> please recognize the determination it takes to make it that far > ...it's easier to get hired as female engineer because of diversity quotas... I had seen b

> please recognize the determination it takes to make it that far > ...it's easier to get hired as female engineer because of diversity quotas... I had seen both of these play out through my partner. She was consistently invited to interview for positions significantly ahead of her experience at the time. She declined these offers on ethical grounds, but it did seem that the surface area of opportunities was expanded because to her gender and age. Conversely, when she did choose a new role well within her bulletproof expertise, she would be systematically harassed and undermine by otherwise well-meaning people. For example, she's had a dotted-line manager suggest a threesome (in writing, over WhatsApp), offers to work from the client's office because "we need a girl there" (this would make the company look better), and changes to her briefings to sound "...maybe less you" (she had spent years doing conflict resolutions and suicide hotline counseling). Both points can be true at the same time: women in tech (or finance, or law, or consulting) may have more options presented, but almost none of them are healthy. Working as a female seems to provide the same advantages as going out as a disabled - yes, you have special parking offers and can get to the front door quicker, but no-one will swap places with you.