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The article begins by introducing Ana Redmond, who "launched into a technology career ... well-equipped to succeed ... In 2011, after 15 years, she left before

The article begins by introducing Ana Redmond, who "launched into a technology career ... well-equipped to succeed ... In 2011, after 15 years, she left before achieving a management position." The article ends by telling us "Redmond now runs her own business making educational apps for children." I'm sorry, but how does founding a company that builds apps count as "leaving the tech industry"? I'm sure women face many subtle and not-so-subtle issues working in tech, because it is very much a boys' club, but I'm not so sure about the analytical merits of this article.

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ameister14 12y ago
The other woman they were talking about is an engineer at Pinterest - she didn't leave the tech industry either.
webehere 12y ago
Problem exists that CAN affect women != women's problem. Problem that ONLY affects women == women's problem. Wish that distinction was made more often. That the 20% figure for women is so consistent (and a lie I might add, I doubt 10% represents DBAs, and I bet that the PR and HR departments have closer to 100% females) is surely SOMETHING. My girlfriend is a lawyer and she is quitting for much the same reasons - the long hours, the fact that to get promoted you need to get clients which you need to be part of the boy's club to do etc etc. The thing, is MANY of her male peers feel the same way. The biggest difference IMHO is that women have more guts than men and actually will leave. Most men ARE their jobs, so they stay DESPITE how terrible it is. Women, often with more rounded senses of self esteem, go "fuck this shit - I'm Audi". I'm not sure how that is a good thing for men OR women, and I'm not sure how to fix it. "Make women miserable" seems, to me at least, the worst outcome, but really, that's the only way to address the issue of ratios, without addressing the underlying issues.
threeseed 12y ago
Maybe it's just me but the article seemed pretty clear. Women reach a glass ceiling within the IT industry and decide to leave. Some, like Ana, are lucky enough to startup their own business. But this would be the minority. Most middle aged people have mortgages, families etc that they need to provide for. "Hostile" male culture, a sense of isolation and lack of a clear career path seem like a pretty sad indictment on our industry.
CyberDildonics 12y ago
Well it was written by a woman...

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ameister14 12y ago

The other woman they were talking about is an engineer at Pinterest - she didn't leave the tech industry either.

webehere 12y ago

Problem exists that CAN affect women != women's problem. Problem that ONLY affects women == women's problem. Wish that distinction was made more often. That the 20% figure for women is so consistent (and a lie I might add, I doubt 10% represents DBAs, and I bet that the PR and HR departments have closer to 100% females) is surely SOMETHING. My girlfriend is a lawyer and she is quitting for much the same reasons - the long hours, the fact that to get promoted you need to get clients which you need to be part of the boy's club to do etc etc. The thing, is MANY of her male peers feel the same way. The biggest difference IMHO is that women have more guts than men and actually will leave. Most men ARE their jobs, so they stay DESPITE how terrible it is. Women, often with more rounded senses of self esteem, go "fuck this shit - I'm Audi". I'm not sure how that is a good thing for men OR women, and I'm not sure how to fix it. "Make women miserable" seems, to me at least, the worst outcome, but really, that's the only way to address the issue of ratios, without addressing the underlying issues.

threeseed 12y ago

Maybe it's just me but the article seemed pretty clear. Women reach a glass ceiling within the IT industry and decide to leave. Some, like Ana, are lucky enough to startup their own business. But this would be the minority. Most middle aged people have mortgages, families etc that they need to provide for. "Hostile" male culture, a sense of isolation and lack of a clear career path seem like a pretty sad indictment on our industry.

CyberDildonics 12y ago

Well it was written by a woman...