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The core belief is that if it weren't for gender socialization, approximately equal numbers of boys and girls would want to be programmers, but instead the numb
by fibbery 13y ago
The core belief is that if it weren't for gender socialization, approximately equal numbers of boys and girls would want to be programmers, but instead the numbers are skewed by how we raise children and steer them toward pursuits along gender lines.
To think otherwise holds an implicit assumption that somehow our gender so radically alters our brains that it determines what professions we pursue as adults - not an unpopular opinion among the internet's legion of armchair evolutionary psychologists. Given your use of the term "inclinations to certain tasks" I assume you are more in this camp, but since you seem genuinely curious I wanted to provide the opposite perspective.
You can also consider how the medical and law professions used to be entirely male dominated, and no doubt many people said this was because women were biologically unsuited to fill these roles, yet now the numbers of graduates in each field are swiftly becoming equal. The goal of promoting women in tech is so that in 20 years we will see similar equal numbers in engineering.
- sdegutis 13y agoI'd clarify my position but that's much less interesting than the point you brought up: > The goal of promoting women in tech is so that in 20 years we will see similar equal numbers in engineering. Maybe it's just me, but this feels like a creepy way of manipulating society. It reminds me of how we would create lakes and rivers for practical purposes. Except in this case, the only reasons given are purely philosophical and ideological.
- mtrimpe 13y agoWe'll probably settle for 40% as well if that seems like a natural distribution. The thing is that these initiatives aren't born out of thin air; they're in response to a lot of women coders expressing that it took a lot of dedication to overcome the societal stigma of women coders. Can you imagine anybody ever saying to you as a kid: "You're programming computers?? But you're a guy!" Virtually every girl that codes has heard this numerous times.
- sdegutis 13y agoWhat I heard as a kid: - Nobody likes programmers ("computer nerds") and nobody will befriend me - Nobody will ever date me because I'm into computers ("boring") and I'll always be alone - As a programmer, I will live a very unfulfilling and boring life - Because I'm into computer programming, I'm not normal. But you're right, nobody ever said to me: "You're programming computers?? But you're a guy!"
- mtrimpe 13y agoIndeed; every geek/programmer already faces quite a bit of societal pushback and being a women adds even more on top of that.
- sdegutis 13y agoI don't believe that. Don't get me wrong. I'm very sympathetic to anyone who is facing oppression. Any kind of oppression, especially that which is systematic and encouraged, should be done away with. I just don't believe this whole narrative that's been given lately. Call me a skeptic, but it looks like there are a lot more variables and moving parts to this story than just the typical female-oppression factor.
- mtrimpe 13y agoWhat exactly don't you believe though? That it's harder for women to thrive in tech than men? That more girls would get into tech if it was as less of a "boys thing"? Or perhaps more interestingly: What do you believe?
- sdegutis 13y agoCredo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, et cetera, et cetera. (Kinda off-topic, I'm aware. But I'm too tired. Good night.)
- 13y ago