The Industry That Doesn’t Want You
Many people on Tech Twitter imagine an imaginary wheel. It hosts the same 6 or 7 topics. Every so often, the imaginary wheel is spun, and someone brings up one of the discussion points — Often in a tactless manner.
Today’s was “Why are there so few women in tech?”¹ Many men came from around the world to give opinions, from “They just don’t want to fail” to more infuriating excuses.
I’m a woman. I work in tech. I’m not paid for it consistently, and when I am, it isn’t enough to live off of. I looked — for 4 years — to enter my discipline (Network Administration), and later fell into cloud, data, and UX work.
When I hit the pavement from 2016–2019, few were interested.
I have a degree and 4 certifications. I’ve won conference trips because of my tech blogging. I have the self-awareness to look back at things I did during interviews and go “I could have done that better by…”. I enjoy IT Support work, and would rather do that than hardcore networking right now, but I still enjoy doing hands on work with networks.
If a remote position opened in a “good” company for any of the above, I would apply — but would I be welcome?
The following excuses were in the Twitter thread are quoted in bold. I tell you why it’s not so simple right below it.
“You have to be willing to start at the bottom.”
I’ve applied to help desk jobs. They told me “I would be bored”. It was a 45 minute conversation, do you know me?
“Women aren’t technical.”
Women invented computer science.
“You should get a degree.”
This is something often parroted to many people, from those who want a promotion (“Get an MBA!”), and especially black people, in order to minimize the wage gap.
But how can you minimize something if the golden ticket doesn’t employ you?
The industry doesn’t matter; A degree’s value is nearly nil in 2021.
“In general, Women are more interested in people, and men in things.”
My greatest ambition is to do work I enjoy and choose when I have to interact with people, and do so based upon simply enjoying their company, or a fun project we can work on.
I push for a better society and still get drained from human interaction.
I want to work in solitude, turn my work, and be paid.
It’s not you, human race, it’s me.
Ironically, unlike people who love to build networks, I don’t put up a barrier to help people. I don’t run a background check, or insist you add value to get a little assistance. A request I can do in 5 minutes is fine if I don’t know you and you give me something to work with.
I always say; If you can, help.
Harassment.
Enough said.
There were a few men who were quick to support women, outline the issues that try to stop us, and voice how the onus is on them to do better — not on women.
“Network, Network, Network!”
I hesitate to say “Doesn’t work”, as I don’t want to speak its uselessness into existence, but my experience with networking — named referrals into companies, recruiters reaching out to me— Have yet to yield any paying result.
Many women in tech already have exit plans for leaving the industry. Why do you think that is?
I want men and those who identify as such to ask if there are societal issues at play that prevent us from joining and being supported as our full selves.
Why you use justifications to keep out women, when men can express a desire to enter tech and everyone is ready to hire him, ability or desire to learn be damned.
Ask yourself why you don’t feel women are a good investment in your world of 10010110s. I don’t feel my degree and certs were a waste, as I do like the subject, even if I have to work on it alone.
I just wonder why so many employers thought nothing of them.
You can share this article, BMAC if you want, and find me @ runtcpip.com
¹Paraphrasing, as the Tweet was deleted.
