Brogrammer

"Brogrammer" or "tech bro" are slang terms often used to label a stereotypically masculine programmer. Brogrammer is a portmanteau of bro and programmer. It is often used pejoratively, but some programmers self-describe themselves as a brogrammer positively as a word for "sociable or outgoing programmer", and it also tends to represent a subculture within the greater tech industry.[1][2] An example sometimes cited of targeted advertising toward "brogrammers" is an early Klout hiring advert posted at a Stanford University career fair as "Want to bro down and crush some code? Klout is hiring." The company later described it as a joke and as an unfortunate misstep.[1][3]

Brogrammer culture has been said to have created an entry barrier based on adherence to the image presented by its participants, rather than ability.[4] It can be viewed as antithetical to geek culture, which emphasizes ability and passion for field over image.[5]

Effects on participation of women in computing

In a 2015 interview, Megan Smith, then-President of the United States Barack Obama's top policy adviser on technology, said to an audience gathered at Capitol Hill that tech companies acknowledge that their hiring of women is less than stellar; however, "despite promises to do better, only those that make it a top priority will see progress." Smith also noted brogrammers culture as a contributing factor to the issue.[6]

In a dissenting article in Gizmodo, Sam Biddle argues that the sexist effect of the brogrammer culture has actually been overblown by the press.[7] He does not deny that there are "brogrammers", rather he argues that "the brogrammer as phenomenon is mythology, a fairytale figure conjured up by the confused and outmoded to explain progress in an old and stodgy industry." Whether or not the "brogrammer effect" is significant, many new initiatives have arisen that seek to promote women in computer science and counter hostile culture.

Political alignment

People labelled tech bros often have strong support for free speech, rejecting the use of censorship even on misinformation and hate speech.[8] The term has been used on the Democratic primary candidate Andrew Yang,[9] Republican large donor Peter Thiel, and alt-right thinker Curtis Yarvin.[10]

Due to the label being applied to increasingly broader demographics, including those without a clear tie to the technology industry and across the political spectrum, it has been suggested that the term has lost its meaning and only distracts the conversation. [11]

See also

References
  1. MacMillan, Douglas (2012-03-01). "The Rise of the 'Brogrammer'". bloomberg.com. Businessweek. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  2. "'Brogrammer' Definition". PCMag.com. PC Magazine. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  3. Gross, Doug (7 May 2012). "In tech, some bemoan the rise of 'brogrammer' culture". CNN. CNN. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  4. Parviainen, Mia L. (22 September 2008). "The Experiences of Women in Computer Science: The Importance of Awareness and Communication". Human Architecture: Journal of the Sociology of Self-Knowledge. 6 (4). Retrieved 27 August 2016 – via scholarworks.umb.edu.
  5. "the definition of geek". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  6. Kang, Cecilia (2015-07-09). "Obama's top tech adviser takes fight for Silicon Valley diversity to Washington". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  7. Biddle, Sam (2012-05-07). "There's No Such Thing as a Brogrammer". Gizmodo.com. Gizmodo. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  8. Alter, Charlotte. "Elon Musk and the Tech Bro Obsession With 'Free Speech'". Time. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  9. Freedlander, David (21 January 2021). "'It's Everyone Against Andrew Yang'". Intelligencer. New York Magazine. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  10. "Tech-Bros and Techno-Utopias: A Darts and Letters Mini-Series – Darts & Letters".
  11. Edelman, Gilad. "Stop Calling Everyone a Tech Bro". Wired.

Further reading
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