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[Axios] Former PlayStation worker sues gaming giant, alleges gender discrimination

In my industry it is dominated by men. Any women with the qualifications and can string two sentences together (a degree in math or science) will be hired instantly and competed for. I was told by one large company president when I was younger they only cared about retaining minorities. They had bad minority retention numbers and they were focusing on fixing that.
Yep. And it works the other way round too. You a man and want to work in a kindergarten or be a nurse? It's gonna be easy mode.
 

Tripolygon

Banned
Not even worth it.

Yep. And it works the other way round too. You a man and want to work in a kindergarten or be a nurse? It's gonna be easy mode.
Certain fields are like that based on how for decades certain groups of people were pushed towards those roles and fields. For years women were pushed towards nursing and Dr were men. I know lots of men who are nurses because of that now as hospitals try to hire more men into those fields.

When I was doing my clinical studies in medical laboratory science, it was literally only me and one other guy in the whole group of about 20.
 
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Amin_Parker

Member
FE5LVm-XoAUS1y2


https://www.axios.com/playstation-l...ion-6d3b5ef7-b34c-4e45-94e5-f6424983e8a7.html
I hope the young lady gets Justice and wins her case.
 

kingfey

Banned

Eight more women, former and current employees at Sony PlayStation, have added their accounts of sexist treatment to a proposed class-action lawsuit against the gaming giant.

Why it matters: The new declarations add to former IT security analyst Emma Majo’s assertion that PlayStation, like many other game companies, has long had a workplace culture that is hostile to women.

  • Majo filed a suit against PlayStation last November, not just for what she says is her own wrongful termination after complaining about sexism, but on behalf of all women who’ve worked for the company.
Sony denied Majo’s claims last month, asking a court to toss the lawsuit over the lack of specific facts.

  • Majo "fails to identify a single policy, practice or procedure at [PlayStation] that allegedly formed the basis of any widespread intentional discrimination or had a discriminatory impact on women,” Sony’s lawyers wrote at the time.
  • In response, Majo’s attorney yesterday filed statements from the eight women, including a current PlayStation employee.
The details: The women describe a range of behaviors across multiple U.S.-based PlayStation offices, including demeaning comments, unwelcome advances, a lack of attention paid to their work or ideas and, most frequently, a sense that it was harder for women to be promoted in the company.

  • Marie Harrington, a veteran of Sony Online Entertainment and Sony PlayStation for more than 16 years, cited a lack of women considered for senior roles during “calibration sessions.” During one session, she said, only four women were considered for promotions, compared to nearly 70 men. She described hearing comments about female candidates’ family lives that weren’t made about male candidates.
  • In a 2018 email to superiors regarding bullying by men at the company, Harrington linked to a New York Times article about women revolting against toxic males at Nike, asking, “Can we address this before PlayStation has its own national news article?”
  • Another woman cited a third-party study that found a “great imbalance in terms of employee distribution” in her team.
“I believe Sony is not equipped to appropriately handle toxic environments,” wrote Kara Johnson, a former program manager, in her statement.

  • She noted she was aware of 10 women who’d left her office in Rancho Bernardo, California, in the four months preceding her departure, a sign to her of systemic problems.
  • Her declaration includes a letter she shared with female employees when she left the company in January, citing repeated attempts to notify superiors about gender bias, alleged discrimination against pregnant women and resistance from a senior man in HR to act on these accounts.
Sony did not reply to a request for comment about the new assertions by press time.

What’s next: Yesterday’s filing met a deadline for replies to Sony’s attempt to drop the suit.

  • A hearing on that request won’t happen until next month, at the earliest.
 

Sentenza

Member
The women describe a range of behaviors across multiple U.S.-based PlayStation offices, including demeaning comments, unwelcome advances, a lack of attention paid to their work or ideas and, most frequently, a sense that it was harder for women to be promoted in the company.
My post history can witness I'm FAR from being a Sony fanboy, but this sounds like another nothing-burger.

"A bunch of women with a victim complex bitched that 'Being woman is some tough shit and men suck'. Everybody panic!
 

Kuranghi

Member
70 vs 4?
I think there is a big problem, when that much gets promoted, while the other side gets 4. You dont get almost 70 men to be qualified for promotion, while there are 4 women, who get those promotion.

What data exactly are you basing that on? Just a feeling? I'm not saying it couldn't be an actual real problem, but just thinking "oh this seems wrong to me" isn't really meaningful. No offence mate, I agree 70 vs. 4 seems like a large difference but then I don't have the context of the many factors involved, so I wouldn't say what you did.
 

