Community Guidelines

Community Guidelines and Anti-Harassment Policy for the Google for Startups Women Founders community

When you join our programs, you’re joining a community. And like any growing community, a few ground rules about expected behavior are good for everyone. These guidelines cover both online (e.g. mailing lists, social channels, virtual events) and offline (e.g. in-person events and meetups) behavior. Violations of this code of conduct can result in members being removed from the community. Use your best judgement, and if you’d like more clarity or have questions feel free to reach out.

Google is dedicated to providing a harassment-free and inclusive experience for everyone regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, religion, or other protected category. We do not tolerate harassment of event, program or community participants in any form. Google takes violations of our policy seriously and will respond appropriately.

All participants of Google events and programs, including in-person and online attendees of events and members of online communities, event staff, speakers, and Googlers, must abide by the following policy:

Be respectful to each other and the community. Treat everyone with respect. Participate while acknowledging that everyone deserves to be here — and each of us has the right to enjoy our experience without fear of harassment, discrimination, or condescension, whether blatant or via micro-aggressions. All forms of communication should not demean others. Consider what you are saying and how it would feel if it were said to you or about you.

Speak up if you see or hear something. Harassment is not tolerated, and you are empowered to politely engage when you or others are disrespected. The person making you feel uncomfortable may not be aware of what they are doing, and politely bringing their behavior to their attention is encouraged.

We have a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for in-person or online harassment of any kind, including but not limited to:

  • Stalking/following
  • Deliberate intimidation
  • Harassing photography or recording
  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events
  • Offensive verbal language
  • Verbal language that reinforces social structures of domination
  • Sexual imagery and language in public spaces
  • Inappropriate physical contact
  • Unwelcome sexual or physical attention
  • Physical or cyber threats

In relation to, but not limited to:

  • Neurodiversity
  • Race
  • Color
  • National origin
  • Gender identity
  • Gender expression
  • Sexual orientation
  • Age
  • Body size
  • Disabilities
  • Appearance
  • Religion
  • Pregnancy
  • Military status
  • Social demographic 

Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Our zero tolerance policy means that we will look into and review every allegation of violation of our Event Community Guidelines and Anti-Harassment Policy and respond appropriately. To report any behavior that makes you or others feel uncomfortable, visit your event's website to file a report to your event's organizers.

This policy extends to talks, forums, workshops, codelabs, social media, all attendees, partners, sponsors, volunteers, staff, etc. You catch our drift. Google reserves the right to refuse admittance to, or remove any person from, any Google hosted event (including future Google events) at any time in its sole discretion. This includes, but is not limited to, attendees behaving in a disorderly manner or failing to comply with this policy, and the terms and conditions herein. If a participant engages in harassing or uncomfortable behavior, the conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning or expelling the offender from the conference with no refund or blocking the offender’s account from participating online. 

In addition, we will review and act upon all complaints of inappropriate behavior or abuse of the community or its resources. This includes any online community groups, social media channels, communication channels, or any similar resources available in relation to any in-person or online events. We reserve the right to review and remove commentary that violates our policies, including those below. 

  • Don't spam or post fake reviews intended to boost or lower ratings.
  • Don't post or link to content that is sexually explicit or contains profanity.
  • Don't post or link to content that is abusive or hateful, or that threatens or harasses others.
  • Don't post or link to any file that contains viruses, corrupted files, "Trojan horses," or any other contaminating or destructive features that may damage someone else's computer.
  • Don't post any material that violates the copyrights or other intellectual property rights of others.
  • Don't impersonate any person, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.
  • Don't violate any other applicable law or regulation.
  • Don't use comments as a forum for advertisement.