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I fully agree that we need more women in technical fields and that the social stigmas that work against this should be slowly eliminated. (Slowly because it can

I fully agree that we need more women in technical fields and that the social stigmas that work against this should be slowly eliminated. (Slowly because it can't happen instantaneously, not because slower is better.) However, I'm going to disagree with something with a little bit of the other stuff. Let's assume that "I knew I wasn’t very good at CS..." is true, and that this isn't just modesty. Then work harder and learn more and practice more and code more and study more! Make yourself good at CS! Don't let yourself use your gender as a crutch or let it hinder you. Earn what you get because of what you know and can do. Don't accept the 'special treatment' you claim you are getting because you are a woman. Perhaps I'm missing the main point the article's trying to make. If anyone wants to give a concise to the point couple sentence summary I'd appreciate it.

breadbox 14y ago
Women are stringently socialized to be modest, far more so than men, particularly in domains that are seen as "men's work". So your starting assumption isn't very safe. And while "work harder and learn more" is good advice, it's generic advice! Everyone should be doing that, all the time. Even if you're at the top of your CS class; you won't stay there if you rest on your laurels. Finally, there's no reason to think that she used her gender as a crutch. It's very easy for anyone to feel that they're getting special treatment when they get their first professional job. Breaking into a field, any field, frequently requires pulling strings, taking advantage of connections, or just plain good luck. I know I certainly did when I got my first programming job. When that happened, my peers congratulated me and expressed confidence that I would quickly prove to my employer that they were right to hire me. Not one person speculated to my face that I probably got the job just because I was an upper-middle-class white male. Even though they would have been FAR more justified making that (obnoxious and unfounded) assumption than the one described in this article.

breadbox 14y ago

Women are stringently socialized to be modest, far more so than men, particularly in domains that are seen as "men's work". So your starting assumption isn't very safe. And while "work harder and learn more" is good advice, it's generic advice! Everyone should be doing that, all the time. Even if you're at the top of your CS class; you won't stay there if you rest on your laurels. Finally, there's no reason to think that she used her gender as a crutch. It's very easy for anyone to feel that they're getting special treatment when they get their first professional job. Breaking into a field, any field, frequently requires pulling strings, taking advantage of connections, or just plain good luck. I know I certainly did when I got my first programming job. When that happened, my peers congratulated me and expressed confidence that I would quickly prove to my employer that they were right to hire me. Not one person speculated to my face that I probably got the job just because I was an upper-middle-class white male. Even though they would have been FAR more justified making that (obnoxious and unfounded) assumption than the one described in this article.