Unfortunately most technology companies see empathy as a ‘soft’ and overtly feminine skill that’s downgraded compared to the ‘hard’ skills of engineers.
The tech industry traditionally favours individuals who are systemisers — these are people who are able to work with hierarchies, processes and complex inanimate systems.
The reason that empathy is often colloquially described as ‘putting yourself in someone else’s shoes’ is because our clothing is more than just some things we buy to cover ourselves up.
Parmar’s book The Empathy Revolution
will be published on May 26th.
