[UbuntuWomen] Why Women are not Developers.

[Mary Crowley]

Hobbsee said:

>Being one of the 2%, I think it would be very interesting to find out
>why women *don't* become developers - whether it's because they have not
>aspired to be, or whether challenges got in their way, to the point
>where they gave up.

In America, which is the only country I feel I am able to comment on.
Technology seems to be defined as primarily male dominated, institutionally
and individually.

So, much to the point that I have heard large technology meetings sometimes
take place at strip clubs and the like. There is a lot out there seems to
aim to remove women from a comfortable working relationship, into an
uncomfortable area. (There was a blogger, who recently mentioned this, he
worked on Red Hat and I am blanking on his name!!!)

I have found that working as a web designer, there is a more appreciated
female presence. But I still had to fight myself to begin posting in forums
(open source CMS), where answers sometimes lean towards ridicule and poking
fun and sometimes are pretty direct "you idiot". Again, stereotypically,
this is an acceptable way for men to communicate, to me if felt pretty bad.
I actually sometimes ask Male colleagues to post my questions for me, as
that often leads to the answer in a more direct path.

So... I think things way pretty heavily on a few great women (2%) to forge
the path and make technology development an easier place for women to be.

In closing:  Keep up the wonderful work Ubuntu-women!!

with much gratitude,
Molly Crowley
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