International Women's Day

Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I missed International Women's Day yesterday because I was too busy being the only woman in a meeting surrounding a solution proposal I had designed. That's fairly typical for me, actually, and as I've noted before, pretty typical for my industry.

But typical or not, it's really starting to irk me. I've been the token chick my entire working life, and when I was a younger woman, it didn't bother me much. However, the older I get, the more sensitive I am to this sort of nonsense.

Perhaps it's because now, in my middle age, I'm self-honest enough to recognize that being the token chick in my professional life doesn't make me some kind of Susan B. Anthony wannabe, or a trailblazer, or in any other way special. It doesn't say anything about me at all. It makes my profession, and the culture in which it resides, discriminatory and sexist.

I hate that about my profession and the culture in which I work. And here lately, I kind of believe what feels like my constant bitching on the topic has no positive influence whatsoever.

Which makes me even sadder.

4 comments:

Juan Federico said...

For your consideration. (not looking to start somethin' there's more fun shit to pick on you about...)
Could it be that there are not many women who want to do what you do? Maybe your job is not highly visible outside this industry.
Have you considered going to a high school as a guest speaker to let kids know about this thing of ours? Ours is a rather specialized type of network environment that is rapidly becoming a monster. (I attended an online update thingy today...WOOF)
Of course, you may be correct; you are being treated like a sexy Orion slave girl from Star Trek that can keep the engine running.

Janiece said...

Juan, I used to do Junior Achievement at our local high school, but stopped when I had a kid going there. Now that he's off being all sailor-y, I may take it up again.

Juan Federico said...

Righteous.

Darren said...

I have seen great strides forward in more-progressive companies. I work in IT as well, and just 5 years ago, it was hard to find a woman in my places of work that wasn't a manager or a administrative assistant of some sort.

Now, though, I have two female IT professionals on my team of six. And our larger group is about 30% female (though only about half of those are outside of "business-oriented" roles like project management and compliance, they still have technical chops).

I suppose it helps that our CIO is female, and has started a local networking group to support women in technology as well as perform outreach activities to young women and girls interested in STEM fields...

But you are doing good, even just by being the "token female", if your work is being recognized. At the very least, you're challenging preconceptions that women can't do IT.

@Juan: there is good research on the "maybe not many women want to..." problem. Part of the reason women tend to shy away from technical fields is the perception -- which they are too often taught -- that women are somehow less-able. This, combined with the sexism in the field (and yes, there's a ton) is a big "turn off" for young women. It's a problem that needs fixing; and women need male allies to help make the IT field welcoming and inclusive.

You can't just do outreach, you also have to fix the problems in the industry that make it a male-centered monoculture.