Gender Inclusion as a Verb: Walking the Walk of Inclusion for All Genders

This deck is from a presentation at TechBash 2019.

It’s easy to say, “Yes, transgender and nonbinary folks can come to this Women in Tech event” or “All genders welcome!” And we might really mean it in our hearts. But have we done the work to make it true? From the language we use, to the speakers we invite, to the facilities we rent, we can be intentional about creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Whether you’re an individual contributor or the CEO, learn the specific actions you can take to make your company, events, and daily interactions truly inclusive for all genders.

Transcript

1. Gender Inclusion as a Verb Walking the Walk of Inclusion for All Genders
2. Hello! ‘Tine Zekis– she/her/hers @tinezekis #TechBash Software Engineer, Chicago 2
3. Common Language What are you talking about?! @tinezekis #TechBash
4. Common Language: Sex & Gender Sex a medically constructed categorization, often assigned based on the appearance of the genitalia, either in ultrasound or at birth Examples: ✗ Female ✗ Male ✗ Intersex 4 Source: UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center Photo by Tim Bish on Unsplash @tinezekis #TechBash
5. Gender a social construct used to classify a person as a man, woman, or some other identity Gender is fundamentally different from the sex one is assigned at birth Common Language: Sex & Gender Examples: ✗ Boy ✗ Girl ✗ Man ✗ Woman ✗ Non-binary person ✗ Genderqueer person ✗ Gender-noncomforming person ✗ Bigender person 5 Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection @tinezekis #TechBash Source: UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center
6. Common Language: Sex & Gender Relationship between Sex and Gender ✗ Cisgender – a gender identity, or performance in a gender role, that society deems to “match” the person’s assigned sex at birth ✗ Transgender (trans) – a gender identity or expression that does not “match” the person’s assigned sex according to society 6 Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash @tinezekis #TechBash Source: UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center
7. Gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation are mutually exclusive ✗ Gender Identity: a sense of one’s self as trans, genderqueer, woman, man, or some other identity ✗ Gender Expression: how one expresses oneself, in terms of dress and/or behaviors 7 Common Language: Side Note @tinezekis #TechBash Source: UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center
8. Gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation are mutually exclusive ✗ A person’s gender expression is not predictive of their gender identity ✗ A person’s gender identity is not predictive of their gender expression 8 Common Language: Side Note @tinezekis #TechBash Source: UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center
9. Gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation are mutually exclusive ✗ Sexual Orientation: an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual or affectional attraction or non- attraction to other people ✗ A person’s identity or expression is not predictive of their orientation, or vice versa 9 Common Language: Side Note @tinezekis #TechBash Source: UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center
10. Noun vs. Adjective ✗ Noun – a person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., person, woman, boy) ✗ Adjective – a word used to describe or modify a noun or pronoun (e.g., transgender, cisgender) ✗ General Rule: do not use adjectives in place of nouns when discussing humans 10 Common Language: Noun vs. Adj. @tinezekis #TechBash
11. Try instead: adjective + noun ✗ …a transgender person. ✗ …a transgender man. ✗ …a transgender woman. ✗ A trans person… ✗ A transman… ✗ A transwoman… ✗ …to transgender people. Avoid: adjective only ✗ My coworker is a transgender. ✗ A trans will be presenting today. ✗ The event was welcoming to transgenders. Common Language: Noun vs. Adj. 11 Photo by Franck V. on Unsplash @tinezekis #TechBash
12. ✗ trans transgender ✗ cishet cisgender and heterosexual ✗ AFAB assigned female at birth ✗ AMAB assigned male at birth ✗ enby / enbies * non-binary person / non-binary people * We do not use “NB” because that is already commonly used to mean non-black (e.g., NBPOC) 12 Common Language: Abbreviations @tinezekis #TechBash
13. The Problem What’s the problem? What’s at stake? @tinezekis #TechBash
14. Defining the Problem During this section, jot down and prepare to share: ✗ What stands out to you, and why? ✗ Something you find surprising? ✗ Something that resonates with you? ✗ What questions does this section bring up? ✗ What in this section makes you hopeful, or what do you hope to learn today? 14 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash
15. Defining the Problem Who are we talking about? How many transgender people are there? ✗ 2016 study estimates 1.4 million adults in US ✗ 0.6% of US population ✗ Double the 2011 estimate of 0.3% ✗ 2017 study estimates 150,000 youth (13-17yrs) ✗ 0.7% of US population ✗ The population of San Diego is also about 1.4 million 15 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash Source: The Williams Institute
16. Defining the Problem Limitations of the Study ✗ Limited to United States ✗ Self-identification is not safe for everyone ✗ Some people may not have the words to identify their experience of being transgender ✗ As public opinion on transgender rights change, expect these numbers to go up 16 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash Source: The Williams Institute
17. Defining the Problem 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) Largest survey examining the experiences of transgender people in the United States 17 Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
