Well-intentioned questions, unconscious biases: Mareike Lisker launches an archive of subtle discouragement

Often, just a few words or skeptical questions are enough to discourage people from pursuing a career in computer science. Questions like “You do realize there’s a lot of math involved, right?” “Computer science? I never would have thought that of you!” or “Are you sure that’s the right path for you?” may seem innocent, but could plant seeds of doubt and discourage girls and women in particular from pursuing a career in IT. How often such discouragement takes place and what impact it has often goes unnoticed—the “Archive of Subtle Discouragement” aims to change that.

The “Subtle Discouragement” Archive collects seemingly isolated experiences in which people were subtly discouraged, thereby revealing the structural level underlying these instances of discouragement. The archive’s goal is to work with those affected to show that they are not alone in their experiences. At the same time, it uncovers structural patterns and invites people to formulate alternative responses—for a more positive exchange: “My goal is to make computer science a field where everyone feels welcome and valued,” says Mareike Lisker, explaining her motivation behind the project.

Anyone who has personally experienced subtle discouragement is invited to share their experiences on the website and participate in the anonymous survey, which examines when and where such subtle discouragement occurs most frequently.

The project was funded by the Gender and Diversity Network of the Einstein Center Digital Future.