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> ... things are great for women in high tech. Why do so many people keep insisting on believing that the problem is specific to the technology fields? Women

by curtis 9y ago

> ... things are great for women in high tech. Why do so many people keep insisting on believing that the problem is specific to the technology fields? Women face these kind of problems everywhere that they have to interact with men.

mikeash 9y ago
Who says it’s specific to technology? There are plenty of similar stories in other fields.
sulam 9y ago
4 is in the domain of real numbers. Does me talking about 4 somehow imply all the other real numbers aren't real? Yes, women face these kinds of problems in more than just computer science or technology in general. However this article and this post are talking specifically. Perhaps they feel that they cannot fix a problem that exists "everywhere" and are focused on their narrow slice of the domain. This does not prevent you from talking about other slices of the domain, or the entire domain, or working to reduce the problems women and others face in whatever piece of the domain you choose. Also, at the risk of producing a defensive reaction -- why do you believe that the poster believes the problem is specific to the technology fields? What in their statement leads you to the conclusion that they think this is an isolated problem?
longerthoughts 9y ago
While I think you're right that people generally like to pick on tech, I think the portion of the comment you're quoting was only referencing tech to make the hypothetical case more relatable to members of this community.
guskel 9y ago
For all we know, it happens less in tech but because the men are less attractive this kind of attention is more unwanted.
- gowld 9y ago
  If you know some women who trust you, you should ask them if they'd be happier being underpaid, professionally ignored, or groped in public my more attractive men.
- longerthoughts 9y ago
  So women like it when men get mad at them for being pregnant or imply that they're unqualified as long as the men are handsome?
- mcguire 9y ago
  Have you considered that you may be part of the problem?
aidenn0 9y ago
because nearly everyone in this discussion is in tech; while sexism in the hang-gliding community might be as bad or worse, I'm not part of the hang-gliding community so I can do less to affect it.
mcguire 9y ago
Because tech is new and likes to think of itself as better than that. "Look, we were harassed and discriminated against all through high school! We would never treat anyone like that."
gumby 9y ago
> Why do so many people keep insisting on believing that the problem is specific to the technology fields? Women face these kind of problems everywhere that they have to interact with men. Straw man? I prefer to think of it as "I work in tech and I am glad these issues are being publicised and (I hope) enough people think it's a big enough problem that finally it's being addressed, I hope seriously." I can't do anything about, say, mining, construction, advertising, film, retail...but I can have some influence in tech and life sciences businesses.
reuven 9y ago
I didn't mean to say that it only happens in high tech. But: (1) I'm in technology for 20+ years, and didn't know this sort of thing happens, and (2) Technology people often like to think that we're in a meritocracy, in which smart/good people do well, regardless of whether they're male or female. These stories, along with many others, have shattered my naivete. We're just as bad as everyone else -- and maybe worse -- and need to actively combat it.

by curtis 9y ago

mikeash 9y ago

Who says it’s specific to technology? There are plenty of similar stories in other fields.

sulam 9y ago

4 is in the domain of real numbers. Does me talking about 4 somehow imply all the other real numbers aren't real? Yes, women face these kinds of problems in more than just computer science or technology in general. However this article and this post are talking specifically. Perhaps they feel that they cannot fix a problem that exists "everywhere" and are focused on their narrow slice of the domain. This does not prevent you from talking about other slices of the domain, or the entire domain, or working to reduce the problems women and others face in whatever piece of the domain you choose. Also, at the risk of producing a defensive reaction -- why do you believe that the poster believes the problem is specific to the technology fields? What in their statement leads you to the conclusion that they think this is an isolated problem?

longerthoughts 9y ago

While I think you're right that people generally like to pick on tech, I think the portion of the comment you're quoting was only referencing tech to make the hypothetical case more relatable to members of this community.

guskel 9y ago

For all we know, it happens less in tech but because the men are less attractive this kind of attention is more unwanted.

gowld 9y ago
If you know some women who trust you, you should ask them if they'd be happier being underpaid, professionally ignored, or groped in public my more attractive men.
longerthoughts 9y ago
So women like it when men get mad at them for being pregnant or imply that they're unqualified as long as the men are handsome?
mcguire 9y ago
Have you considered that you may be part of the problem?

aidenn0 9y ago

because nearly everyone in this discussion is in tech; while sexism in the hang-gliding community might be as bad or worse, I'm not part of the hang-gliding community so I can do less to affect it.

mcguire 9y ago

Because tech is new and likes to think of itself as better than that. "Look, we were harassed and discriminated against all through high school! We would never treat anyone like that."

gumby 9y ago

> Why do so many people keep insisting on believing that the problem is specific to the technology fields? Women face these kind of problems everywhere that they have to interact with men. Straw man? I prefer to think of it as "I work in tech and I am glad these issues are being publicised and (I hope) enough people think it's a big enough problem that finally it's being addressed, I hope seriously." I can't do anything about, say, mining, construction, advertising, film, retail...but I can have some influence in tech and life sciences businesses.

reuven 9y ago

I didn't mean to say that it only happens in high tech. But: (1) I'm in technology for 20+ years, and didn't know this sort of thing happens, and (2) Technology people often like to think that we're in a meritocracy, in which smart/good people do well, regardless of whether they're male or female. These stories, along with many others, have shattered my naivete. We're just as bad as everyone else -- and maybe worse -- and need to actively combat it.