AnitaB.org takes steps to protect attendees at this year’s Grace Hopper Celebration

AnitaB.org has announced new measures it’s taking to avoid a repeat of the debacle at last year’s Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC).

The nonprofit organization’s annual event to support the advancement of women and nonbinary technologists, was named for computing pioneer Rear Admiral Grace Hopper. It combines conference sessions with an expo and job fair.

At GHC 2023, the job fair was invaded by large numbers of men, some of whom had lied about their gender identity when registering, and who monopolized recruiters from large tech employers, butting into line and preventing the conference’s target attendees from getting interview slots. Attendees reported being physically pushed, demeaned, and sexually harassed by some of the men.

In a LinkedIn post after the conference, AnitaB.org pledged to address the problem. It said, “We are dedicated to bringing structural changes to ensure that GHC continues to be an uplifting experience and provides opportunities for women and non-binary technologists.”

A tale of two events

Bo Young Lee, president of AnitaB.org advisory, said this week in an email interview, “GHC 23 was a tale of two events. Those conference attendees who largely participated through attendance at sessions and talks had the same joyful, celebratory, and community-based experience that GHC has come to be known for.

“The most problematic behavior we witnessed was concentrated in our Expo Hall. It was there that we had a minority of attendees, mostly students and male, engage in aggressive behavior that violated our code of conduct.”

Lee cited three factors for this that the organization’s subsequent investigation revealed:

• A scarcity mindset brought on by reduced recruiting at universities and colleges that, Lee said, resulted in a larger number of job seekers than in previous years and “resulted in more aggressive behavior than we’ve seen in the past.”
• A larger number of male job-seeking attendees than in years past. “These male attendees were not at GHC to participate in any of the content sessions, and instead stayed fixed in the Expo Hall,” Lee said.
• Coordinated efforts: An investigation conducted after GHC 23 revealed that there was a coordinated effort by far-right anti-DEI groups “to undermine and disrupt GHC, both in person and online.”

Actions for GHC 2024

“Our commitment to inclusivity remains strong, focusing on engaging members, participants, and attendees who support the advancement of women, nonbinary technologists, and the LGBTQIA+ community,” AnitaB.org said in a recent email to members. “Our goal is to ensure that everyone involved in our celebration feels safe and valued.”

The email outlined a list of process changes for GHC 24, which will be held October 8 – 11 both virtually and in person in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that the organization believes will prevent the recurrence of last year’s issues.

First, it is modifying its registration procedure to require valid ID, such as a driver’s license, when registering. It will also require proof of student status if appropriate.

But, Lee said, “GHC has always been open to women, nonbinary, and ally technologists. We will never discriminate against who can buy a registration and participate.”

At the event, there will be stricter badge checks and ID verification for entry to the venue, as well as when entering the expo. In addition, attendees will be assigned to timed expo entry groups to allow everyone to experience the expo without having to fight crowds.

Finally, an update to the code of conduct holds everyone accountable for behavior that aligns with the organization’s mission. Attendees must agree to abide by it when registering.

Lee said there will also be enhanced cybersecurity monitoring to detect any coordinated efforts early, so they can be dealt with, and onsite security personnel to handle problems that might arise at the venue. These measures were created in consultation with external security consultants, local law enforcement, and cybersecurity consultants.

Why events like GHC are needed

The events at GHC 23 underscore the need for industry events aimed at underrepresented communities as a means to build and develop diverse talent, said Erin Pierre, principal analyst at Gartner.

“Our research has shown that women make up nearly half of the global workforce, and they only represent about 26% of IT employees. I’m not sure what the numbers are for nonbinary talent, but the numbers show us that more than half — a majority, at least — of IT employees are predominantly male,” she said. “So these types of events, where women and nonbinary talent can come together and learn and develop their skill sets and get some networking opportunities or even potential interviewing opportunities, are incredibly important.”

A spokesperson for QueerTech, an organization that focuses on breaking down barriers, creating spaces, and connecting communities to support and empower 2SLGBTQ+ people to thrive, agreed.

“At QueerTech we recognize that many industries — including the tech industry — have been shaped by and for cisgender men, resulting in a system that largely overlooks and excludes diverse communities. This systemic bias has created significant barriers for underrepresented communities, including members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, ranging from discrimination and a stark lack of representation, to limited access to mentorship and professional networks,” they said in a statement. 

“Equity is not about treating everyone the same; it’s the recognition that existing barriers require varying levels and types of support in order to ensure fair and equal access to opportunities,” the QueerTech spokesperson added.

Creating safe event and career-building environments is crucial to empowering underrepresented communities, they said. “In order to create safe, equitable environments, we must always remember who it is we aim to serve, thoroughly understand their lived experiences and barriers to success, and work tirelessly to ensure these values, and understandings, are reflected in every single programming decision.”

It is all the more jarring for participants when a supposedly safe environment turns out not to be, as happened at GHC 23.

Said Pierre, “When something like this happens, it is usually a symptom of a larger issue. So even if we could wave our magic wand and magically change this, and they could change the celebration for this year to be a little more safe and inclusive, we still have a larger issue at play here. And that’s why it feels so catastrophic when it happens, because really what this shows us is that there’s still a severe lack of resources and opportunities for female and nonbinary talent.”

Organizations need to do a better job of attracting and retaining a diverse workforce, Pierre added. We need to look at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as something that benefits everyone, not just  female and nonbinary talent, she noted, since many of the things that make an employer attractive for underrepresented groups, including flexibility, work-life balance, and development opportunities, are good for all employees.

“I think we need to have more of an actionable approach and making sure that we’re really embedding DEI into our overall culture,” she said.