Comments for Social Pollination http://blog.monicaobrien.com Small Biz. Big Buzz. by Monica O'Brien Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:38:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on How a medium-sized ecommerce store can compete with the big boys (and girls) by Mark http://blog.monicaobrien.com/how-a-medium-sized-ecommerce-store-can-compete-with-the-big-boys-and-girls/comment-page-1/#comment-3330 Mark Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:38:53 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=772#comment-3330 I think a big difference between big boys and smaller players is an obsession with testing. Small players can still test regularly using Google Website Optimizer. I think a big difference between big boys and smaller players is an obsession with testing. Small players can still test regularly using Google Website Optimizer.
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]]> Comment on Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech by Monica O'Brien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/yet-another-round-up-about-the-lack-of-women-in-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-3326 Monica O'Brien Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:36:05 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=815#comment-3326 I agree that it's reinforced throughout a female's life. What I meant by that example is that it's done on such a subconscious level at such a young age that we don't even know we're doing it. Like decorating a girl's room in princess and a boy's room in spaceships. Who is more likely to want to be an astronaut and who is more likely to want to be Hannah Montana? Regarding your other points, I majored in computer science. I have been appalled by the 10% figures. And yes, it was sometimes intimidating to walk into a classroom of 50 male students and 1 male professor and literally be the only female in the class. My take is there is nothing wrong with computer science itself, but every major or profession comes with a lifestyle component, and I think the lifestyle components of computer science are not what most girls want. Also, the other degree I did, the MBA has the exact same problem as computer science. For some reason law school and med school have no problems meeting the 50% female ratio, while business school is stuck at around 25-30%. And yeah, it's also annoying when I'm told that the only reason I was accepted was because I am female. So what. You deal with it, and prove people wrong. I agree that it’s reinforced throughout a female’s life. What I meant by that example is that it’s done on such a subconscious level at such a young age that we don’t even know we’re doing it. Like decorating a girl’s room in princess and a boy’s room in spaceships. Who is more likely to want to be an astronaut and who is more likely to want to be Hannah Montana?

Regarding your other points, I majored in computer science. I have been appalled by the 10% figures. And yes, it was sometimes intimidating to walk into a classroom of 50 male students and 1 male professor and literally be the only female in the class.

My take is there is nothing wrong with computer science itself, but every major or profession comes with a lifestyle component, and I think the lifestyle components of computer science are not what most girls want.

Also, the other degree I did, the MBA has the exact same problem as computer science. For some reason law school and med school have no problems meeting the 50% female ratio, while business school is stuck at around 25-30%. And yeah, it’s also annoying when I’m told that the only reason I was accepted was because I am female. So what. You deal with it, and prove people wrong.

]]> Comment on Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech by Monica O'Brien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/yet-another-round-up-about-the-lack-of-women-in-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-3325 Monica O'Brien Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:27:35 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=815#comment-3325 Interesting theory. Here's a side note you made me think of: The sad thing about the white collar professions you mentioned is that the minute the scale tips to having a majority of women in the field, the salaries go down. This troubled me until I realized that salaries have gone down significantly as well (within union bounds) for blue collar work, which is mostly done by men. I'm not completely sure the salary drops have to do with women anymore. Interesting theory.

Here’s a side note you made me think of: The sad thing about the white collar professions you mentioned is that the minute the scale tips to having a majority of women in the field, the salaries go down. This troubled me until I realized that salaries have gone down significantly as well (within union bounds) for blue collar work, which is mostly done by men. I’m not completely sure the salary drops have to do with women anymore.

]]> Comment on Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech by Monica O'Brien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/yet-another-round-up-about-the-lack-of-women-in-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-3324 Monica O'Brien Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:22:19 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=815#comment-3324 I think that's where Michael Arrington comes from. As a man, I think you should be able to express your opinion on women in the workplace. But I agree, you would have been bashed, probably. I think that’s where Michael Arrington comes from. As a man, I think you should be able to express your opinion on women in the workplace. But I agree, you would have been bashed, probably.

]]> Comment on Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech by Monica O'Brien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/yet-another-round-up-about-the-lack-of-women-in-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-3323 Monica O'Brien Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:19:59 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=815#comment-3323 Great to hear from you Guillermo! I've noticed that most of the women that get to the boss level in these types of companies are consistently hard workers. They have their to-do list, they are extremely organized, and they don't mess with drama. I haven't met a lot of men who would hire a man over a woman -- in fact, most are looking for the diversity. Thanks for the comment! Great to hear from you Guillermo!

I’ve noticed that most of the women that get to the boss level in these types of companies are consistently hard workers. They have their to-do list, they are extremely organized, and they don’t mess with drama. I haven’t met a lot of men who would hire a man over a woman — in fact, most are looking for the diversity.

Thanks for the comment!

