Ashton Kutcher’s plan to host an open dialogue on Facebook about gender equality in the workplace (and in tech in general) was met with both gratitude for his valiant effort and condemnation after he posted a list of talking points on LinkedIn Thursday.
As one Twitter user put it Saturday, “I HAVE TO believe we are getting PUNKED right now!! You ARE being strategic about these deliberate offensive questions right?”
What caused the hubbub? Here is Kutcher’s post and the questions that sparked the debate:
“Yikes. These are definitely *not* the right questions,” tweeted Joelle Emerson, CEO of Paradigm Strategy. “Most rely on flawed assumptions and perpetuate problematic myths. … They’re shockingly not the right questions. All the stuff about workplace flirting: gross. … The stuff suggesting women’s under-representation has only to do with the educational pipeline: not accurate. …”
They're shockingly not the right questions. All the stuff about workplace flirting: gross.
— Joelle Emerson (@joelle_emerson) July 7, 2017
The sure-to-be lively discussion will be live-streamed Monday morning on Facebook, where Kutcher will be joined by his partner at Sound Ventures, Effie Epstein. (Click here for updates.) These people below, however, will most likely have other plans.
I HAVE TO believe we are getting PUNKED right now!! You ARE being strategic about these deliberate offensive questions right?
I HAVE TO believe we are getting PUNKED right now!! You ARE being strategic about these deliberate offensive questions right?
— MCE Check-In (@mcecheckin) July 8, 2017
Your first questions about women involve dating in the workplace? Really?
— ninaf (@ninaf) July 8, 2017
This “aww shucks” is pathetic, acknowledge that your questions were insanely offensive, I refuse to believe you don’t know better.
— Marquita Thomas (@MarquitaThomas) July 8, 2017
you learn from “wrong”, but these questions cause damage. I wish you had talked to women in tech before posting questions publicly
— Hadas Kress-Gazit (@HadasKressGazit) July 8, 2017
Women are not in the workplace to be dated. They are not there for you. So get over yourself and address real questions, like, why do you
— Melody D Gruber (@TheMerodu) July 9, 2017
already assume fr the get-go that women’s ideas are lesser than men’s?? Why do you think that diversity lowers quality? This is the problem.
— Melody D Gruber (@TheMerodu) July 9, 2017
Although Kutcher received mixed reviews from social media users about his line of questioning, he remained open-minded and even apologetic for offending some people.
“Thank you everyone for the feedback on the questions I posted on LinkedIn. Good and bad. Already a learning experience,” he tweeted Saturday. “Looking to host an open live conversation on Monday morning on my FB page about gender equality in the work place. … I’ve already offended some folks by asking the wrong questions. I’m certain given the sensitivity of the topic I will say other things wrong. … Hope we can find space to be wrong in the pursuit of getting it right. … We have centuries of ground to make up in a short order & I don’t want the basics to be off limits. some clearly don’t yet get the basics.”
thank you everyone for the feedback on the questions I posted on LinkedIn. Good and bad. Already a learning experience.
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) July 7, 2017
Looking to host an open live conversation on Monday morning on my FB page about gender equality in the work place
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) July 7, 2017
I've already offended some folks by asking the wrong questions. I'm certain given the sensitivity of the topic I will say other things wrong
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) July 7, 2017
Hope we can find space to be wrong in the pursuit of getting it right.
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) July 7, 2017
We have centuries of ground to make up in a short order & I don't want the basics to be off limits. some clearly don't yet get the basics.
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) July 7, 2017