'I choose to use my womanhood to strategic effect.'
The phrase “women in tech” is stunting progress towards gender equality. It is not a war cry of empowerment but a siren of appeasement that makes technical women sound like an invasive species. We are in tech, we do belong, and a rallying cry that implies anything else is scaring young women away. When we reduce ourselves to “women in tech,” we become complicit in our marginalization.
Recently, a client told me, “You’re a tough cookie.” Many have told me, “You can really hold your liquor.” Others ignore me during meetings and direct all their technical questions to my male colleagues. Still others have made obnoxious comments about my blond hair. People deserve the right to choose their calling. If women choose a job in social work or HR instead of tech, great. There’s nothing inherently superior about coding compared to teaching, counseling, nursing, firefighting, welding, or any other path. There is something inherently wrong about pushing people into one role or another merely to change the gender balance of a profession.
If we explain our failures and setbacks with our womanhood, we disempower ourselves. If instead we challenge ourselves to do and be better – regardless of misogyny and well-documented inequality – we will improve the situation for ourselves and future generations.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why mentoring really matters for women in tech | ComputingHolly Brockwell argues for professional mentoring as a positive choice for women in technology roles,Careers and Skills ,diversity,Women in IT Excellence Awards,Women in Tech Festival
Read more »
Priyanka Chopra-Jonas Joins The Holberton School As An InvestorPriyanka Chopra-Jonas has joined the Holberton School as an investor and an advisor to help further the careers of women in tech:
Read more »
Rio Ferdinand's stag weekend includes wild pool party filled with twerking womenThe 40-year-old football legend made sure he kept fiancee Kate Wright close to his heart as he carried an inflatable version of her everywhere he went
Read more »
GirlBoss CEO Sophia Amoruso Launches LinkedIn-Inspired Platform For WomenSophia Amoruso is launching a LinkedIn-inspired platform for women.
Read more »