18. 27,715 respondents from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. military bases overseas 18 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by davide ragusa on Unsplash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
19. 2015 Conducted in summer 2015 by the National Center for Transgender Equality Categories education, employment, family life, health, housing, interactions with the criminal justice system, etc. Anonymous Survey Anonymous, online survey for transgender adults (18+) in the U.S., available in English and Spanish 19 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Isaac Smith on Unsplash
20. 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Key findings in employment and related areas ✗ Income and Employment Status 20 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
21. Income & Employment Status ✗ Unemployment rate 3 times higher for respondents than general U.S. population ✗ Higher rates for Middle Eastern, Indigenous, multiracial, Latinx, and Black folks ✗ 29% were living in poverty (compared to 12% poverty rate for general U.S. population) 21 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
22. 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Key findings in employment and related areas ✗ Income and Employment Status ✗ Employment and the Workplace 22 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
23. Employment & Workplace Because of their gender identity or expression… ✗ 1 in 6 respondents had lost a job in their lifetime ✗ 27% had been fired, denied a promotion, or had not been hired in the past year ✗ 15% were verbally harassed, physically attacked, and/or sexually assaulted at work in the past year 23 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
24. Employment & Workplace Because of their gender identity or expression… ✗ 23% reported other forms of mistreatment in the past year ✗ 77% took steps to avoid mistreatment in the workplace 24 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
25. 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Key findings in employment and related areas ✗ Income and Employment Status ✗ Employment and the Workplace ✗ Health Insurance and Health Care 25 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
26. Health Insurance & Health Care Because of their gender identity or expression… ✗ 1 in 4 respondents experienced a problem in the past year with their insurance ✗ Being denied coverage for care related to gender transition ✗ Being denied coverage for routine care because they were transgender 26 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
27. Health Insurance & Health Care ✗ 55% of those who sought transition-related surgery in the past year and 25% who sought coverage for hormones in the past year were denied ✗ 1 in 3 reported having at least one negative experience related to being transgender (higher rates for POC* and people with disabilities) 27 @tinezekis #TechBash * POC: people of color Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
28. Health Insurance & Health Care ✗ 23% did not see a doctor when they needed to because of fear of being mistreated as a transgender person ✗ 1 in 3 did not see a doctor when needed because they could not afford it 28 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
29. 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Key findings in employment and related areas ✗ Income and Employment Status ✗ Employment and the Workplace ✗ Health Insurance and Health Care ✗ Places of Public Accommodation 29 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
30. Places of Public Accommodation ✗ 31% of respondents experienced at least one type of mistreatment in the past year in a place of public accommodation ✗ 14% were denied equal treatment or service ✗ 24% were verbally harassed ✗ 2% were physically attacked 30 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
31. Places of Public Accommodation ✗ 1 in 5 respondents did not use at least one type of public accommodation in the past year because they feared they would be mistreated as a transgender person 31 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
32. 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Key findings in employment and related areas ✗ Income and Employment Status ✗ Employment and the Workplace ✗ Health Insurance and Health Care ✗ Places of Public Accommodation ✗ Experiences in Restrooms 32 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
33. White/Colored, Men/Women by Lauren Quock 33 @tinezekis #TechBash
34. Experiences in Restrooms 34 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Matt Artz on Unsplash Source: Hidden Figures, via YouTube
35. Experiences in Restrooms ✗ 9% of respondents reported that someone denied them access to a restroom in the past year ✗ When accessing a restroom in the past year: ✗ 12% were verbally harassed ✗ 1% were physically attacked ✗ 1% were sexually assaulted 35 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Matt Artz on Unsplash
36. Experiences in Restrooms ✗ 59% of respondents avoided using a public restroom in the past year because they were afraid of confrontations or other problems ✗ 32% limited the amount they ate and drank to avoid using the restroom in the past year ✗ 8% reported having a urinary tract infection, kidney infection, or another kidney-related problem in the past year as a result of avoiding restrooms 36 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Matt Artz on Unsplash
37. 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Key findings in employment and related areas ✗ Income and Employment Status ✗ Employment and the Workplace ✗ Health Insurance and Health Care ✗ Places of Public Accommodation ✗ Experiences in Restrooms ✗ Psychological Distress and Attempted Suicide 37 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
