Julie Creswell, Kevin Draper, and Rachel Abrams, The New York Times; At Nike, Revolt Led by Women Leads to Exodus of Male Executives
"Finally, fed up, a group of women inside Nike’s Beaverton, Ore., headquarters started a small revolt.
Covertly, they surveyed their female peers, inquiring whether they had been the victim of sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Their findings set off an upheaval in the executive ranks of the world’s largest sports footwear and apparel company.
On March 5, the packet of completed questionnaires landed on the desk of Mark Parker, Nike’s chief executive. Over the next several weeks, at least six top male executives left or said they were planning to leave the company, including Trevor Edwards, president of the Nike brand, who was widely viewed as a leading candidate to succeed Mr. Parker, and Jayme Martin, Mr. Edwards’s lieutenant, who oversaw much of Nike’s global business.
Others who have departed include the head of diversity and inclusion, a vice president in footwear and a senior director for Nike’s basketball division.
It is a humbling setback for a company that is famous worldwide and has built its brand around the inspirational slogan “Just Do It.” While the #MeToo movement has led to the downfall of individual men, the kind of sweeping overhaul that is occurring at Nike is rare in the corporate world, and illustrates how internal pressure from employees is forcing even huge companies to quickly address workplace problems.
As women — and men — continue to come forward with complaints, Nike has begun a comprehensive review of its human resources operations, making management training mandatory and revising many of its internal reporting procedures."
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Marvel’s Champions to Introduce Teenage Inuk Superhero, Snowguard; Comic Book Resources, April 26, 2018
Justin Carter, Comic Book Resources; Marvel’s Champions to Introduce Teenage Inuk Superhero, Snowguard
"For help with Amka’s development, Zub went to Nyla Innuksuk, founder of the VR production company Mixtape, who’s Inuit and grew up in Igloolik and Iqaluit. Innuksuk was initially hesitant upon learning about Zub’s plans to add an Inuit character, but said she appreciated that he came to her early in Snowguard’s development. She was also drawn to the character because she’s not another Indigenous woman portrayed as a victim. “To see a powerful young person who is fighting back against what she sees as wrong has the potential to make a real difference,” Innuksuk said."
"For help with Amka’s development, Zub went to Nyla Innuksuk, founder of the VR production company Mixtape, who’s Inuit and grew up in Igloolik and Iqaluit. Innuksuk was initially hesitant upon learning about Zub’s plans to add an Inuit character, but said she appreciated that he came to her early in Snowguard’s development. She was also drawn to the character because she’s not another Indigenous woman portrayed as a victim. “To see a powerful young person who is fighting back against what she sees as wrong has the potential to make a real difference,” Innuksuk said."
Facebook finally explains why it bans some content, in 27 pages; The Washington Post, April 24, 2018
Elizabeth Dwoskin and Tracy Jan, The Washington Post; Facebook finally explains why it bans some content, in 27 pages
"“We want people to know our standards, and we want to give people clarity,” Monika Bickert, Facebook’s head of global policy management, said in an interview. She added that she hoped publishing the guidelines would spark dialogue. “We are trying to strike the line between safety and giving people the ability to really express themselves.”"
"“We want people to know our standards, and we want to give people clarity,” Monika Bickert, Facebook’s head of global policy management, said in an interview. She added that she hoped publishing the guidelines would spark dialogue. “We are trying to strike the line between safety and giving people the ability to really express themselves.”"
Monday, April 23, 2018
Starbucks won’t have any idea whether its diversity training works; The Washington Post, April 23, 2018
Hakeem Jefferson and Neil Lewis, Jr., The Washington Post; Starbucks won’t have any idea whether its diversity training works
"Without the expertise to know what makes an intervention more or less successful, it is hard to imagine that Starbucks or any other organization stands much of a chance of developing a successful diversity training program that has long-term, sustainable effects on its culture. Moreover, Starbucks claims that it is interested in knowing whether the training program it will implement will be effective. As social scientists, we know firsthand how difficult it is to measure the effects of an intervention, and we wonder who on Starbucks’s team is sufficiently equipped to do this. The track record of those Starbucks has included in its announcement is remarkable, but it is social scientists — not lawyers or activists — who are trained to adequately and rigorously assess whether this intervention works, or if it will join the long list of those that don’t.
The inclusion of social scientists at every stage of the process can make diversity training more than feel-good PR moves that are of little consequence. Yes, engaging the scholarly community will mean that the process will be slower. But as bias expert Brian Nosek said, if Starbucks and its corporate peers think interventions like this are worth doing, they should certainly think that it’s worth doing well."
