BlogHer - Technology & Web - Comments

I don't want to get

Virginia DeBolt — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:29:33 -0500

into one of those who's geekier things here; I'm trying to call attention and offer support to a group of women who self-identify as interested in tech (and even more, in business.) Women in Tech is one of my recurring topics on BlogHer. From reading the posts that are up on the site now, I'd say they have something to offer.

Virginia DeBolt
BlogHer CE
Web Teacher
First 50 Words

Oh, thanks for the

Virginia DeBolt — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:28:57 -0500

correction. I saw posts going back 3 months and assumed I only heard about you recently. But I must have heard about you recently because you just launched!

Virginia DeBolt
BlogHer CE
Web Teacher
First 50 Words

Thanks for the post, Virginia

ITSinsider — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:56:12 -0500

Slight correction, though. We just launched last Tuesday, not 3 months ago. :-) Appreciate the support.

Susan Scrupski

Woman, Mom, Grandma, ex-wife, peace-lover, freedom lover, writer

Dear Muddslide:

ITSinsider — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:41:55 -0500

Not sure why one of our founding members, Sandy Kemsley, is not listed on our site yet, but you can find her blogging here: http://bit.ly/1fzVir. I will pit Sandy and Anne against any SV boywonder.

The goal of technicallywomen.com is to highlight
issues our gender (assuming you're on our team) is subjected to in a field predominantly saturated with male influence.

The intersection of geek street cred and female participation in the "soft lines' of the business (i.e., marketing, HR) is something we hope to leverage to raise awareness for the particular challenges we face.
Hope you'll join us.

Susan Scrupski

Woman, Mom, Grandma, ex-wife, peace-lover, freedom lover, writer

First impression of "Technically Women" ...

muddslide — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:03:59 -0500

Another perspective - a more jaundiced one.

These are wonderfully accomplished women but hardly a rounded or representative group of women *in* technology. Is not the choice of "technically" for the blog name not a touch of spin, to invoke an association with technology (still a guy's
world in 2009 - see any org chart or the hagiographic profiles of the latest boy wonder)?

Naturally these gals all list their "Twitter names" first instead of job titles. They choose to represent the social networking movement (and fledgling industry) - an industry that provides a powerful channel for political organizing, current events reporting and customer engagement, but one that's still dominated by PR and marketing folks and that struggles to find a business model.

From my perspective in Silicon Valley, where my long (for SV) career means I've ridden successive waves of "this is the grestest thing known to man" (applications, internet, the enterprise, now Twitter)... anyone who creates content that is helpful, insightful or constructive deserves a hearing. Go forth...Technically Women!

But let's be real - these gals are missing a "geek quotient". Women product managers, programmers, VPs of Engineering, et al who are/have been "in" - as opposed to "associated with" - technology will look elsewhere for thought leadership.

Thanks for works

konusarock — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:01:57 -0500

hi got work thanks..

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I've been a tech guru, a

Jan Kabili — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:18:59 -0500

I've been a tech guru, a lawyer, and a journalist, and unfortunately I've seen barriers to success for women in all those fields. But for me the answer has always been to just do it. Be excellent, be seen, and do what you love. And try to work for a business in which women already play lead roles.

Jan Kabili
Photoshop Author and Trainer
http://www.lynda.com

Society's attitudes

JaneMyLife — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:34:34 -0500

When I was at school, (yes, I know it is a long time ago now!), I was the only girl in the class taking Electronics and Computing. Initially there was a second pupil but she quit after a couple of weeks.

The reason? Her parents believed it was not a suitable subject for a girl! She changed to do a social science I think and later became a civil servant.

I didn't mind being the only girl and, although I believe I suffered (and still do) from the confidence issue girls have with technology, I still enjoyed the subject.

Young girls now may be a bit more tech savvy in terms of knowing how to use their mobile phone, facebook etc. but they are just using social tools designed to make the technology easier. How many would actually understand, or care, how they worked?

I believe education is key but it needs to utilise the areas girls are interested in to promote the technology aspects. Also there needs to be greater encouragement from parents both to bolster girls confidence, but also to not fall into the traditional trap of believing its a man's world. Difficult I know when there are lots of parents out there who don't know anything about computers and would only ever use a mobile phone for calls!

Jane

Cheeky

gretnagreene — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:30:34 -0500

I think if it had been me I'd have blown my top. I wrote a book once, a long time ago, and it is so incredibly difficult to try & promote it and to try & get even small independent book stores to take it.

Trying to sell your own book on your own website is so obviously what anyone is going to do, the people who complain don't live in the real World - if they'd ever tried to do anything, to run a business, create a product, or write a book they'd know how incredibly difficult it is and would be more understanding.

I'm afraid the World seems full of people like this at times, people who want to just compalin and knock other people, you just have to ignore them and get on with it.

it's working for our family with a rule or two...

LynnPO — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:44:01 -0500

Members of my family discussed very directly and decided to just go for it. We (dads, cousins, auntie (me), neices and nephews are spread far and wide so Facebook gives us a good way to share pictures and keep up with each other. I've even introduced some cousins who met when little and have reconnected (happily) after 15 years. There is one problem - a couple of neices asked that we NOT tell their mother, my ex-sister-in-law about the Facebook profiles or connections. It was their request not our insistance. We're not evil people but this woman is very manipulative and really medelsome with the girls so we help protect their privacy.

Lynn PO

its a subject I often wonder about

mashadutoit — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:51:25 -0500

I used to make my first year students fill in a questionnaire asking them to rate their own computer skills in various applications. It was an attempt to get students into groups with equivalent skills so that I did not have half the class bored while the other half is lagging behind. I asked questions like:

How would you rate your ability in using Photoshop?

never used it
I am a beginner
I can do what I need to
I am an expert

I was always struck that the girls were far more likely to answer with "I am a beginner" or "I can do what I need to" even if they were really experienced. Almost without exception, only boys would choose "I am an expert". (I shouldn't call them boys and girls, they were first year students)

I no longer separate students like this and have tried to find other ways to deal with their different levels of experience.

My greatest challenge with girls is usually to get them to stop apologising for asking questions. But even though I am hyper aware of these gender issues, and try to encourage all my students as much as I can, Ive also noticed this:

I notice, and remember the male students far easier. I remember their names. They come and chat to me. I can tell them apart. And often the girls sort of...melt into the background. Its important to give them individual attention away from the group otherwise they sometimes get completely left out.

Yay! I've been waiting for this!

sassymonkey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:38:05 -0500

I'm very, very happy about this. :)

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

That site is hilarious. I

suzyjenkins — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:28:19 -0500

That site is hilarious. I need to post my cousins photo from last years holiday cards. They were all wearing camoflouge (including the 4 year old and 6 month old baby), and a dead dear with blood dripping from it's nose. They are all smiling, and the photo is priceless!

Thank You, Maria

Megan Smith — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:47:14 -0500

Gina is doing some great work, and it was such a pleasure to be with a group of bright and enthusiastic internet professionals.

And I look forward to seeing you there next year!

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

Megan's Minute

Incredible coverage

Maria Niles — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:59:56 -0500

OK - finally caught up on your coverage of BWB, Megan! While I am totally jealous that you got to cover this conference, I deeply appreciate the fabulous work you've done to help us all experience the event vicariously.

Gina and her work are impressive. I love how it sounds like she's created a space for learning, community, friendship and respect to all come together. It makes perfect sense that BlogHer would support such an event.

I really hope to be there next year. Third year, three's a charm... right?

BlogHer Contributing Editor
PopConsumer
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