Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#1

Post by mattmanser » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 12:54 PM UTC

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3167412

First term I've heard this term is in a YC funded company recruitment post. I know I'm directly referring to a YC company's recruit post here, but someone did not switch their brain on when they posted that one.

Stating that you should be a fan of 'brogramming' to get a job comes across as blatant sexism to me. Especially given the pages that promote it at the moment.

Seriously, you're a company now, not a frat club. I'm not trying to spoil your fun, I'm sure that's your culture, but you just can't advertise for men only roles in this day and age.

I don't know the law in the US but over here in the UK these guys would be opening themselves up for a nasty lawsuit.

Re: Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#2

Post by jgrahamc » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 12:59 PM UTC

Perhaps, but more than that it's bloody stupid.

Re: Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#3

Post by michh » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 1:06 PM UTC

Yes it is. Sounds like it's not the kind of company I'd like to work for, so I guess in a way it's useful that they use that term.

Re: Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#4

Post by wisty » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 1:09 PM UTC

It also seems ageist. It sounds like it would exclude anyone more mature than Justin Bieber.

Re: Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#5

Post by klapinat0r » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 1:12 PM UTC

To answer your question, no, brogrammer isn't even a term.

Re: Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#6

Post by jgrahamc » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 1:12 PM UTC

wisty wrote: post #4

It also seems ageist. It sounds like it would exclude anyone more mature than Justin Bieber.

It's actually "anything but just like us-ist", and with the rest of the ad saying they won't accept someone who uses Windows, and starting with "PG loves us" and continuing "We like to party. We are laser focused on work, but expect to get crunk at least once a month" I'd steer clear.

They did one thing right though: they decided to be in stealth mode so we don't know who those fools are.

Re: Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#7

Post by ordinary » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 1:12 PM UTC

Is it sexist to refer to a male programmer as "brogrammer"? No.

Is it sexist to state you're only interested in hiring male programmers? Yes.

Re: Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#8

Post by cfontes » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 1:13 PM UTC

What does brogramming mean ? I'm from brazil and this word doesn't make sense to me...

Re: Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#9

Post by mrspeaker » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 1:14 PM UTC

I think you could argue that "brogrammer" is gender neutral. I also think that anyone advertising for a "brogrammer", ironically or not, are probably not going to have or attract software engineers who you could learn from.

Re: Ask HN: Is brogrammer a sexist term?

#10

Post by Maro » Fri, Oct 28, 2011, 1:16 PM UTC

cfontes wrote: post #8

What does brogramming mean ? I'm from brazil and this word doesn't make sense to me...

Bro is slang for brother, which in this context is supposed to mean (male) buddies. I guess "brogramming" is supposed to mean "programming with buddies".

These super-duper-cool-stealth-YC-startup job listings are becoming more idiotic every month.