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From the article: "It seems so degrading," Wheat said. "If you're a girl interested in building websites, you're a 'web diva.' If you're a boy, you're a web dev
by oillio 12y ago
From the article:
"It seems so degrading," Wheat said. "If you're a girl interested in building websites, you're a 'web diva.' If you're a boy, you're a web developer."
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I have seen many a job posting looking for web ninjas, rockstars, and the like.
Our industry has a history of being rather informal, and often catering to the narcissistic side of developers. Sometimes this is for the better, sometimes not (e.g. the "bro-grammer" bullshit recently). I personally have no interest in loosing our informal culture to the PC police.
- detcader 12y agoYou are missing their point. "Ninjas" and "rockstars" aren't particularly gendered (they actually are and we both know it but who would be honest enough to admit such a thing?) but "diva" certainly is. The writer's problem is not the lack of formality -- is that really what you took away?
- oillio 12y agoYou just made my counter argument for me. Ninjas are definitely gendered. Yes, the argument is about formality. The claim is that "diva" is degrading because it is unprofessional and narcissistic, where "web developer" is gender neutral and professional. My point is, there are many many examples of non-gender neutral and unprofessional references in our industry. Diva is not degrading, it is targeting a specific audience, as is Ninja. We definitely have a gender imbalance in the industry. Should we be attacking those trying to rectifying the situation because they do not match your opinion on the extent that society should remain gender neutral?
- detcader 12y agoHow is that not taking liberties with interpretation? It's also possible that the writer simply feels that the industry (who said anything about "society"?) should strive to be gender neutral. More than one woman is referenced in the OP article and they have opinions that differ by nuanced degrees.
- dickinurass 12y agoa lot of recruiters have rocks for brains it's true .. but this maintainability isn't everywhere
- watwut 12y agoNinja is someone skillful - in various contexts. Rockstar is someone successful - in all kinds of contexts. I would much rather be called one of those then "diva".
- jiggy2011 12y agoThe original meaning of Diva "A diva is a celebrated female singer; a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and by extension in theatre, cinema and popular music." (according to wikipedia) so very similar to "rockstar".
- watwut 12y agoYes, but that is not how it is used in everyday English. That word is not used too often of when it is, it does not refer to musical talent.
- jiggy2011 12y agoI assume that people using the term "Web Diva" are referencing the first definition. Although I can't say I've ever heard anybody use that term, this article was the first place I heard of it.
- judk 12y agoSnickers uses "diva" in its ads. The meaning there is "woman-like, and therefore unpleasant way for a man to behave." As long as women are disrespected culture-wide, any female-gendered term will seem degrading from a male point of view.
- qbrass 12y agoThe ones with Aretha Franklin and Liza Minnelli in them.