I recently had to pleasure to attend and speak at a SASIG event on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. Thank-you Martin Smith for being a champion in this space.
It did start to make me think a lot about how much actual progression we have made in this space within the cyber security community as such wanted to share a few thoughts…
As a first-generation British born Indian, I have grown up in a very mixed world. A son of immigrant parents, who like a like a lot of people in the 50’s and 60’s came to the United Kingdom to seek out better opportunities for themselves and their families. They faced hardship, worked whatever jobs they could find to provide and support their children. However, they came with hope and determination, from washing dishes, to packing biscuits or becoming a television repair man (that was a job!) my father still found a way to fund university get an engineering degree to become part of a team that designed control systems for military aircraft and then a very successful career in telecommunications sector and investment banking. My mum who was already highly educated at the time became a UK civil servant and worked for the Customs and Excise for many years. All this while they had three kids (I was not born yet!)
Times were different though they may have been welcomed as part of an effort to ensure the successes of the Commonwealth, as a person of Indian decent, your options were still quite limited and as a woman even more so. Asking them about their experiences I was quite surprised to find out though they may have experienced prejudice it was never overtly expressed, it was an undertone, snide remarks, insensitive jokes, accepted racism “you are one of us” type of commentary “not one of them” inference to other people of colour that may not have been part of that social group. The most surprising thing however was when they moved out of London to a small rural town in the south west, my mum described people as welcoming and helpful, it got me thinking about my experiences growing up in the same town. Which on reflection was very different to theirs.
I have experienced personal and professional prejudice for most of my life. Be that for the colour of my skin, the fact that I am dyslexic, I do not have a university degree or that I am not a “cultural fit” within an organisation (anyone know what that actually means - if so please tell me"). I have been racially abused in public, had bottles thrown at me, been spat at, been chased by hate groups for using local shops. The City is no better, where for people of colour, there is some acceptance - that you will be insulted, abused or looked at in a certain way. Treated differently, being kicked by a trader (in an Investment Bank) for not giving him is password! Being verbally abused by senior managers in group meetings, racially insulted in the work place and when you raise a complaint somehow its your fault! I have also never had a manager that looks like me! (of Indian decent) and that is also quite telling of our industry. People of colour tend to have to prove themselves, find a way to be socially acceptable, work twice as hard and some times for half the pay. I have lost opportunities because of name!
A lot of us do not and will not speak up, out of fear of relation, persecution, representational damage (you are a trouble maker) and loss of earnings – the silence I think is more damming, as bullies will keep on at you and that’s all these people are!…the thing is, I have never really spoken up about them before. As a child we were bought up with the values and ideals that our parents bought with them from India, very simply, about family, community, respect (and for us as kids a very confusing religious and spiritual practise), we did not answer back (to much anyway) as you understood the consequence, we did not argue, we did not interrupt, though strict, it was a family full of love and care. They never taught us about being insular or closed, but integrated. That is a social dilemma a lot of British Asians can probably relate to – you are kind of leading a double life. And it can get exhausting
Times have changed so drastically the social norm of expression can be one of hate even in a professional setting, which is just unacceptable and we need to do more, to challenge the systems we all work in, to be better educated and informed about our cultural differences, not to be socially / politically correct, maybe just be correct. Sharing some of experiences has made me realise that they only way we can make change is by calling out those that are trying to keep us down, that are trying to keep us silent, that have not taken responsibility for their actions – but I hope it will also inspire young people of colour (and old) to speak up, share their stories, to bridge gaps in communities, be the example, not the punchline.
Why the article headline! Well it’s a complicated business understanding the universe, right? How many of you would in your spare time read up on quantum theory? Or the state of particles or how groups of particles interact in such a way that the quantum state of each particle cannot be described independently from others! Okay that is a Wikicheat – but as a certified science fiction geek, I just want someone to hurry up a build a transporter!
My point is this. Our understanding of physics and all it wonders will evolve but it is complex and confusing and takes time…..For those of you without a voice, know that you are not alone. Speak up or speak to me, always happy to help anyone, not just people of colour, but if my experience has taught me anything don’t let it slide. Be the change you want to be right! So have things improved, maybe, maybe not. Its hard to tell but my experience tells me there is still hope for humanity (and Jedi's of course!)