Comments on: All Boys Club?

By: giwells123

giwells123 — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:00:13 +0000

Thanks for the great comment Jessica, its always good to know that there are others out there.

I totally agree that education is a key factor here, which was why i suggested starting them early in my previous post. Being IT does require a certain mind set, a black and white view of problems, yes or no, on or off. You need to be somewhat “digital”.

It comes naturally to some but not to others. With repeated teaching it becomes easier through the years. So it is probably correct to assume that it can be trained.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 00:57:13 +0000

It’s certainly not a lack of brain capacity as that occurs in either sex, I do believe (and this is just a personal opinion) that it does require a way of thinking – mathematical, logical, analytic or whatever you like to call it. If you like stereotypes then this is a more ‘male’ way of thinking, but perhaps more females need to be made aware of this type of brain power and given to opportunity to exercise it, I found it came naturally for me but more and more practice helps. Education is a key factor here of course.

There is a delicate balancing act in trying to encourage girls to try new things out, without being patronising and turning them off further. I was asked a number of times while at University to participate in educational/advertising efforts to encourage more girls to consider studying in IT/Comp Sci areas but on any given day and taking my mood into account I could take it as a compliment and feel good about helping, or perhaps as an insult due to the fact they feel the need to shows me off and say ‘wow bet you never thought a girl could do this!’. I’ll stick with the former and continue to do my best to help where possible.

It’s good to know I’m not the only one concerned here, it’d be nice to have more opportunity for girl chat in the office, and the field in general.

By: dek

dek — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 13:26:36 +0000

Via one of em e-mail, trojan, spam virusy thingys?

By: Martin Wells

Martin Wells — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 12:21:05 +0000

Eeek, this is scary. We don’t have enough girls as it is. How will programmers propagate?!

By: More Girls Please « Startup Downunder

More Girls Please « Startup Downunder — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 11:20:21 +0000

[...] The number of women in IT is falling. Are we ultimately destined for a monastic existence? Please don’t let this be true. Quick, someone do something. I will as soon as I level my Druid to 60. [...]