Women in Technology

Lately you’ve probably heard plenty about education in the US and the renewed push for STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). As STEM education gets attention, it has reminded us all that there is a shortage of women in STEM-related fields as well as STEM-related courses and programs.

As someone in the technology industry, I can see this difference when I go to conferences, when I speak at classes, when I review job applications, and when I talk to women in my life who are interested in technology.

That’s why it was heartening to hear about a local young woman spinning up a chapter of Girl Develop It here in Buffalo (also on Twitter at @gdiBuffalo).

I hope this group pans out. I think it can benefit both men and women.

Challenges in Tech

I hate to blunt this positive by bringing in negatives, but it’s because of these negatives that I see such value in this new local group.

There are so many pithy, rambling, crazy, angry things on a daily basis about gender in technology that I’d rather not add to the noise. I will, however, link to examples of why I feel there is a need for resources for women in our industry. There are far far more examples out there.

• Nerd Rage Activated: Tomb Raider Reboot
• Dear The Internet, This Is Why You Can’t Have Anything Nice

• In tech, some bemoan the rise of ‘brogrammer’ culture
• “Gangbang Interviews” and “Bikini Shots”: Silicon Valley’s Brogrammer Problem
• Women in Tech: Can You Help Find a Few Good Men?

• On Facing Reality
• Speaking up.
• Also speaking up.
• It sucks to be female.
• Speaking up, it’s time
• Speaking Up

• Being a good member of the web community
• Playhaven developer fired for sexual jokes after SendGrid marketer outs him on Twitter
• So you’re tired of hearing about “rape culture”?
• A Woman Walks Into A Tech Conference

• PHPness Gate – raising interesting issues

Back on a positive note, there are other resources on the web for women, such as Ladies in Tech, Girls Who Code, and Black Girls Code.