Diversity Matters: Perceived Inclusion and Discrimination by Brazilian Tech Professionals
Resumo
Diversity and inclusion are widely recognized as essential drivers of innovation in software engineering. However, systemic inequalities and implicit biases remain persistent challenges. This study aims to explore how tech professionals in Brazil perceive inclusion, discrimination, and unconscious bias in the workplace. We surveyed 220 tech professionals, focusing on experiences of bias, perceptions of fairness, and the influence of organizational setting. The findings reveal that 95.2% of women experienced sexism, compared to 70.3% of men; 77.1% of non-white professionals identify racism as a key issue, while 61.5% of disabled professionals report experiencing ableism. Hybrid work models were associated with the highest reports of sexism (80%), while employees at smaller companies reported more frequent instances of ableism than those at larger ones. Despite widespread acknowledgment of discrimination, only 23% of respondents explicitly recognized the presence of unconscious bias in themselves. While most see their teams as diverse, leadership inclusion lags, especially for disabled (25.9%) and neurodivergent (36.4%) professionals. These results reveal persistent equity gaps and call for DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) strategies in Brazil’s tech sector.
Palavras-chave:
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, DEI Strategies, Software Engineering, Tech Industry, Brazil
Referências
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Edna Dias Canedo, Larissa Soares, Geovana Ramos Sousa Silva, Verônica Souza Dos Santos, and Fabiana Freitas Mendes. 2023. Do you see what happens around you? Men’s Perceptions of Gender Inequality in Software Engineering. In Proceedings of the XXXVII Brazilian Symposium on Software Engineering. 464–474.
Theo Canuto, Júlia Azevedo, Jessica Ribas, Anderson Uchôa, Larissa Rocha, and Juliana Alves Pereira. 2024. Diversity Matters: Perceived Inclusion and Discrimination by Brazilian Tech Professionals. [link]. Accessed: 2025-06-11.
Juliet Corbin and Anselm Strauss. 2014. Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. Sage publications.
Ronnie de Souza Santos, Cleyton VC de Magalhães, and Paul Ralph. 2023. Benefits and limitations of remote work to LGBTQIA+ software professionals. In 45th Int. Conf. on Software Engineering: Software Engineering in Society. IEEE, 48–57.
Ronnie de Souza Santos, Brody Stuart-Verner, and Cleyton VC De Magalhaes. 2023. Diversity in software engineering: A survey about scientists from underrepresented groups. In 16th Int. Conf. on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering. IEEE, 161–166.
Kiev Gama and Reydne Santos. 2024. It’s not all about gender: A Multidimensional Course Perspective on Diversity and Inclusion in Software Engineering Education. In Anais do XXXVIII Simpósio Brasileiro de Engenharia de Software (Curitiba/PR). SBC, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil, 487–498.
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Astrid C Homan and Yasmin Abbaszadeh. 2024. Obstacles for Marginalized Group Members in Obtaining Leadership Positions: Threats and Opportunities. Current Opinion in Psychology (2024), 101971.
V Hunt, S Dixon-Fyle, S Prince, and K Dolan. 2020. Diversity Wins: How inclusion matters. McKinsey & Company.
Karina Kohl and Rafael Prikladnicki. 2018. Perceptions on diversity in brazilian agile software development teams: A survey. In 1st Int. Workshop on Gender Equality in Software Engineering. 37–40.
Johan Linaker, Sardar Muhammad Sulaman, Martin Höst, and Rafael Maiani de Mello. 2015. Guidelines for conducting surveys in software engineering v. 1.1. Lund University 50 (2015), 1–64.
Anna Marques, Carla Bezerra, Marina Rocha, and Davi Viana. 2024. Grandes Desafios para Diversidade, Equidade e Inclusão (DEI) no Desenvolvimento de Software. In Anais do IX Workshop sobre Aspectos Sociais, Humanos e Econômicos de Software (Brasília/DF). SBC, 187–192.
Aryely Matos, Mario Patrício, Maria Isabel Nicolau, Edna Dias Canedo, Juliana Alves Pereira, and Anderson Uchôa. 2025. Data Privacy in Software Practice: Brazilian Developers’ Perspectives. Journal of Internet Services and Applications 16, 1 (2025), 299–319.
