Suw Charman-Anderson has called for people to blog about a female techie they admire on 24th March, Ada Lovelace Day. She has a pledge on pledgebank (which has been achieved, with over a thousand pledges).
Suw writes
Women's contributions often go unacknowledged, their innovations seldom mentioned, their faces rarely recognised. We want you to tell the world about these unsung heroines. Whatever she does, whether she is a sysadmin or a tech entrepreneur, a programmer or a designer, developing software or hardware, a tech journalist or a tech consultant, we want to celebrate her achievements.If you know such a woman you're able to blog about, go for it. It's a good idea. Although the number of women entering IT has been steadily falling since the late 1970s, I do know quite a few. I've worked in IT and worked under more female than male managers. I know a number of women who have good careers in IT, or are doing interesting things.
But there's a problem. Suw talks of "unsung heroines" and then asks us to tell the world about the female sysadmins and programmers. The problem I have is twofold.
I don't know any of these women well enough to do much more than give them a namecheck, without spending a while doing some research.
But more importantly, I don't really know any women who, if they were men doing the same thing would be anything other than fairly anonymous people going about their fairly anonymous lives, just as I am.
I don't really know any women in tech of whom I can honestly say "if she were a man, she'd be well known, but she isn't getting her fair due because she's female".
If I did know someone like that, I would have not a moment's hesitation in blogging about them. If you do, please blog and I'll enjoy reading it.
But as it is, all I can do is to say of someone "she's achieved the same as a man, but she's only a girlie - well done you!" which seems more than a little...patronising.
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8 comments:
The heroism of common humanity is greater than the heroism of any individual, but it's impossible to recognise one without recognising the other.
Should there be a tomb for the unknown soldieress, perchance?
But as it is, all I can do is to say of someone "she's achieved the same as a man, but she's only a girlie - well done you!" which seems more than a little...patronising.
Bingo
Mmmm ... gotta disagree. IT is generally a 'man' field of work, and as an IT tech I get a lot of patronising looks/people asking if I know what I'm doing/etc because I'm a geeky, blonde, woman. It's really irritating, my (male) boss never gets that. Yes, I'm not doing anything more than anyone else who has a job, but I'm frequently underrated solely because of my gender. I'd love a bit of appreciation and people acknowledging that women are no more technologically stupid than men. I'm sure there are many others out there who would like just the same.
Role models aren't always famous. It's simply that there's something about them that makes us want to model something about ourself on them: "a person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others" [Wiktionary].
Hi there.
Well I think you should only post if you know someone in IT that you went... wow it s amazing what this person has done... and then they keep doing it.
I m a developer so for me it will have to be someone that wrote an incredible piece of code, I have a few options but its not even a hand full.
Thanks for a thought-provoking post.
At least you know women 'doing the same thing' as tech guys - lots of people don't. I told non-geek friends about this, and the response was, "that's a great idea, but I don't know any women in technology to write about". As another commenter said, it's about role models rather than fame.
Mia,
I can certainly see that point. Over the years I've mentored several female (and male) techies and it's a huge shame that most young women don't even consider IT as a career option.
As a 60+ year old female developer, a species bordering on extinction, I'm looking forward to reading the Ada Lovelace challenge blogs.
I plan to write about my high school math teacher, Miss Rose Depoyan. She inspired both male and female students, was honored by her community and fondly remembered by everyone fortunate enough to be in her classes, captains of industry and common folk alike.
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