Ubisoft Mentorship Program ‘Develop At Ubisoft’ Discriminates Against Males Based On Their Sex
So... It's been discovered that Ubisoft has been running a mentorship program for years, called: “Develop at Ubisoft” - Supposedly aimed at increasing diversity and inclusivity in the gaming industry. However, the reality is, the program's a clear exclusion of males, seemingly in violation of U.S. anti-discrimination laws... Though they're main HQ is based in Canada, where I guess anything flies?
On the official website, Ubisoft states:
At Ubisoft, we want to build the most creative, diverse and inclusive teams, and that's exactly what Develop at Ubisoft is all about: empowering and supporting under-represented genders.
The program provides mentorship opportunities for women and non-binary individuals (students or fresh graduates with less than 2 years of experience), interested in video games to develop their skill set in Game Design and Programming. We want to empower you to learn, grow, and become the very best developer that you can be.
This mentorship program is accessible to aspiring talents in multiple countries, including Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Vietnam, and the USA.
Join us at Develop at Ubisoft and embark on a transformative journey toward a more diverse and inclusive future for the gaming industry.
The program offers mentorship opportunities exclusively for “women and non-binary individuals” aiming to gather students or fresh graduates from a specific demographic with less than two years of experience who are interested in game design and programming.
Blatant Discrimination Against Males
The program’s eligibility requirements make it clear that one must “identify as a woman or a non-binary individual” to participate, excluding all males from the opportunity. Given that the program is open to candidates in the United States, it raises some potential questions about its compliance with U.S. laws, which prohibit discrimination based on sex.
The fact that Ubisoft openly discriminates against males in this way is not only legally questionable... but also appears contrary to the company’s stated goal of fostering "inclusivity and diversity".
The following screenshot of the "Develop at Ubisoft" mentorship program clearly shows this exclusionary policy in the "Eligibility Criteria" section:
The program has been running for at least four years, with a previous blog post celebrating the experiences of past mentees and mentors stating
“For the fourth year in a row, the Develop at Ubisoft mentorship program helped promising women and non-binary talents shape their dream career in gaming.”
Ubisoft proudly notes that 90 mentors from 19 studios have welcomed 90 mentees, but nowhere on the program does it mention opportunities for any male candidates.
A Hypocritical Approach to Mentorship
Ironically, Ubisoft’s Senior Vice President of Production Technology, Guillemette Picard, who sponsors the program, attempted to underscore the importance of mentorship by reflecting on her own experiences with male and female mentors. Picard stated:
“I’ve had great mentors over the years – men and women who helped me grow and shape my professional experience”
Her message highlights the benefits of inclusive mentorship... yet Ubisoft’s current program actively excludes half the population. Weird.
The exclusionary nature of this program appears to be part of Ubisoft’s broader “Project Rise” initiative, a strategy focused on gender equality, racial and ethnic diversity, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and disability inclusion... But, as expected, the focus on promoting certain demographics over others seems to contradict the company's claim of fostering a truly inclusive environment... But hey, anything to push an agenda, as hypocritical as the expected outcome is.
Declining Performance Amid Controversial Policies
As I've covered previously, ironically, since Ubisoft’s "Project Rise" initiative began, the company’s stock has suffered dramatically. Over the past five years, Ubisoft's stock has dropped nearly 85%, and in the last year alone, it has fallen by 60%. Yesterday alone it fell another 10%.
And shoutout to ThatParkPlace.com for the heads up on how this trend coincides with a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, which questioned the effectiveness of so-called “woke” policies on business growth. The report cited a study by McKinsey that originally touted the financial benefits of diversity policies, but whose methods have since been called into question.
James Mackintosh, writing for the Wall Street Journal, noted:
“Academics have tried to repeat McKinsey’s findings and failed, concluding that there is in fact no link between profitability and executive diversity. And the methodology of McKinsey’s early studies, which helped create the widespread belief that diversity is good for profits, is being questioned.”
Ubisoft’s declining stock performance is most likely a reflection of the broader skepticism regarding these "diversity"-driven business strategies.
The Impact of Exclusionary Practices on Ubisoft’s Reputation
Ubisoft’s decision to exclude males from its mentorship program raises serious questions about its commitment to true diversity and inclusivity. If the company’s aim is to create an environment that embraces diverse perspectives, it must reconsider policies that inherently discriminate against individuals based on sex. Ironically, trying to be diverse by including only a certain segment of the population, naturally creates division.
As Ubisoft continues to navigate the challenges of inclusivity in the gaming industry, it faces increasing scrutiny from both the public and investors. With its stock in freefall and the company struggling to regain its footing... it's time for Ubisoft to rethink its approach—one that genuinely reflects the diverse world its players come from, without falling into the trap of exclusionary practices that undermine its credibility and legal standing.
But then again, this is Ubisoft we're talking about...
~Smash
Women and non-binaries only, huh? Explains why all their games are trash, 🤣.
As far as I'm concerned, men should THANK Ubisoft for the exclusion. They'll enter into mentorships and programs that will help promote good product in the industry, while all the "stronk wahmen" and non-binaries cry and rage on X when their franchises tank.
Win-win, in my opinion.
Well, off to bankruptcy they go