The_Mike

I cry about SonyGaf from my chair in Redmond, WA
Didn't Ryan or someone from Sony taking a huge public stand against sexism around the Activision reveal, and said that such things as these would never find place at Sony?

Edit: partly found it.

"Ryan said he and the leadership were “disheartened and frankly stunned” to see that Activision Blizzard has “not done enough to address a deep-seated culture of discrimination and harassment.”
Ryan reportedly said they reached out to Activision immediately after the article was published, to express “deep concern” and ask how the company plans to address the claims made. “We do not believe their statements of response properly address the situation,” said Ryan.



Now this is in no way Ryan's fault, but it just backfires every time someone takes a stand. It always bites them in the ass.
Just say you disagrees with their actions instead of looking like a Saint.

Also fun to see how people in here react versus when kotick got heated up.
 
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kingfey

Banned
What data exactly are you basing that on? Just a feeling? I'm not saying it couldn't be an actual real problem, but just thinking "oh this seems wrong to me" isn't really meaningful. No offence mate, I agree 70 vs. 4 seems like a large difference but then I don't have the context of the many factors involved, so I wouldn't say what you did.
The problem is that only 4 women were promoted. That is 5% compared to men, who were 95%. At this age, such disparity shouldn't exist, especially with college education and other tools women have.
 

Notabueno

Banned
70 vs 4?
I think there is a big problem, when that much gets promoted, while the other side gets 4. You dont get almost 70 men to be qualified for promotion, while there are 4 women, who get those promotion.

Bullshit. I studied in very demander free-to-entry engineering school where they had positive discrimination for girl because there were too little in the STEM fields, but guess what? The number of women trying to enter or going for recruitment remained low because women just don't want to study in STEM fields. And it's not because they're not capable, but because some women are privileged, infantilized, spoiled c.....people.

There's no equal rights without equal responsibilities, and that's why I can bet there's just vastly less women interested in working at Sony than men.
 

Notabueno

Banned
I'm not saying this is not a problem, in fact what is described is pretty true in many structures. And I agree that the lack of hiring, consideration, promotion and representation is a problem.

But fuck the rest. The representation is far from being 50/50, and although it should probably be at least 70/30, most women are factually and statistically less interested in working in fields like STEM, tech or video games.

The rest, anything that is a remark, I don't tolerate hearing those infantilized, spoiled and privilege woman complaints. "Man-up" or give-up your majority status ie. being consider an adult AND responsible person.
 

Kuranghi

Member
The problem is that only 4 women were promoted. That is 5% compared to men, who were 95%. At this age, such disparity shouldn't exist, especially with college education and other tools women have.

You're saying "it shouldn't", but we don't know the data, you can't just say that. What does the year 2022 have to do with whether or not people deserve/ask for promotions?! Anyway, I don't want to argue with you, so lets agree to disagree on this one.
 

kingfey

Banned
I studied in very demander free-to-entry engineering school where they had positive discrimination for girl because there were too little in the STEM fields
Your answer to your question
The number of women trying to enter or going for recruitment remained low because women just don't want to study in STEM fields. And it's not because they're not capable, but because some women are privileged, infantilized, spoiled c.....people.
Its pathetic, that you didnt think what you typed clearly.

Why would the girls study in STEM field, when there is clear discrimination? You are the type that ignores these signs, and scream about it later.
 
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kingfey

Banned
You're saying "it shouldn't", but we don't know the data, you can't just say that. What does the year 2022 have to do with whether or not people deserve/ask for promotions?! Anyway, I don't want to argue with you, so lets agree to disagree on this one.
70/4 shouldnt happen at all. That is statically impossible for a company like Sony. Its just shows that women working there, aren't qualified for promotion, while their male coworkers gets promoted.
 

Kuranghi

Member
70/4 shouldnt happen at all. That is statically impossible for a company like Sony. Its just shows that women working there, aren't qualified for promotion, while their male coworkers gets promoted.

I'm sorry you don't understand. People should get promotions if their work shows they should and importantly if they actually ask for one, with the former evidence to back it up.
 

kingfey

Banned
I'm sorry you don't understand. People should get promotions if their work shows they should and importantly if they actually ask for one, with the former evidence to back it up.
I understand your point. People should get promoted for their work. But when you promote 70 men, and only 4 women, then that isnt promotion on skills.

That is the issue. The promotion process is a mess. There is no fair for women down there. Of all the women working on those offices, only 4 got the promotion ticket. It paints as the men there are alot better, than the women working there.