38. Psychological Distress ✗ 39% of respondents experienced psychological distress in the last month (compared to 5% of U.S. population) ✗ 40% had attempted suicide in their lifetime (compared to 4.6% of U.S. population) ✗ 7% had attempted suicide in the past year (compared to 0.6% of U.S. population) 38 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
39. 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Key findings in employment and related areas ✗ Income and Employment Status ✗ Employment and the Workplace ✗ Health Insurance and Health Care ✗ Places of Public Accommodation ✗ Experiences in Restrooms ✗ Psychological Distress and Attempted Suicide ✗ Harassment and Violence 39 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
40. Harassment & Violence Because of their gender identity or expression… ✗ 46% of respondents were verbally harassed in the past year ✗ 9% were physically attacked in the past year 40 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
41. Harassment & Violence ✗ 1 in 10 were sexually assaulted in the past year ✗ 47% were sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime, including: ✗ 72% of those who have done sex work ✗ 65% of those who have experienced homelessness ✗ 61% of those with disabilities 41 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
42. Harassment & Violence ✗ 54% experienced some form of intimate partner violence, including: ✗ Acts involving coercive control ✗ Acts involving physical harm ✗ 24% had experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner (compared to 18% of U.S. population) 42 @tinezekis #TechBash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr
43. 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Key findings in employment and related areas ✗ Income and Employment Status ✗ Employment and the Workplace ✗ Health Insurance and Health Care ✗ Places of Public Accommodation ✗ Experiences in Restrooms ✗ Psychological Distress and Attempted Suicide ✗ Harassment and Violence 43 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Michael Turner on Flickr Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
44. Debrief That was a lot. Can we talk about it? @tinezekis #TechBash
45. Debrief What stood out to you and why? Something surprising? Something that resonated? What questions did this bring up for you? Or, what questions do you think others might have? What’s something you heard that makes you hopeful? Or, what’s something that you hope to learn today? 45 @tinezekis #TechBash
46. What’s next??? So, what can we do to make our companies, events, and daily interactions more inclusive? 46 @tinezekis #TechBash
47. What Can I Do… in Person? Making our daily interactions more inclusive @tinezekis #TechBash
48. Names & Pronouns General Rule: Call people what they want to be called ✗ Try asking: “What would you like me to call you?” ✗ Name ✗ Pronouns ✗ Offer your own pronouns when introducing yourself ✗ Normalize the sharing of pronouns 48 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection
49. Names & Pronouns So, what are pronouns? ✗ Linguistic tools used to refer to someone in the third person ✗ Examples: ✗ he/him/his ✗ she/her/hers ✗ they/them/theirs 49 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection Sources: UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center and Pronoun Island ✗ ze/zir/zirs ✗ ve/ver/vis ✗ xey/xem/xeir
50. Names & Pronouns Great resource for pronouns: pronoun.is Here’s what pronoun.is/they looks like… 50 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection Source: Pronoun Island
51. Names & Pronouns What about names? ✗ Chosen name – the name a trans person goes by ✗ Deadname – a person’s given name, or birth name, after they have chosen a new one ✗ General Rule: Do not use a person’s deadname or previous pronouns, even when referring to them in the past tense (prior to transition) 51 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection
52. Addressing a Group Gendered words that address a group ✗ Try to avoid: ✗ Guys / you guys ✗ Guys and gals ✗ Ladies and gentlemen ✗ Boys and girls ✗ Moms and dads ✗ Brothers and sisters 52 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection
53. Addressing a Group Gender neutral ways to address a group ✗ Try instead: ✗ Everyone ✗ You all / Y’all ✗ Folks ✗ Colleagues ✗ Friends ✗ Gang 53 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection ✗ Parents ✗ Children / Kids ✗ People / Humans ✗ Earthlings ✗ Developers ✗ Siblings
54. Correcting Yourself & Others But what if I mess up?! Spoiler: You’re going to mess up. But when you do… ✗ Correct yourself in the moment, if possible ✗ Apologize ✗ Be sincere ✗ No need to dwell ✗ Do better next time 54 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection
55. Correcting Yourself & Others What if someone else messes up? ✗ Speak up ✗ Address the mistake right away ✗ Those who heard the mistake can learn from your correction ✗ The person who was misgendered is supported ✗ Be sure to correct whether or not the person who has been misgendered is in the room 55 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection
56. WARNING: Do Not Out Anyone! ✗ Ask whether the person is out at work, at an event, to their family, etc. if you will be in that setting ✗ General things to avoid: ✗ Do not describe people as being trans when it’s not relevant ✗ Do not guess whether someone is transgender ✗ Do not ask a transgender person questions about their bodies that you would not ask a cisgender person 56 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Zachary Drucker on The Gender Spectrum Collection
57. What Can I Do… at Work? Making our companies more inclusive @tinezekis #TechBash