"Without the expertise to know what makes an intervention more or less successful, it is hard to imagine that Starbucks or any other organization stands much of a chance of developing a successful diversity training program that has long-term, sustainable effects on its culture. Moreover, Starbucks claims that it is interested in knowing whether the training program it will implement will be effective. As social scientists, we know firsthand how difficult it is to measure the effects of an intervention, and we wonder who on Starbucks’s team is sufficiently equipped to do this. The track record of those Starbucks has included in its announcement is remarkable, but it is social scientists — not lawyers or activists — who are trained to adequately and rigorously assess whether this intervention works, or if it will join the long list of those that don’t.
The inclusion of social scientists at every stage of the process can make diversity training more than feel-good PR moves that are of little consequence. Yes, engaging the scholarly community will mean that the process will be slower. But as bias expert Brian Nosek said, if Starbucks and its corporate peers think interventions like this are worth doing, they should certainly think that it’s worth doing well."
Monday, April 16, 2018
China's Weibo reverses ban on 'homosexual' content after outcry; The Guardian, April 15, 2018
Lily Kuo, The Guardian; China's Weibo reverses ban on 'homosexual' content after outcry
"One of China’s largest social media sites, Sina Weibo, has reversed a ban on online content “related to homosexuality” after outcry from the country’s internet users.
On Friday, Sina Weibo said that for the next three months it would be removing comics and videos “with pornographic implications, promoting bloody violence, or related to homosexuality”. The internet company said the initiative was in an effort to “create a sunny and harmonious community environment” and comply with the country’s cybersecurity laws...
Many quoted China’s constitution and laws about the protection of minorities. One internet user referred to article 38 of China’s constitution which maintains that the “personal dignity” of Chinese citizens is “inviolable” and that insult directed against citizens is prohibited.
Others pointed out homosexuality was decriminalised in 1997 and in 2001 removed from the government’s list of mental disorders."
"One of China’s largest social media sites, Sina Weibo, has reversed a ban on online content “related to homosexuality” after outcry from the country’s internet users.
On Friday, Sina Weibo said that for the next three months it would be removing comics and videos “with pornographic implications, promoting bloody violence, or related to homosexuality”. The internet company said the initiative was in an effort to “create a sunny and harmonious community environment” and comply with the country’s cybersecurity laws...
Many quoted China’s constitution and laws about the protection of minorities. One internet user referred to article 38 of China’s constitution which maintains that the “personal dignity” of Chinese citizens is “inviolable” and that insult directed against citizens is prohibited.
Others pointed out homosexuality was decriminalised in 1997 and in 2001 removed from the government’s list of mental disorders."
Longing for the freedom not to hide myself; The Washington Post, April 15, 2018
Ria Tabacco Mar, The Washington Post; Longing for the freedom not to hide myself
"Ria Tabacco Mar is counsel of record for Charlie Craig and David Mullins in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.
Charlie Craig, one of the men that Masterpiece Cakeshop, a Colorado bakery, turned away because they are gay, said something about shopping for a wedding cake that stuck with me: “That day,” he said, “I really let my guard down.”
I knew exactly what Craig meant. Not just because he’s my client but because I keep my guard up most days, too — just like nearly every LGBT person I know."
"Ria Tabacco Mar is counsel of record for Charlie Craig and David Mullins in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.
Charlie Craig, one of the men that Masterpiece Cakeshop, a Colorado bakery, turned away because they are gay, said something about shopping for a wedding cake that stuck with me: “That day,” he said, “I really let my guard down.”
I knew exactly what Craig meant. Not just because he’s my client but because I keep my guard up most days, too — just like nearly every LGBT person I know."
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Watch: The Best Parts of the X-Men; Parade, April 5, 2018
Parade; Watch: The Best Parts of the X-Men
"Co-created by Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby in 1963, the X-Men are a group of mutants born with superhuman powers ranging from telepathy, flight and superhuman strength and agility, to the ability to absorb physical characteristics of others. Young X-Men hone their skills with the guidance of Professor Charles Xavier (aka Professor X). Unfortunately, they’re persecuted for being different, even though they fight interstellar battles against evil on the regular. Still, what kid wouldn’t want to attend Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters?
Among the first X-Men were Cyclops, Beast, Ice Man, Angel, Marvel Girl and Magneto. Other legendary heroes include Storm, Wolverine and Rogue. With so many heroes—and villains—in the X-Men universe, each going through their own internal struggle, nearly everyone can find a character to relate to."
"Co-created by Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby in 1963, the X-Men are a group of mutants born with superhuman powers ranging from telepathy, flight and superhuman strength and agility, to the ability to absorb physical characteristics of others. Young X-Men hone their skills with the guidance of Professor Charles Xavier (aka Professor X). Unfortunately, they’re persecuted for being different, even though they fight interstellar battles against evil on the regular. Still, what kid wouldn’t want to attend Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters?
Among the first X-Men were Cyclops, Beast, Ice Man, Angel, Marvel Girl and Magneto. Other legendary heroes include Storm, Wolverine and Rogue. With so many heroes—and villains—in the X-Men universe, each going through their own internal struggle, nearly everyone can find a character to relate to."
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