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is there a reason why it seems women almost exclusively work in management* type roles and not production roles? It could be that this website is bias with who

is there a reason why it seems women almost exclusively work in management* type roles and not production roles? It could be that this website is bias with who it listed and the roles they're in, but assuming it isn't and this is a representative sample: why are women in tech startups always management? *management of people and things, positions I saw listed: account manager, executive assitant, marketing director, vp of communications, product manager, director of marketing, public relations, never developer or engineer or designer.

msutherl 15y ago
In my humble Experience, and I don't posit any particular mechanism, women, on the whole (with exceptions) excell in areas that befit a good manager. Such areas may include understanding intuitively others' needs, knowing how to create a productive, energizing or otherwise desirable environment, understanding and responding to the respective energy levels of others and being aware and dealing with, in an organized manner, the gestalt. Whether this is an atrefact of culture, genetics, my limited exposure or any mix, I do not know, but in my life this has proven strongly to be the case and women I have spoken to have attested to it. Were I starting a company, I would look specifically for people with the aforementioned qualities and I imagine I would likely find them most often during my search in women. This, I hope, does not produce in any way the undue perpetuation of harmful discrimination. But all this to say, it is not a mere coincidence -- it happens that way for a reason.
- parfe 15y ago
  "Such areas may include understanding intuitively others' needs, knowing how to create a productive, energizing or otherwise desirable environment, understanding and responding to the respective energy levels of others and being aware and dealing with, in an organized manner, the gestalt." Let's watch as HN votes up blatant sexism! Why don't you finish up your analysis with how women can't code because they think emotionally instead of logically? And if you're going to spout sexist nonsense, at least have the courage to avoid couching it in weasel terms like "In my humble Experience" and "I do not know, but in my life this has proven strongly to be the case" and hiding behind "women you know". Community support for the above post is a great example of the hostile environments that cause less women participate in tech. Sexism as exemplified above should be crushed on sight. Not reinforced with up-votes or ignored.
  - _buxo 15y ago
    Care to offer your analysis of the parent comment's question in terms that you don't deem sexist? Msutherl offered anecdotes of his experience, and I don't think that their statements were offensive unless you think females should be completely immune to all attempt at generalisation.
    - parfe 15y ago
      >I don't think that their statements were offensive unless you think females should be completely immune to all attempt at generalisation. Generalizing women is sexism the same as generalizing black people is racism. Edit: And to add some random education, Men and Women have the same ability to read the emotions of others: "men as a group aren't poor "everyday mind readers"; they are simply unmotivated ones. If you want men to show you how well they can compete with women in "reading" other people's minds, just pay them for it!" http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/everyday-mind-reading/200901/where-is-womens-intuition http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/everyday-mind-reading/20... Women's intuition is no more effective than Men's intuition.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
mkramlich 15y ago
... and with that the gender debate will be rehashed for the millionth time. i wish this topic was verboten on HN.

msutherl 15y ago

In my humble Experience, and I don't posit any particular mechanism, women, on the whole (with exceptions) excell in areas that befit a good manager. Such areas may include understanding intuitively others' needs, knowing how to create a productive, energizing or otherwise desirable environment, understanding and responding to the respective energy levels of others and being aware and dealing with, in an organized manner, the gestalt. Whether this is an atrefact of culture, genetics, my limited exposure or any mix, I do not know, but in my life this has proven strongly to be the case and women I have spoken to have attested to it. Were I starting a company, I would look specifically for people with the aforementioned qualities and I imagine I would likely find them most often during my search in women. This, I hope, does not produce in any way the undue perpetuation of harmful discrimination. But all this to say, it is not a mere coincidence -- it happens that way for a reason.

parfe 15y ago
"Such areas may include understanding intuitively others' needs, knowing how to create a productive, energizing or otherwise desirable environment, understanding and responding to the respective energy levels of others and being aware and dealing with, in an organized manner, the gestalt." Let's watch as HN votes up blatant sexism! Why don't you finish up your analysis with how women can't code because they think emotionally instead of logically? And if you're going to spout sexist nonsense, at least have the courage to avoid couching it in weasel terms like "In my humble Experience" and "I do not know, but in my life this has proven strongly to be the case" and hiding behind "women you know". Community support for the above post is a great example of the hostile environments that cause less women participate in tech. Sexism as exemplified above should be crushed on sight. Not reinforced with up-votes or ignored.
- _buxo 15y ago
  Care to offer your analysis of the parent comment's question in terms that you don't deem sexist? Msutherl offered anecdotes of his experience, and I don't think that their statements were offensive unless you think females should be completely immune to all attempt at generalisation.
  - parfe 15y ago
    >I don't think that their statements were offensive unless you think females should be completely immune to all attempt at generalisation. Generalizing women is sexism the same as generalizing black people is racism. Edit: And to add some random education, Men and Women have the same ability to read the emotions of others: "men as a group aren't poor "everyday mind readers"; they are simply unmotivated ones. If you want men to show you how well they can compete with women in "reading" other people's minds, just pay them for it!" http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/everyday-mind-reading/200901/where-is-womens-intuition http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/everyday-mind-reading/20... Women's intuition is no more effective than Men's intuition.

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

mkramlich 15y ago

... and with that the gender debate will be rehashed for the millionth time. i wish this topic was verboten on HN.