If you are women, how will you feel about these process? Do you think you stand a chance to get promoted?
 

Kuranghi

Member
I understand your point. People should get promoted for their work. But when you promote 70 men, and only 4 women, then that isnt promotion on skills.

That is the issue. The promotion process is a mess. There is no fair for women down there. Of all the women working on those offices, only 4 got the promotion ticket. It paints as the men there are alot better, than the women working there.

If you are women, how will you feel about these process? Do you think you stand a chance to get promoted?

Its not just "skills" or experience, or time put in. Its actually asking/pressing for the promotion because you think you deserve it as well. Women are traditionally less likely to think they deserve a promotion, or to ask for it, or be aggressive in the process if they do ask for it.

If I were a woman I'd work hard and ask for a promotion based on my hard work, then if I didnt get it I would reflect on why that might be.
 

Dr Bass

Member
I understand your point. People should get promoted for their work. But when you promote 70 men, and only 4 women, then that isnt promotion on skills.

That is the issue. The promotion process is a mess. There is no fair for women down there. Of all the women working on those offices, only 4 got the promotion ticket. It paints as the men there are alot better, than the women working there.

If you are women, how will you feel about these process? Do you think you stand a chance to get promoted?
You don't know that and you have zero insight into the company or process. You literally know nothing and here you are describing a broken process. Get your head out of your rear.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
70 vs 4?
I think there is a big problem, when that much gets promoted, while the other side gets 4. You dont get almost 70 men to be qualified for promotion, while there are 4 women, who get those promotion.
Without knowing the details (unless it's in the info and I didnt bother reading it), 70 vs 4 sounds huge, but it also comes down to how many men and women there are. I dont think PS divisions are so skewed to be men, but who knows.

I've worked in manufacturing and repair plants during university and on the shop floor and shipping bays there were literally zero women. Not one there to work the forklifts, lathes, internal cranes, or blast heater room. But there were a bunch in the office.

Pretty hard to promote women when they have none on the floor.
 
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kingfey

Banned
Its not just "skills" or experience, or time put in. Its actually asking/pressing for the promotion because you think you deserve it as well. Women are traditionally less likely to think they deserve a promotion, or to ask for it, or be aggressive in the process if they do ask for it.

If I were a woman I'd work hard and ask for a promotion based on my hard work, then if I didnt get it I would reflect on why that might be.
I am sorry, but that shouldnt be the case. If that was the case, then they wouldnt have put this lawsuit there. No fool believes that 70 men can go ask for promotion, while only 4 women ask for promotion. If the numbers were 15, that would have been somewhat on the grey line. But 4, that paints something different. It discourages other female employees, and that their contribution means nothing to the company.
 

Kuranghi

Member
I am sorry, but that shouldnt be the case. If that was the case, then they wouldnt have put this lawsuit there. No fool believes that 70 men can go ask for promotion, while only 4 women ask for promotion. If the numbers were 15, that would have been somewhat on the grey line. But 4, that paints something different. It discourages other female employees, and that their contribution means nothing to the company.

Right, you're calling me a fool now because I disagree with you when you don't even understand how to think critically or understand what I'm saying. Kindly shove off now please and don't reply to this message.
 

kingfey

Banned
Without knowing the details (unless it's in the info and I didnt bother reading it), 70 vs 4 sounds huge, but it also comes down to how many men and women there are. I dont think PS divisions are so skewed to be men, but who knows.

I've worked in manufacturing and repair plants during university and on the shop floor and shipping bays there were literally zero women. Not one there to work the forklifts, lathes, internal cranes, or blast heater room. But there were a bunch in the office.

Pretty hard to promote women when they have none on the floor.
Manual labor skews heavily towards men, while office heavily towards women. I have seen tons of women work on office, while more men worked on the floor.
For Sony, most of their work are office, were you will find alot of women on that field.
 

kingfey

Banned
Right, you're calling me a fool now because I disagree with you when you don't even understand how to think critically or understand what I'm saying. Kindly shove off now please and don't reply to this message.
I didnt call you a fool. That wasnt my intention.
 
"Eight more women come out to share their stories..."

What are the stories about?

The women describe a range of behaviors across multiple U.S.-based PlayStation offices, including demeaning comments, unwelcome advances, a lack of attention paid to their work or ideas and, most frequently, a sense that it was harder for women to be promoted in the company.

So hearsay and general stuff that isn't in any rationally conceivable way tantamount to sexism or discrimination?

Califonia? Why am I not surprised.... Your wokeism BS has bred a generation of self-entitled women who victimise themselves whenever they aren't placed on a high pedestal.

