A Seat at the Virtual Table: Emergent Inclusion in Remote Meetings

The shift to virtual has changed our society and left an impact on nearly every part of our lives. Although it brought many challenges, global remote access also opened up a world of educational and professional opportunities for many people who did not have them before. In this work, we detail the findings of a study collecting feedback on inclusivity in virtual, in-person, and hybrid spaces, with the goal of building a greater understanding of the issues and personal challenges faced by access and equity stakeholders. From a survey of 104 individuals and detailed interviews with 12, we have used a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to discover key challenges. The diversity of experiences and opinions was striking, with many winners and losers going into the virtual space. We propose some modifications to the online environment and in-person practices with the aim of furthering equality.