Álvaro Menezes and Rafael Prikladnicki. 2018. Diversity in software engineering. In 11th Int. Workshop on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering. 45–48.
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Jessica Ribas, Joanne Carneiro, Theo Canuto, Júlia Azevedo, Jailma Januario, Anderson Uchôa, and Juliana Alves Pereira. 2025. Pain in a Safe Space: Mapping Emotions and Discourse in the Womenintech Subreddit. In Brazilian Symposium on Software Engineering, Innovative Ideas and Emerging Results Track (SBES IIER).
Larissa Rocha, Edna Dias Canedo, Claudia Pinto Pereira, Carla Bezerra, and Fabiana Freitas Mendes. 2024. How does parenthood affect an ICT practitioner’s work? A survey study with fathers. Empirical Software Engineering 29, 6 (2024), 141.
Larissa Rocha, Edna Dias Canedo, Claudia Pinto Pereira, Carla Bezerra, and Fabiana Freitas Mendes. 2023. Investigating the Perceived Impact of Maternity on Software Engineering: a Women’s Perspective. In 2023 IEEE/ACM 16th International Conference on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering (CHASE). 138–149.
Thayssa Rocha, Nicole Davila, Rafaella Vaccari, Nicoly Menezes, Marcelle Mota, Edward Monteiro, Cleidson RB de Souza, and Gustavo Pinto. 2025. Affirmative Hackathon for Software Developers with Disabilities: An Industry Initiative. In 2025 IEEE/ACM 18th International Conference on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering (CHASE). IEEE, 39–50.
Gema Rodríguez-Pérez, Reza Nadri, and Meiyappan Nagappan. 2021. Perceived diversity in software engineering: a systematic literature review. Empirical Software Engineering 26 (2021), 1–38.
Andrea Rosales and Jakob Svensson. 2021. Perceptions of age in contemporary tech. Nordicom Review 42, 1 (2021), 79–91.
Ronnie de Souza Santos, Cleyton Magalhaes, Robson Santos, and Jorge Correia-Neto. 2024. Exploring Hybrid Work Realities: A Case Study with Software Professionals from Underrepresented Groups. In Companion of the 32nd ACM Int. Conf. on the Foundations of Software Engineering. 27–37.
Uta Schloegel, Sebastian Stegmann, Alexander Maedche, and Rolf Van Dick. 2018. Age stereotypes in agile software development–an empirical study of performance expectations. Information Technology & People 31, 1 (2018), 41–62.
Karina Kohl Silveira, Soraia Raupp Musse, Isabel Harb Manssour, Renata Vieira, and Rafael Prikladnicki. 2019. Reinforcing diversity company policies: Insights from stackoverflow developers survey. In 21st Int. Conf. on Enterprise Information Systems.
Bianca Trinkenreich, Ricardo Britto, Marco A Gerosa, and Igor Steinmacher. 2022. An empirical investigation on the challenges faced by women in the software industry: A case study. In 44th Int. Conf. on Software Engineering: Software Engineering in Society. 24–35.
Bianca Trinkenreich, Marco Aurelio Gerosa, and Igor Steinmacher. 2024. Unraveling the drivers of sense of belonging in software delivery teams: Insights from a large-scale survey. In 46th Int. Conf. on Software Engineering. 1–12.
United Nations Development Programme. 2023. Human Development Report. [link] Accessed: 2023-11-12.
Katherine Weisshaar, Koji Chavez, and Tania Hutt. 2024. Hiring Discrimination Under Pressures to Diversify: Gender, Race, and Diversity Commodification across Job Transitions in Software Engineering. American Sociological Review 89, 3 (2024), 584–613.
Claes Wohlin, Per Runeson, Martin Höst, Magnus C. Ohlsson, Björn Regnell, and Anders Wesslén. 2012. Experimentation in Software Engineering. Springer.
Fernando Delphino Neves Balbino. 2023. A percepção do profissional negro sobre os programas de diversidade racial e organizações de tecnologia da informação: uma análise junto aos profissionais de mercado. (2023).
