I've been a part of the tech world for a little while now. I've even entered the international world of tech - by which I mean I've travelled abroad to tech press events (so far I can add Berlin, Barcelona and Sweden to my list - it's a hard life here at Shiny!). Following my trip to Sweden this week, I just want to echo what's been said time and time again in the past - where the f**k are all the women working in technology? Don't get me wrong, women are present at these events, but 95 percent of the time they're on the PR side of things rather than the journalist side.
At every event I attend, it's more-or-less the same thing - there's at least an 80/20 percent male/female ratio going on (if that!). Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with this and sometimes it's nice to be surrounded by men, especially when they provide some serious eye candy (there's no harm in *looking*). But there has also been many *many* times when it would have been really nice to see an equal amount of women too - and if not equal, at least more than four.
It's because of this lack of female presence, I think there are a few men out there who don't take women working in technology seriously, or simply assume they're better than us and know more.
I will never forget the HP event I went to in Berlin when a male journalist (I won't name and shame) commented on the way I type - which is neither slow nor particularly rapid may I add. He patronisingly said "awww you type just like my wife. Women and technology are so cute". Fighting the urge to hurl abuse his way (must - remain - professional) I opted to give him a bogus smile instead and continued with my work while repeating the 'C' word over and over again in my head. Perhaps if more women were present in that press room (it was me plus one), he wouldn't have been so brave.
According to some research undertaken by Sony Ericsson, tech savvy women are at the forefront of what's hot in the tech world. So WHY are they so underrepresented when it comes to an occupation in this field? I understand that for a lot of women, technology = BORING. But I can honestly say it's quite the opposite. Working for Shiny Shiny is anything but boring, albeit a few bits and bobs which have had the ability to send me to sleep, but it's definitely NOT a boring field.
All I'm saying is I'd like to see some change in the professional world of technology. Perhaps over time women in tech will be more commonplace. Here's to hoping.
Lucy is the editorial assistant for Shiny Shiny and is wishing, hoping and praying there'll be more women at the next event - she even has her fingers crossed.
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