]]> Comment on Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech by Rachel @ Last Res0rt http://blog.monicaobrien.com/yet-another-round-up-about-the-lack-of-women-in-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-3322 Rachel @ Last Res0rt Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:12:57 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=815#comment-3322 But it can't be *just* that, can it? The funny thing about social expectations is that they're reinforced repeatedly over time, not just at "visually interesting" points of childhood that make everything else foregone conclusions. It's not just that girls play with Barbies or the age when someone stats playing with a computer, it's when they're told repeatedly that smart kids get picked on and the stereotypical computer nerd is a pimply, sweaty, ugly ( and oh yeah, FAT) boy. Maybe this discourages a lot of boys, too, but it sure as hell discourages girls, especially when they get it in their heads that they're supposed to be loved by everybody and somehow be both smart AND sexy (but in a pinch, just "sexy" will do). Furthermore, Computer Science is not just an "interesting" industry; at Georgia Tech, for instance, there's still more boys than girls overall, but Computer Science is THE most gender-lopsided major there. Apparently girls love biology and math and aerospace engineering (and have no problem being smart in those fields), but not computers. For something that's supposed to shape the face of society as we know it, that's a big problem if only the male half is leading the charge. Something about Computer Science itself must be the culprit here, and not just that women aren't encouraged to be smart and savvy. But it can’t be *just* that, can it?

The funny thing about social expectations is that they’re reinforced repeatedly over time, not just at “visually interesting” points of childhood that make everything else foregone conclusions. It’s not just that girls play with Barbies or the age when someone stats playing with a computer, it’s when they’re told repeatedly that smart kids get picked on and the stereotypical computer nerd is a pimply, sweaty, ugly ( and oh yeah, FAT) boy. Maybe this discourages a lot of boys, too, but it sure as hell discourages girls, especially when they get it in their heads that they’re supposed to be loved by everybody and somehow be both smart AND sexy (but in a pinch, just “sexy” will do).

Furthermore, Computer Science is not just an “interesting” industry; at Georgia Tech, for instance, there’s still more boys than girls overall, but Computer Science is THE most gender-lopsided major there. Apparently girls love biology and math and aerospace engineering (and have no problem being smart in those fields), but not computers. For something that’s supposed to shape the face of society as we know it, that’s a big problem if only the male half is leading the charge.

Something about Computer Science itself must be the culprit here, and not just that women aren’t encouraged to be smart and savvy.
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]]> Comment on Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech by Wille http://blog.monicaobrien.com/yet-another-round-up-about-the-lack-of-women-in-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-3321 Wille Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:17:10 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=815#comment-3321 Great post. I don't see a lot of people raging at the unequality and lack of men in nursing and child care, or women in construction work for that matter. But maybe it's only important for industries deemed "interesting", or industries that attract self-important pundits? Great post.
I don’t see a lot of people raging at the unequality and lack of men in nursing and child care, or women in construction work for that matter. But maybe it’s only important for industries deemed “interesting”, or industries that attract self-important pundits?
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]]> Comment on Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech by Carlos Miceli http://blog.monicaobrien.com/yet-another-round-up-about-the-lack-of-women-in-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-3320 Carlos Miceli Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:44:48 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=815#comment-3320 Finally. I've been biting my tongue not to say exactly what you wrote because I knew that by being a man, I'd get bashed by every feminist on Earth. Can we please stop with blaming everything on machism, feminism, racism and stuff? Jesus Christ, let's just move on... Fantastic post Mon. Finally. I’ve been biting my tongue not to say exactly what you wrote because I knew that by being a man, I’d get bashed by every feminist on Earth.

Can we please stop with blaming everything on machism, feminism, racism and stuff? Jesus Christ, let’s just move on…

Fantastic post Mon.
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]]> Comment on Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech by Guillermo | Social Media apps http://blog.monicaobrien.com/yet-another-round-up-about-the-lack-of-women-in-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-3318 Guillermo | Social Media apps Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:33:22 +0000 http://blog.monicaobrien.com/?p=815#comment-3318 Excelent, excelent post Monica! I am software engineer and entrepreneur. Before opening my company I have had three women as bosses and in three different countries. I had the first one in Argentina, the second one in The Netherlands and the third one Germany, and all in I.T. I had a very good relation with the three of them, and they were far better than most of the men in those companies. When I opened my business the first person I hired was a woman. She is extremely hard working and a very good developer. I believe that a person can do whatever she or he wants, as long as it is done honestly. And as you have written, it does not matter the distribution in between women and men in the profession at all. Excelent, excelent post Monica!
I am software engineer and entrepreneur. Before opening my company I have had three women as bosses and in three different countries. I had the first one in Argentina, the second one in The Netherlands and the third one Germany, and all in I.T. I had a very good relation with the three of them, and they were far better than most of the men in those companies.
When I opened my business the first person I hired was a woman. She is extremely hard working and a very good developer.
I believe that a person can do whatever she or he wants, as long as it is done honestly. And as you have written, it does not matter the distribution in between women and men in the profession at all.

]]> Comment on Why the New Girls’ Club Doesn’t Work by Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech — Social Pollination http://blog.monicaobrien.com/why-the-new-girls%e2%80%99-club-doesn%e2%80%99t-work/comment-page-1/#comment-3314 Yet Another Round Up About the Lack of Women in Tech — Social Pollination Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:05:03 +0000 http://twentyset.com/?p=240#comment-3314 [...] more support” problem, IMHO. I find all-female support groups offensive, personally, and also detrimental to my career. It is also not a “give us the key and let us play” problem. The guys are happy to let the [...] [...] more support” problem, IMHO. I find all-female support groups offensive, personally, and also detrimental to my career. It is also not a “give us the key and let us play” problem. The guys are happy to let the [...]

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