Edna Dias Canedo, Larissa Soares, Geovana Ramos Sousa Silva, Verônica Souza Dos Santos, and Fabiana Freitas Mendes. 2023. Do you see what happens around you? Men’s Perceptions of Gender Inequality in Software Engineering. In Proceedings of the XXXVII Brazilian Symposium on Software Engineering. 464–474.
Theo Canuto, Júlia Azevedo, Jessica Ribas, Anderson Uchôa, Larissa Rocha, and Juliana Alves Pereira. 2024. Diversity Matters: Perceived Inclusion and Discrimination by Brazilian Tech Professionals. [link]. Accessed: 2025-06-11.
Juliet Corbin and Anselm Strauss. 2014. Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. Sage publications.
Ronnie de Souza Santos, Cleyton VC de Magalhães, and Paul Ralph. 2023. Benefits and limitations of remote work to LGBTQIA+ software professionals. In 45th Int. Conf. on Software Engineering: Software Engineering in Society. IEEE, 48–57.
Ronnie de Souza Santos, Brody Stuart-Verner, and Cleyton VC De Magalhaes. 2023. Diversity in software engineering: A survey about scientists from underrepresented groups. In 16th Int. Conf. on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering. IEEE, 161–166.
Kiev Gama and Reydne Santos. 2024. It’s not all about gender: A Multidimensional Course Perspective on Diversity and Inclusion in Software Engineering Education. In Anais do XXXVIII Simpósio Brasileiro de Engenharia de Software (Curitiba/PR). SBC, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil, 487–498.
Chloe Grace Hart. 2024. Tensions of Making Women’s Marginalization Salient in Men-Dominated Workplaces. Work and Occupations (2024), 07308884241268704.
Astrid C Homan and Yasmin Abbaszadeh. 2024. Obstacles for Marginalized Group Members in Obtaining Leadership Positions: Threats and Opportunities. Current Opinion in Psychology (2024), 101971.
V Hunt, S Dixon-Fyle, S Prince, and K Dolan. 2020. Diversity Wins: How inclusion matters. McKinsey & Company.
Karina Kohl and Rafael Prikladnicki. 2018. Perceptions on diversity in brazilian agile software development teams: A survey. In 1st Int. Workshop on Gender Equality in Software Engineering. 37–40.
Johan Linaker, Sardar Muhammad Sulaman, Martin Höst, and Rafael Maiani de Mello. 2015. Guidelines for conducting surveys in software engineering v. 1.1. Lund University 50 (2015), 1–64.
Anna Marques, Carla Bezerra, Marina Rocha, and Davi Viana. 2024. Grandes Desafios para Diversidade, Equidade e Inclusão (DEI) no Desenvolvimento de Software. In Anais do IX Workshop sobre Aspectos Sociais, Humanos e Econômicos de Software (Brasília/DF). SBC, 187–192.
Aryely Matos, Mario Patrício, Maria Isabel Nicolau, Edna Dias Canedo, Juliana Alves Pereira, and Anderson Uchôa. 2025. Data Privacy in Software Practice: Brazilian Developers’ Perspectives. Journal of Internet Services and Applications 16, 1 (2025), 299–319.
Álvaro Menezes and Rafael Prikladnicki. 2018. Diversity in software engineering. In 11th Int. Workshop on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering. 45–48.
Mona Mourshed, Ali Jaffer, Helen Cashman, Karen Salazar Ruiz, and Jennifer Sikes. 2021. Meeting the World’s Midcareer Moment. Generation, July (2021).
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. n.d.. Enterprises by business size. [link] OECD Data Explorer.
Igor Poncell and Kiev Gama. 2022. Diversity and inclusion initiatives in brazilian software development companies: Comparing the perspectives of managers and developers. In Proceedings of the XXXVI Brazilian Symposium on Software Engineering. 41–46.
