There are two ways to nullify a problem. 1. Solve it 2. Create another problem in equal magnitude and opposite direction.
Unfortunately, most countries/organisations seem to prefer second one, because it's easier and shows effect earlier, although over long period of time, it's going to be the worse one.
Do you believe it feasible for Google, or even a theoretical consortium of powerful companies like Google, to solve the gender, race, and socioeconomic inequalities in access to education and other resources that enable someone to work at such companies?
If yes, how?
If no, do you think it's better for them to attempt to compensate in a way that is feasible, or to do nothing?
They should solve the problems, instead of hiding the symptoms. They need to encourage women to enter tech field. This could be done at school level. They could ensure that women don't face harrasement at work. They could help women find jobs after a gap due to childbirth.
Find why women don't take admissions in STEM as much as men do. If there isn't any human-made reason, then let it be. Don't force equal numbers down the throat of deserving candidates.
What is currently going on in the world isn't going to solve the problem of race/gender based problems.
I think all these suggestions could help. But it seems highly unlikely that a single company (even a powerful one like Google) can categorically solve the problem through these methods.
The reason I asked about your view of feasibility here is that you seem to be arguing that Google (and others with diversity preference in hiring) are making the wrong choice. But the alternatives you seem to favor are not a real choice Google could execute. It's not like they thought about massively altering the perception and delivery of STEM education to all kids, figured out an effective affordable method to do that, and then just did diversity hiring instead because the VP of HR felt like it.
You could certainly make the argument that there's a better choice they could make, or that their apparent choices are doing more harm than good. But right now you're comparing against an impossible straw-man so it's hard to take the argument seriously.
>Do you believe it feasible for Google, or even a theoretical consortium of powerful companies like Google, to solve the gender, race, and socioeconomic inequalities in access to education and other resources that enable someone to work at such companies?
certainly. These companies have funds that can compete with entire country's governments. They can definitely do outreach at the elementary level and provide funds to entire towns, encourage an environment of tech, and more if they wished to.
Do they? no. mostly because these are long term solutions that do nothing in the now outside of a small PR boost. Doing this on a major scale may also cost them profits for a while, which would not reflect well on their stocks.
I know in my country when my city was founded, the industrial moguls invested and created schools to improve their workforce education (and thats for manufacture workers). I think that would be the right direction to take.
Look what happened in India. The brahmin were once the richest group and at the top of socio-economic ladder. Today, they are the poorest ones, at least in the state of Maharashtra. A major reason being that brahmins don't get job/education reservation or caste based scholarships as many others do.
That would be unique to Maharashtra due to Peshwa rule. Everywhere else Brahmin were mostly poor. My family is from Bihar and Brahmin caste. My grand parents lost four out of five children due to poverty. Luckily my grand Father got a job as coal miner and the families situation improved.
Nirdhan Brahmin has been a popular motif in Indian mythology and epics. Brahmins became victim of same kind of propaganda as happenings with Asians right now in SV.
If you believe that the status quo is systematically biased, you cannot meanignfully support equality without supporting action to correct the bias.