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I believe there are quite a few people who give out possibilities as to why that is, but they seem to have theories that many people just don't want to hear. I

by talmand 11y ago

I believe there are quite a few people who give out possibilities as to why that is, but they seem to have theories that many people just don't want to hear. I would like to know why you think the possibility that "women just aren't interested in tech" is ridiculous on its face? I would think it would be easy to find out such things with general surveys of young men and women as they leave high school and enter college age to determine their career interests, has no one done this?

untog 11y ago
I imagine those surveys would show that women are less likely to be interested in tech. That's likely because of various cultural and societal norms that will have already influenced them long before they leave high school. So, do we try to be proactive about making up that difference, or do we just throw up our hands and say "well, it's society!". These things are cyclical. More prominent women in tech will influence more high school girls to get involved in tech, who will influence the generation beneath them, etc. etc. - it just needs a kickstart, that's all.
- talmand 11y ago
  Your response is exactly what I wanted to see, that the problem is not solely a tech culture problem. Too bad that many would rather go straight into attack mode on the tech industry instead of actually discussing the many varied, and sometimes subtle, problems that are presented with this topic. I, for one, am being proactive today with my daughters before they are even in middle school. But, alas, I often feel real lonely as I'm attempting to do this at the same time people are attacking my chosen career; labeling me as part of the problem.
akiselev 11y ago
Can't speak for the parent but for me the actual supposition that "women just aren't interested in tech" itself isn't farcical, but the epistemological basis for making that claim in this day and age absolutely is. You can take all the surveys you want of billions of people but until you have a deep understanding of the sociological and psychological landscape you can't demonstrate that womens' collective "disinterest" in tech is anything but a facade resulting from some unknown variable or an out of control feedback loop (i.e., what if the impact of a girl seeing a 2:1 ratio of men to women in her favorite field leads to a death spiral where it ends up being 9:1 despite equal interest?)
- talmand 11y ago
  Again, another response of what I was hoping to see. That the problem is bigger than just tech culture.

by talmand 11y ago

untog 11y ago

I imagine those surveys would show that women are less likely to be interested in tech. That's likely because of various cultural and societal norms that will have already influenced them long before they leave high school. So, do we try to be proactive about making up that difference, or do we just throw up our hands and say "well, it's society!". These things are cyclical. More prominent women in tech will influence more high school girls to get involved in tech, who will influence the generation beneath them, etc. etc. - it just needs a kickstart, that's all.

talmand 11y ago
Your response is exactly what I wanted to see, that the problem is not solely a tech culture problem. Too bad that many would rather go straight into attack mode on the tech industry instead of actually discussing the many varied, and sometimes subtle, problems that are presented with this topic. I, for one, am being proactive today with my daughters before they are even in middle school. But, alas, I often feel real lonely as I'm attempting to do this at the same time people are attacking my chosen career; labeling me as part of the problem.

akiselev 11y ago

Can't speak for the parent but for me the actual supposition that "women just aren't interested in tech" itself isn't farcical, but the epistemological basis for making that claim in this day and age absolutely is. You can take all the surveys you want of billions of people but until you have a deep understanding of the sociological and psychological landscape you can't demonstrate that womens' collective "disinterest" in tech is anything but a facade resulting from some unknown variable or an out of control feedback loop (i.e., what if the impact of a girl seeing a 2:1 ratio of men to women in her favorite field leads to a death spiral where it ends up being 9:1 despite equal interest?)

talmand 11y ago
Again, another response of what I was hoping to see. That the problem is bigger than just tech culture.