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Sexism and Inequality Are No Match Against Google Employees

| Ingrid Gorospe
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On November 1st, thousands of employees and engineers of Google from around the world walked out on their jobs. This bold move marks an important time in the tech giant’s life: People are protesting the company’s way of handling workplace harassment, inequality, and executives accused of sexual misconduct.

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Getty Images

Starting in Asian countries, the walk-off was scheduled at 11:10 in the morning across varying time zones. The hashtag #GoogleWalkout was used by protesters and supporters alike on social media to help spread the word. @GoogleWalkout is a Twitter account solely and specifically created for this momentous event. The protest began in the east, with Tokyo, Zurich, Singapore, Berlin, Israel, London, and Haifa first. At 11:10 AM in the states, Google employees based in Massachusetts, New York City, Toronto, Montreal, San Francisco took their stand. The walkout culminated at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California.

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Getty Images

The protest was meant to capture public interest and shed light with the goings on within the company. Aptly named “Walkout for Real Change,” the timing of the protest couldn’t have been more perfect. The walkout came seven days after a story broke about the sexual misconduct allegations against Andy Rubin, the creator of the Android software. The New York Times posted the story.

In the report, Google is alleged to have received approximately $90 million in severance in 2014. The company doesn’t categorically deny the allegations, but Rubin has made it clear through a tweet that the report is full of inaccuracy and has denied everything. Richard DeVaul, the director at a Google-affiliated lab responsible for the self-driving vehicles, was also dragged into the same report. Details of sexual misconduct allegations were revealed and Google has since confirmed on Wednesday that DeVaul resigned on Tuesday without any severance.

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Getty Images

Google employees have been on the fence whether the company and its executives have truly been vigilant in their efforts to eradicate harassment and sexual misconduct since Rubin’s departure. With the walkout a clear success, it is very obvious that Google needs to step it up and adhere to Alphabet Inc.’s mandate to “do the right thing”. Among the supporters is Silicon Valley congresswoman Jackie Speier. Using the haghtag #MeToo, Speier voiced her support via tweet. In a statement she said that she is one with the Google employees and engineers that spearheaded the protest.

 The Wisdom Segment

  • I The American Revolution happened between the years 1765 and 1783. The aim of the conflict, pushed by the thirteen American colonies against Great Britain, was to gain independence through the creation of a sovereign nation. With the help of France, America eventually triumphed in this objective.
  • II American colonists who supported the fight for independence were called "patriots." Conversely, those who sided with the British crown, whose soldiers were called redcoats, or devils, were referred to as loyalists. Many of those who did not take sides in the war were called fence sitters.
  • III One of the leading causes of the American Revolution was summarized in the slogan, no taxation without representation, wherein American colonists believed it to be illegal for them to be affected by laws enacted in British parliament without their input.
  • IV Being taxed without proper representation was deemed oppressive, and this prompted the start of many protests. In turn, this led to the Boston Massacre, euphemistically referred to by the British as "the Incident on King Street in 1770," where British soldiers shot and killed protesters while being harassed in Boston.
  • V The Whig Party opposed constitutional monarchism in parliament. They also criticized the British government for their corrupt practices. Then a political faction, they also refused to support the use of military force against the colonists to resolve the problems which had given rise to the American Revolution.
  • VI During the American Revolution, some African-American slaves were enticed to fight in favor of the British who, in turn, promised liberty to those who supported the loyalist forces. Since some slaves chose to fight alongside their masters, this meant there were African-Americans on both sides of the conflict.

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