Jessica Ribas, Joanne Carneiro, Theo Canuto, Júlia Azevedo, Jailma Januario, Anderson Uchôa, and Juliana Alves Pereira. 2025. Pain in a Safe Space: Mapping Emotions and Discourse in the Womenintech Subreddit. In Brazilian Symposium on Software Engineering, Innovative Ideas and Emerging Results Track (SBES IIER).
Larissa Rocha, Edna Dias Canedo, Claudia Pinto Pereira, Carla Bezerra, and Fabiana Freitas Mendes. 2024. How does parenthood affect an ICT practitioner’s work? A survey study with fathers. Empirical Software Engineering 29, 6 (2024), 141.
Larissa Rocha, Edna Dias Canedo, Claudia Pinto Pereira, Carla Bezerra, and Fabiana Freitas Mendes. 2023. Investigating the Perceived Impact of Maternity on Software Engineering: a Women’s Perspective. In 2023 IEEE/ACM 16th International Conference on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering (CHASE). 138–149.
Thayssa Rocha, Nicole Davila, Rafaella Vaccari, Nicoly Menezes, Marcelle Mota, Edward Monteiro, Cleidson RB de Souza, and Gustavo Pinto. 2025. Affirmative Hackathon for Software Developers with Disabilities: An Industry Initiative. In 2025 IEEE/ACM 18th International Conference on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering (CHASE). IEEE, 39–50.
Gema Rodríguez-Pérez, Reza Nadri, and Meiyappan Nagappan. 2021. Perceived diversity in software engineering: a systematic literature review. Empirical Software Engineering 26 (2021), 1–38.
Andrea Rosales and Jakob Svensson. 2021. Perceptions of age in contemporary tech. Nordicom Review 42, 1 (2021), 79–91.
Ronnie de Souza Santos, Cleyton Magalhaes, Robson Santos, and Jorge Correia-Neto. 2024. Exploring Hybrid Work Realities: A Case Study with Software Professionals from Underrepresented Groups. In Companion of the 32nd ACM Int. Conf. on the Foundations of Software Engineering. 27–37.
Uta Schloegel, Sebastian Stegmann, Alexander Maedche, and Rolf Van Dick. 2018. Age stereotypes in agile software development–an empirical study of performance expectations. Information Technology & People 31, 1 (2018), 41–62.
Karina Kohl Silveira, Soraia Raupp Musse, Isabel Harb Manssour, Renata Vieira, and Rafael Prikladnicki. 2019. Reinforcing diversity company policies: Insights from stackoverflow developers survey. In 21st Int. Conf. on Enterprise Information Systems.
Bianca Trinkenreich, Ricardo Britto, Marco A Gerosa, and Igor Steinmacher. 2022. An empirical investigation on the challenges faced by women in the software industry: A case study. In 44th Int. Conf. on Software Engineering: Software Engineering in Society. 24–35.
Bianca Trinkenreich, Marco Aurelio Gerosa, and Igor Steinmacher. 2024. Unraveling the drivers of sense of belonging in software delivery teams: Insights from a large-scale survey. In 46th Int. Conf. on Software Engineering. 1–12.
United Nations Development Programme. 2023. Human Development Report. [link] Accessed: 2023-11-12.
Katherine Weisshaar, Koji Chavez, and Tania Hutt. 2024. Hiring Discrimination Under Pressures to Diversify: Gender, Race, and Diversity Commodification across Job Transitions in Software Engineering. American Sociological Review 89, 3 (2024), 584–613.
Claes Wohlin, Per Runeson, Martin Höst, Magnus C. Ohlsson, Björn Regnell, and Anders Wesslén. 2012. Experimentation in Software Engineering. Springer.
Publicado
22/09/2025
Como Citar
SOUSA, Theo; AZEVEDO, Júlia; RIBAS, Jessica; UCHÔA, Anderson; ROCHA, Larissa; PEREIRA, Juliana Alves.
Diversity Matters: Perceived Inclusion and Discrimination by Brazilian Tech Professionals. In: SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE ENGENHARIA DE SOFTWARE (SBES), 39. , 2025, Recife/PE.
Anais [...].
Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação,
2025
.
p. 371-381.
ISSN 2833-0633.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/sbes.2025.9956.
