Studio of Stories

Tatiana Mac gave a strong and thought-provoking talk at a #PerfMatters conference in 2019 on the pervasive influence of systematic privilege in the tech industry. Tatiana urged the audience to confront their biases, admit their privilege and take actionable efforts to deconstruct obstacles that perpetuate unfairness through a combination of personal tales, historical context and practical tools. This blog post will reflect on the key takeaways from her talk and offer suggestions for how we can all work together to make the tech industry more inclusive and just. 

Understanding Privilege 

Tatiana’s discussion focused on the topic of privilege. Often misinterpreted as a binary construct – “you have it or you don’t”. Tatiana notes that privilege is more complicated than that. It is not only about what we have, rather, it’s about the systematic advantages that some groups experience over the others. These advantages are not earned, they are provided by structures that are designed to sustain the status quo. 

Using a “Privilege Block” metaphor, she demonstrated how characteristics such as race, gender, physical ability and socioeconomic status provide certain individuals with an advantage while creating barriers for others. Tatiana depicted privilege as a “wall” that some must scale, but others may never even see. It’s a stark reminder that privilege determines where we start, not just how hard we work. 

The Role of Bias in Tech

Tatiana’s critique of bias in technology was both sobering and enlightening. She highlighted how our biases, which are frequently unconscious, manifest in the products we create. For example: 

• Accessibility failures: More than 80% of websites fail basic accessibility tests such as acceptable contrast and descriptive alt text. These are not technical challenges, but examples of neglect that were caused by focusing on able-bodied, neurotypical experiences. 
• Racial bias in AI: From soap dispensers that fail to recognize darker skin tones to self-driving cars that are more likely to hit Black pedestrians, prioritizing white, Western experiences has potentially fatal repercussions.
• Cultural bias in design: Tools and gadgets are often optimized for American and European audiences while ignoring the needs of users in other parts of the world. 

By pointing out these examples, Tatiana demonstrated that prejudice in technology is a systematic issue rather than an individual failing. It occurs when we focus on our own experiences and fail to engage with others whose realities differ from ours. 

Why Meritocracy is a Myth 

Tatiana also deconstructed the myth of meritocracy, the idea that success is solely the result of talent, effort and achievement. She brought up Lyft’s IPO, which made it’s co-founder a billionaire, while the average driver makes less than the minimum wage. This disparity shows that wealth and success are frequently linked to privilege, not talent. For people working in tech, this myth could be particularly harmful. It reduces people’s awareness of the systematic challenges that under-represented groups face and encourages complacency. Recognizing the importance of privilege in achievement is about taking responsibility rather than feeling guilty or ashamed. As Tatiana stated, “Privilege isn’t my fault but it is my responsibility”. 

Tatiana’s talk was both a critique and a call to action. Here are some practical steps she shared for addressing privilege in the tech industry: 

Confront Your Privilege: Reflect on the ways privilege has influenced your life and career. Use Tatiana’s “Privilege Plugin” to identify areas where you have systematic advantage. 

Acknowledge Your Bias: Bias is not a human flaw, rather, it is the result of systematic conditioning. Takings tests like Harvard’s “Impicit Association Test” can help identify hidden biases and start the process of unlearning.

Broaden Your Perspective: Consume media, literature and artwork created by members of marginalized communities. As Tatiana demonstrated with the Pixar short film “Bao”, not every tale will be tailored for you, and that’s good! The idea is to broaden your understanding. 

Trust, Don’t Empathize: Often, empathy centers on one’s own perspective. Instead, trust other people’s lived experiences, even if they differ from your own. 

Share Power: Diversity is more than welcoming marginalized voices to the table; it is also about handing over the keys. Advocate for leadership chances for under-represented groups and support policies that redistribute power.

Commit to Accessibility: Accessibility benefits everyone. To develop truly inclusive experiences, ensure that your products meet the basic criteria while also going beyond compliance.

Choosing the Red Pill

Tatiana concluded her talk with a choice: accept the “blue pill” and continue disregarding your privileges or take the “red pill” and commit to confronting bias and breaking down systematic barriers. Importantly, she emphassed that this is not a one-time decision. Every action, pull request, and conversation represents an opportunity to take the red pill. 

If you are a member of a tech industry, you bear a particular responsibility to ensure that the tools and platforms you create do not perpetuate harm. By admitting your advantage, confronting your biases and actively trying to create equitable instructions, you can help dismantle the “wall” of systematic privilege and create a future in which everyone has the opportunity to succeed. The journey is messy, uncomfortable and humbling, but as Tatiana reminded us, it is the right thing to do.If you want to lear more about Tatiana Mac and her work on inclusion, equity and accessibility in tech, make sure to visit her website at tatianamac.com.