Part of the problem is that every time the fact that it needs discussing is brought up, there's a group of reactionaries that turns it into a fight -- thus not

Part of the problem is that every time the fact that it needs discussing is brought up, there's a group of reactionaries that turns it into a fight -- thus not giving us a chance to have that conversation without it turning into a brawl. You don't even have to be belligerent about it. Just say "maybe we should discuss the gender imbalance in tech and startups" in a public forum, and you're guaranteed a flamewar.