58. Names & Pronouns Again, normalize the sharing of pronouns ✗ Add your pronouns to your email signature, Slack display name, LinkedIn profile, etc. ✗ Encourage senior leadership to do the same ✗ Best case: CEO adds pronouns to their email signature, and sends out an educational email to the company about it ✗ Introduce yourself with your name and pronouns when interviewing candidates 58 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
59. Names & Pronouns Name changes ✗ Have mechanisms in place to update: ✗ Usernames ✗ Email addresses ✗ Anything else with employee name or initials 59 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
60. Restrooms Inclusive restrooms for trans and nonbinary folks ✗ Provide the same amenities in all restrooms (e.g., tampons, pads, etc.) ✗ Single occupancy, all-gender restroom(s) ✗ Multiple occupancy, all-gender restroom(s) 60 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
61. Gender Neutral Restroom Signs 61 Signs by SassyCentaur on Etsy @tinezekis #TechBash
62. Health & Wellness Inclusive health insurance and wellness benefits ✗ Does our healthcare plan cover any of the following? ✗ Hormone treatments ✗ Gender-affirming surgeries (insurance plans may consider these to be “cosmetic” surgeries) ✗ Electrolysis (long-term hair removal) ✗ Mental health services ✗ Same-sex partners ✗ Are premium rates the same across all sexes? 62 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash Source: Andrea Zekis, Transgender Rights Activist and McLarty Fellow at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
63. Health & Wellness Gender neutral benefits and policies ✗ Parental leave ✗ Do non-birthing parents get leave? ✗ Do parents of adopted children get leave? ✗ Do we call it maternity/paternity leave? ✗ Dress code ✗ Are there different rules for men and women? ✗ Do there need to be? 63 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash Source: Andrea Zekis, Transgender Rights Activist and McLarty Fellow at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
64. What Can I Do… at Events? Making our events more inclusive @tinezekis #TechBash
65. Pronouns You guessed it: normalize sharing pronouns ✗ Suggest that attendees include pronouns on their name tags ✗ Note: Avoid compelling people to share their pronouns; should be voluntary ✗ Provide pronoun buttons or stickers ✗ Note: If you ask attendees to display their pronouns, also provide a way to opt out of photos 65 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash
66. Photo by GeekGirlCon on Flickr 66 @tinezekis #TechBash
67. Requiring IDs at Events Some venues require legal ID for entry into events ✗ This leads to events asking attendees to register under their legal name ✗ 11% of USTS respondents reported that all of their IDs had the name and gender they preferred; 68% reported that none of their IDs had the name and gender they preferred. 67 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
68. Requiring IDs at Events ✗ 35% of respondents who had not changed legal name and 32% who had not updated gender report cost as prohibitive ✗ 32% of respondents who have shown an ID with a name or gender that did not match their gender presentation were verbally harassed, denied benefits or service, asked to leave, or assaulted 68 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash Source: 2015 USTS Executive Summary
69. Requiring IDs at Events So, what can you do? ✗ Ask venues ahead of time whether their security practices require attendees to present ID ✗ Ask if an exception can be made for your event ✗ Consider having your event somewhere else 69 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash
70. Restrooms at Events What can we do about restrooms? ✗ Best case: choose a venue with all-gender restrooms ✗ Ask venue if you can put up temporary signs ✗ Gender-neutral restroom should be close and easily accessible to attendees ✗ Publicize this info on event descriptions 70 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash
71. Naming Groups & Events What about Women in Tech events? Important questions to consider: ✗ Which genders is this event for? ✗ Is it for cisgender women? ✗ Is it for all people who identify as women? ✗ Is it for all people from marginalized genders? ✗ Be cautious with “women and nonbinary” events ✗ Does this include masculine nonbinary folks? ✗ What about transmen? 71 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash
72. What’s next??? What will you be doing differently starting on Monday? 72 @tinezekis #TechBash
73. Start What are you going to start doing? Continue What will you continue doing? On Monday, I am going to… Stop What are you going to stop doing? Change How will you change what you’re doing? 73 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Harshal Desai on Unsplash Source: WorkSMART Blog
74. 74 Gender Inclusion Document @tinezekis #TechBash If you would like to provide anonymous feedback, sign out of Google and use the QR code below: Or you can use this link: bit.ly/TechBashInclusion
75. 75 Thanks! Any questions? You can find me at: ✗ @tinezekis ✗ tinezekis@gmail.com @tinezekis #TechBash
76. Credits Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free: ✗ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival ✗ Photos by Flickr, Unsplash, and The Gender Spectrum Collection ✗ Art by Lauren Quock ✗ Video by Favorite Clips & Edits on YouTube ✗ Restroom signs by SassyCentaur on Etsy ✗ Definitions by UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center and Pronoun Island ✗ Research by The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and The Williams Institute ✗ Health and Wellness advice by Andrea Zekis ✗ Debrief exercise by WorkSMART Blog ✗ QR code by QR Code Monkey ✗ Shortened URL by Bitly 76 @tinezekis #TechBash Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash