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Guest View: Sexist and offensive


By Lori MacVittie
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November 1, 2008 —  (Page 1 of 4)
I will admit that as a second-generation female developer (thanks mom!), there are times when I am absolutely certain I belong in some sort of IT freak show. There just aren’t that many women in IT, and the more technical you get, the fewer of us there seem to be. And as we get older, it seems we disappear in larger numbers.

As I’ve read through a slew of posts and articles on women and IT in the past few months, I’ve discovered two things: First, that they are almost always written by women, and second, they are all just as sexist as they claim the IT environment to be.

You heard me correctly. I said they’re sexist and offensive. And not just sexist and offense toward men, but to women as well.

The assumption that I’m risk-averse because I’m a woman, that I suffer under the strain of isolation because I’m a woman (it’s a wonder I’m not on medication or in therapy given my career choices), and that I use “helpful comments and directions” (I don’t) because I’m a woman is incredibly stereotypical and sexist. It assumes a particular behavior based on gender and that all members of the gender suffer the same afflictions and frailties or strengths, depending on your perspective.

In the same vein, these articles are sexist toward men. The articles are quick to point out that the IT environment isn’t “working-mother” friendly, but completely ignores that it must also be “working-father” unfriendly. The assumption that working mothers need special accommodations while working fathers do not is incredibly shortsighted in a society where men and women are allegedly equal in all aspects of domestic and professional life. Furthermore, it is assumed that men “write cryptic code” just to “show how clever they are” and that they are not supportive enough of their female coworkers, which eventually causes those women to “flee” IT altogether.

It is this great exodus of women that is being studied, the results of which present some fairly sexist conclusions.



Related Search Term(s): professional development

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