-whove-read-the-google-anti-diversity-memo-slam-hysterical-media-coverage/|archive-date=August 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Conor Friedersdorf of ''The Atlantic'',<ref name="Friedersdorf" /> and Jesse Singal, writing in ''The Boston Globe''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2017/08/10/how-internet-got-google-memo-wrong/US4NlaIvQ00UdsyofYbMyM/story.html|title=How the Internet got the 'Google memo' wrong|first=Jesse|last=Singal|author-link=Jesse Singal|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=August 10, 2017|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812184113/http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2017/08/10/how-internet-got-google-memo-wrong/US4NlaIvQ00UdsyofYbMyM/story.html|archive-date=August 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Internet}} * Biological determinism * Cancel culture * Criticism of Google * Gender disparity in computing * Neuroscience of sex differences * Resistance to diversity efforts in organizations * Sex differences in psychology * Sexism in the technology industry * Women in computing * Women in STEM
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == {{refbegin}} * {{Cite book |last=Baron-Cohen |first=Simon |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/cka/Essential-Difference-Men-Women-Extreme-Male-Brain/0241961351 |title=The Essential Difference: Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain |date=June 7, 2012 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-24196135-3 |location=London |access-date=August 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813185744/https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/cka/Essential-Difference-Men-Women-Extreme-Male-Brain/0241961351 |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |url-status=live }} * {{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UL2l6MMKcC |title=A Mind Of Her Own: The Evolutionary Psychology of Women |date=May 16, 2013 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19960954-3 }} * {{Cite book |last=Lippa |first=Richard A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tz1J3SNUz3sC |title=Gender, Nature, and Nurture |date=2002 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-80583606-6 }} * {{Cite news |last1=Wingfield |first1=Nick |title=The Culture Wars Have Come to Silicon Valley |work=The New York Times |date=August 8, 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/08/technology/the-culture-wars-have-come-to-silicon-valley.html |issn=0362-4331 |df=mdy-all |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809042140/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/08/technology/the-culture-wars-have-come-to-silicon-valley.html |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }} {{refend}}
== External links == * [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3914586-Googles-Ideological-Echo-Chamber.html PDF of the memo], also hosted [https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3914586/Googles-Ideological-Echo-Chamber.pdf here] * [https://firedfortruth.com/ Fired for Truth] - James Damore's official website ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808022548/https://firedfortruth.com/ |date=8 August 2018}}) * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW5s_-Nl3JE Google Video on Unconscious Bias - Making the Unconscious Conscious] by Life at Google (YouTube, 4 minutes)
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Category:2017 controversies in the United States Category:2017 documents Category:Computing-related controversies Ideological Echo Chamber Category:Diversity in computing Category:Freedom of speech in the United States Category:Memoranda Category:Sexism in the United States Category:Women in computing Category:Works about Google