In an increasingly digitalized world, the intersection between technology and society is impossible to ignore. The impact of technology on race and ethnicity is multifaceted, creating opportunities for connection and representation, while simultaneously reinforcing biases and systemic inequities. Recent research published in the Communications of the ACM in March 2022 sheds light on how race, ethnicity, gender, and age influence the experiences of engineers within tech companies, particularly during code reviews. This is just one of the many ways that technology intersects with race and ethnicity.
The Digital Divide
First and foremost, the digital divide remains a pressing concern. Racial and ethnic minorities often have less access to technology. This limits their ability to participate in the digital world, hindering opportunities for education, employment, and access to essential services.
Online Discrimination and Hate Speech
The dark underbelly of the internet reveals itself in the form of online discrimination and hate speech. Platforms that could serve as spaces for connection and understanding can instead become echo chambers for discrimination.
Representation in Media
Though the internet could serve as a space for diverse representation, mainstream media often remains homogenous. However, platforms like YouTube and social media offer alternative spaces for representation.
Algorithmic Bias
Algorithmic biases can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and discrimination. For example, facial recognition technology has been less accurate in identifying people with darker skin tones.
Employment Opportunities and Workplace Bias
Employment opportunities in technology can be limited for racial and ethnic minorities. The tech industry has been criticized for its lack of diversity. A recent peer-reviewed article titled The Pushback Effects of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Age in Code Review published in the Communications of the ACM reveals that biases based on race, ethnicity, gender, and age affect how engineers’ contributions are received and evaluated during code reviews. The study is grounded in role congruity theory, suggesting that when stereotypes about a group misalign with the perceived qualities necessary for a role, members of that group will receive negative evaluations.
The article highlights that code reviews authored by women, as well as people who identify as Black, Hispanic, or Latinx, are more likely to face negative evaluations compared to those authored by White men. Additionally, older engineers are likely to experience negative reviews due to stereotypes about reduced productivity and adaptability with age.
Educational Inequality
Technology’s role in education can be a double-edged sword. While it has the potential to enhance learning experiences, it can also exacerbate existing inequalities. Students from marginalized racial and ethnic backgrounds may not have access to the necessary technology for remote learning or may lack digital literacy skills.
Cultural Preservation and Sharing
On a positive note, technology enables the preservation and sharing of cultural heritage. Indigenous communities, for example, use technology to document and share their languages and traditions.
Health Disparities
Healthcare is yet another area where technology can either bridge or widen gaps. Telemedicine and health apps have the potential to make healthcare more accessible but may not be equally accessible or culturally sensitive to all racial and ethnic groups.
Surveillance and Racial Profiling
Technology in surveillance can be used in ways that disproportionately target and impact racial and ethnic minorities. This includes the deployment of technologies like facial recognition in neighborhoods with higher concentrations of minority populations.
Political Mobilization and Activism
Lastly, technology has played a pivotal role in organizing social movements centered on racial and ethnic issues, such as Black Lives Matter. These technologies can amplify the voices of marginalized communities.
In conclusion, as technology becomes increasingly ingrained in our daily lives, it is imperative to critically examine and address
its impacts on various racial and ethnic groups. The double-edged nature of technology means that while it holds the potential for positive change, it can also perpetuate and sometimes exacerbate existing inequalities. From the digital divide to workplace bias, the interplay between technology and race/ethnicity is complex and multifaceted. As we move forward, creating inclusive, fair, and representative technological environments should be a priority for all stakeholders involved.