Articles about gender

He, it, but rarely she: When AI models write kids’ stories about animals, female characters vanish

A new University of Washington study testing leading AI models across nearly 24,000 story completions found that AI guardrails designed to reduce bias have accidentally erased female characters — defaulting overwhelmingly to male animals or ungendered “it” pronouns. Read More

Podcast

Surviving Amazon: Work, life, and bias inside one of the world’s most ambitious businesses

[Editor’s Note: We’re excited this week to welcome a guest host to the GeekWire Podcast, Ross Reynolds, whose voice is… Read More

UW’s Os Keyes takes on tech’s ethical challenges, from gender bias in AI to facial recognition

A PhD candidate with the University of Washington’s Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering, Os Keyes researches the ethical… Read More

Equity initiative formed by Melinda Gates and MacKenzie Scott lands $10M more in funding

The Equality Can’t Wait Challenge announced $10 million in new funding Tuesday, bringing the total grant package to $40 million.… Read More

Melinda Gates and MacKenzie Bezos unveil $30M gender equality initiative

Two of the world’s wealthiest women are teaming up to roll out a $30 million initiative that will provide grants… Read More

Melinda Gates’ nonprofit launches $50M initiative to increase representation of women in tech hubs

Melinda Gates is launching another initiative to turn the tide for women in tech. Pivotal Ventures, a Seattle-based philanthropic group… Read More

Satya Nadella’s ‘karma’ gaffe was ‘one of the best things that ever happened for Microsoft,’ says former board member who was on stage with him

It has been five years since Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told Harvey Mudd College President Dr. Maria Klawe — on… Read More

Podcast

Q&A: Melinda Gates opens up about tech industry, equality and 3 women who changed her life

Melinda Gates once famously set a rule in her kitchen. Nobody leaves until mom does. It’s a story she tells… Read More

Melinda Gates draws huge crowd for hometown finale of ‘Moment of Lift’ tour, with surprise intro

The stage lights stayed down as the introductory video ended, and a lone figure walked onto stage in the darkness.… Read More

Satya Nadella shares Microsoft’s inclusion strategy amid sexual harassment claims

Microsoft’s workplace culture is under a magnifying glass now that emails from dozens of women have surfaced with damning stories… Read More

Gender expert at University of Washington thought her ‘genius grant’ was a prank

When University of Washington psychology professor Kristina Olson got the call telling her she’d be receiving one of the MacArthur… Read More

California’s new law mandating women on corporate boards could be a model for other states

California became the first state in the nation Sunday to pass a law demanding women have a seat on the… Read More

Melinda Gates rallies top tech companies to double women of color studying computer science by 2025

Melinda Gates is convening leading tech companies in an effort to dramatically increase the number of computer science degrees awarded… Read More

There’s a big difference between how men and women see employer salary policies

Given the breadth of data about unequal pay and other obstacles for women in tech, it should come as no… Read More

Author of ‘Why Women Don’t Code’ defends essay as colleagues, diversity experts challenge claims

Why don’t more women code? Stuart Reges believes he has an answer to that difficult question, one that the tech… Read More

Immigrant perspectives: Women entrepreneurs on ‘microaggressions’ and biases

Reetu Gupta, founder and CEO of Cirkled in, has 20 years of experience in corporate America. In addition to having… Read More

University of Washington lecturer’s essay on ‘Why Women Don’t Code’ stirs controversy

A University of Washington lecturer is sparking new debate with an essay claiming that the technology industry is about as… Read More

Female employees at Microsoft filed 238 discrimination and harassment claims over 7-year period

There were 238 complaints of gender discrimination or sexual harassment filed by U.S.-based female employees in technical roles at Microsoft… Read More

Science — without the mansplaining

[Editor’s Note: This guest commentary by Seattle-based writer Megan Watzke and data scientist Kimberly Arcand is part of GeekWire’s coverage of International Women’s Day.] It’s been… Read More

Washington state passes gender pay equity bill with support from tech industry … for the most part

Seizing on a historic moment for women challenging discrimination in the workplace, Washington state’s legislature passed the Equal Pay Opportunity… Read More

Most women in Seattle tech industry experience harassment but few report it, new study finds

Some were pushed toward non-technical careers despite their technical skills. Others reported unwanted touching or kissing. Many saw less qualified… Read More

Zillow CEO invests in tools that help employees anonymously report sexual harassment

The groundswell of sexual misconduct stories over the past few months has revealed a huge problem that affects institutions from… Read More

TheBoardlist founder: ‘Silicon Valley is built for people given opportunity they’re not qualified for’

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy is calling BS on tech industry leaders who avoid hiring female candidates because they don’t want to… Read More

Working Geek: Amazon manager MaryBeth Pecha and colleagues create card game to break down gender barriers

During nearly a decade working in finance and accounting, MaryBeth Pecha experienced the challenges that come from gender inequity at… Read More

Seattle gender pay gap is wider among more educated workers, pointing to equity issues in tech

A new study from Seattle civic data startup LiveStories reveals that the gender pay gap in its hometown is significantly… Read More

Gender pay gap much smaller at tech companies with more female execs, study finds

Tech companies with more women in leadership enjoy some unexpected perks. In addition to improving salary equity among men and… Read More

Early Redfin investor challenges Silicon Valley sexism, applies ‘Glenn assessment’ when evaluating CEOs

When Emily Melton, a partner at venture capital firm DFJ, signed onto the board of Redfin in 2007 as part… Read More

Commentary: Bonderman and Uber make my head hurt: What your company actually needs from a board member

My whole life I’ve believed that the true judge of one’s character is what he/she does when he thinks no… Read More

Study: Seattle region has one of the biggest gender wage gaps in the U.S., with women earning 78.6 cents on the dollar

Women working in King County make 78.6 cents for every dollar their male counterparts earn, according to a new study… Read More

‘Failing, frustrated, and asking for help.’ How Techstars Seattle ended up with a male-dominated class — and what they’re doing about it

It’s no secret that tech has a diversity problem. In fact, the lack of gender equity at tech events has… Read More