Google Fires Guy Who Wrote Gender Memo

A male Google engineer who authored a controversial memo on why he thinks women aren't suited to tech jobs is now searching for new employment. James Damore confirmed to Bloomberg that he was fired for "perpetuating gender stereotypes" and that he's "currently exploring all possible legal remedies." In the memo, which can be seen in full here, Damore argued that pursuing diversity policies was "unfair, divisive, and bad for business," partly because of biological differences like female "neuroticism" that he believes explain the gender gap in the technology world. The memo circulated widely among employees. In internal discussion posts seen by Bloomberg, many employees supported the firing.

Google declined to comment on the firing, but CEO Sundar Pichai addressed the controversy in a memo to employees Monday, the Guardian reports. "Our job is to build great products for users that make a difference in their lives," he wrote. "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK." Pichai also addressed concerns about employees now feeling unable to "safely express their views," saying people should feel free to express dissent. He said some of the issues raised in the memo "such as the portions ... questioning the role of ideology in the workplace" are "important topics" that people should feel free to discuss. (More Google stories.)