4 ms·

As a women in tech, I very much agree with you. However, i've never had sexual harassment in work, but I do have it in public a few times a year so I do know h

As a women in tech, I very much agree with you. However, i've never had sexual harassment in work, but I do have it in public a few times a year so I do know how it feels. I'm not sure if it makes a difference but i've been coding every week from the age of 13 (i'm 23 now). I've genuinely have next to always never felt anything but respect from my Male/Female colleagues. I'm a bit of a tom-boy though :). On the rare occasion I ever felt I was not being taken seriously, I worked twice as hard to show and prove to them why I should be. Okay, fair enough, I shouldn't have to do that but I don't really care, it is what it is, I like the challenge and i'd rather provide evidence through my produced work than argue for ages about crap that won't get me anywhere. Or complain and blame others. My life is in my control. And it's not just being female that means I have to do that - people from different ethnic origins will do, people who have disabilities will do to prove their worth. It's just life.

kbart 11y ago
I'm only talking from my personal experience, but IT is one of the most welcoming field for women as it's mostly skill and abilities that matters. Those few women I've encountered at the university or professional career were really respected by their male peers, and I've never heard any single sexist negative remark (not to mention harassment attempts) during these years. Of course, there are a$$holes and jerks everywhere - IT is not an exception - but blaming a whole group (namely white males) based on few anecdotal evidences is just another stereotyping. I live/work in Europe, so maybe situation is different on the other side of a pond, I don't know. IMHO, the reason there are few women in tech is fairly simple -- most girls don't like hard science and I don't believe it has something to do with stereotypes or cultural influences, but that's another topic. And it's not just being female that means I have to do that - people from different ethnic origins will do, people who have disabilities will do to prove their worth. As a white male, I'd argue that everyone (at least those, who are on their own) has to prove their worth, especially in a junior position. Taking into account your young age, I guess you fit in this category as well. P.S. it's always nice to see a girl interested in coding, good luck and may your skills guide your career, not complaints and threats!
- LifeQuestioner 11y ago
  Aye :). I'm not a Junior btw (at 15 I was developing websites, optimising java bytecode using Bcel and writing AI - I don't mean this as bragging, I was working with way more intelligent people than I). I didn't learn much in university in respect to programming because of that... However, that may explain something there - people will probably look at my age and assume i'm a Junior =). A natural assumption really. The difference in social conditioning for girls is quite an interesting topic =) (in random comment to the lack in hard-science).
  - sridca 11y ago
    > The difference in social conditioning for girls is quite an interesting topic =) It would be interesting to hear self-aware women speak about on this topic. From what I understand, generally speaking girls for whatever reason prefer (be they via social conditioning or instinctual preference or a combination of both) to play with dolls, as opposed to boys who play with trucks ... as the former, playing with dolls, is indicative of early development of social relationships (people manipulation, to put crudely) while the later, playing with trucks, is indicative of early development of object manipulation ... and this stems from the fact that men and women evolved to fulfill different instinctual roles (sperm is cheap, eggs are expensive).
    - LifeQuestioner 11y ago
      I'm a female who hated playing with dolls - they were boring. I didn't play with trucks or other toys either. I preferred hands on or sports stuff - bike riding, tree climbing, football, computer gaming(but not television which I could never stand). I required activities which were more mentally stimulating, otherwise my behaviour became destructive. I'm quite lucky though as I was encouraged to do the things I was enjoyed - my female cousins were not. When their brothers went bike riding, she was told she had to stay home and make cakes. When she asked for gifts for Christmas she didn't get them because they were not socially acceptable for females, so she got dolls. So, how many choose them because they genuinely like them? And how many choose them because it's enforced and they think it's the social thing to do? How many disney films are all about finding one true love to take care of you?
huherto 11y ago
> On the rare occasion I ever felt I was not being taken seriously,... Also don't forget that we as men often feel the same. Not all of us are super confident. I would say most aren't. And we are also bullied and pushed around.

kbart 11y ago

I'm only talking from my personal experience, but IT is one of the most welcoming field for women as it's mostly skill and abilities that matters. Those few women I've encountered at the university or professional career were really respected by their male peers, and I've never heard any single sexist negative remark (not to mention harassment attempts) during these years. Of course, there are a$$holes and jerks everywhere - IT is not an exception - but blaming a whole group (namely white males) based on few anecdotal evidences is just another stereotyping. I live/work in Europe, so maybe situation is different on the other side of a pond, I don't know. IMHO, the reason there are few women in tech is fairly simple -- most girls don't like hard science and I don't believe it has something to do with stereotypes or cultural influences, but that's another topic. And it's not just being female that means I have to do that - people from different ethnic origins will do, people who have disabilities will do to prove their worth. As a white male, I'd argue that everyone (at least those, who are on their own) has to prove their worth, especially in a junior position. Taking into account your young age, I guess you fit in this category as well. P.S. it's always nice to see a girl interested in coding, good luck and may your skills guide your career, not complaints and threats!

LifeQuestioner 11y ago
Aye :). I'm not a Junior btw (at 15 I was developing websites, optimising java bytecode using Bcel and writing AI - I don't mean this as bragging, I was working with way more intelligent people than I). I didn't learn much in university in respect to programming because of that... However, that may explain something there - people will probably look at my age and assume i'm a Junior =). A natural assumption really. The difference in social conditioning for girls is quite an interesting topic =) (in random comment to the lack in hard-science).
- sridca 11y ago
  > The difference in social conditioning for girls is quite an interesting topic =) It would be interesting to hear self-aware women speak about on this topic. From what I understand, generally speaking girls for whatever reason prefer (be they via social conditioning or instinctual preference or a combination of both) to play with dolls, as opposed to boys who play with trucks ... as the former, playing with dolls, is indicative of early development of social relationships (people manipulation, to put crudely) while the later, playing with trucks, is indicative of early development of object manipulation ... and this stems from the fact that men and women evolved to fulfill different instinctual roles (sperm is cheap, eggs are expensive).
  - LifeQuestioner 11y ago
    I'm a female who hated playing with dolls - they were boring. I didn't play with trucks or other toys either. I preferred hands on or sports stuff - bike riding, tree climbing, football, computer gaming(but not television which I could never stand). I required activities which were more mentally stimulating, otherwise my behaviour became destructive. I'm quite lucky though as I was encouraged to do the things I was enjoyed - my female cousins were not. When their brothers went bike riding, she was told she had to stay home and make cakes. When she asked for gifts for Christmas she didn't get them because they were not socially acceptable for females, so she got dolls. So, how many choose them because they genuinely like them? And how many choose them because it's enforced and they think it's the social thing to do? How many disney films are all about finding one true love to take care of you?

huherto 11y ago

> On the rare occasion I ever felt I was not being taken seriously,... Also don't forget that we as men often feel the same. Not all of us are super confident. I would say most aren't. And we are also bullied and pushed around.