There is not a shred of tangible evidence of sexism or discriminatory policies in any of this. Just women using modern gender-identity politics/wokeism and the media to strongarm their employer into giving them a fat payout.

Hey, it's a proven formula and it works. Ask the US women's soccer team.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
I'm not saying this is not a problem, in fact what is described is pretty true in many structures. And I agree that the lack of hiring, consideration, promotion and representation is a problem.

But fuck the rest. The representation is far from being 50/50, and although it should probably be at least 70/30, most women are factually and statistically less interested in working in fields like STEM, tech or video games.

The rest, anything that is a remark, I don't tolerate hearing those infantilized, spoiled and privilege woman complaints. "Man-up" or give-up your majority status ie. being consider an adult AND responsible person.
100% true. It goes beyond STEM too. Basically any career field that requires someone to get dirty or slave away in the summer heat or winter cold (ie. construction work, garbage man etc...) is probably 90% guys. Maybe even more depending on the occupation and job site.

But amazingly(!!!), crossing guards seem 100% women. I don't think I've ever seen a guy do it.

The fact some people want 50/50 men and women in jobs doesn't even make sense because that view focuses on male dominated jobs. But female dominated jobs are left untouched where it's probably an 80/20 ratio for women (teaching, nursing, shopping mall jobs etc....). So cant have it both way keeping the ratio high in some sectors, but want 50/50 in other sectors. There wouldnt even be enough skilled woman to fill all the roles to hit these ratios based on performance. That's why they force it in with gender quotas.
 

Kuranghi

Member
I didnt call you a fool. That wasnt my intention.

Fair enough, but you wrote:

"No fool believes that 70 men can go ask for promotion, while only 4 women ask for promotion."

and I'm saying I believe that could happen. Ergo...

Anyway, peace to you man, lets leave it here.
 

rofif

Can’t Git Gud
"demeaning comments, unwelcome advances..."
What kind of accusations are that ?!
Of course you will have "unwelcome advances". You are a person, not a rock on the parking lot... someone going to flirt with you sooner or later.
I've not read too deep into this but I already have a mental image.
I work in a huge international company and there are always assholes. It's work.. with people. The company policy is open and I can't imagine it's different in playstation US. Most of HR managers are women too. They do not discriminate.
Depending what positions. We have many engineering positions open but most of people applying are men. It's just facts.
 

fallingdove

Member
70/4 shouldnt happen at all. That is statically impossible for a company like Sony. Its just shows that women working there, aren't qualified for promotion, while their male coworkers gets promoted.

Your narrative is flawed.

What's the distribution of men to women on those teams? If there were 74 employees total and 4 were women, and there are 10 promotions available, it's "statistically impossible" to promote the same number of women as men. And that's ignoring how qualified these people are.
 

McHuj

Member
The problem is that only 4 women were promoted. That is 5% compared to men, who were 95%. At this age, such disparity shouldn't exist, especially with college education and other tools women have.

These numbers are completely meaningless unless you know the totals. Was it 4 women out of 5 total and 70 men out of 70000? or was it 4 women out 10000 and 70 men out of a hundred that were promoted.
 

Dr Bass

Member
Manual labor skews heavily towards men, while office heavily towards women. I have seen tons of women work on office, while more men worked on the floor.
For Sony, most of their work are office, were you will find alot of women on that field.
This is just not true. Men go into engineering more. There were hardly ANY women/girls in my college courses back in the day. There is no "discrimination" on who is admitted, or who is to apply to those programs. There could be a number of reasons why that is the case, but it ain't discrimination.

Men also tend to put in longer hours at offices. Software engineering is a white collar job. If one group tends to put in longer hours who is more likely to get those promotions? And yes studies back this up.

And women complaining that they were "interrupted" and chalking it up to being a woman is stupid. Everyone gets interrupted, including every man who has had a job where discussions take place. Men are out there eating a shit sandwich every day of the week, just like everyone else. The idea that everything that inconveniences you or displeases you happens to you because you are a woman is absurd. I can't imagine going through life with that attitude.
 

kingfey

Banned
"No fool believes that 70 men can go ask for promotion, while only 4 women ask for promotion."
Its idiom for things that are hard to believe. You wrote that women are less to ask for promotion. That 70/4 pants something else.
for every 5-8 men, there should be 1 women. here its close to 18 per 1 women. For every 18 men, there is 1 women that got the promotion. It doesnt make a sense at all.
Only possible answer, is that the women working there are low, compared to men.
 
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