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"Can Technology Be Feminized?" Java Developer Journal's Yakov Fain Triggers Web-Wide Discussion

"I'm for more women in technology, but against affirmative actions of any kind."
By Java News Desk
Article Rating:
April 28, 2006 06:45 AM EDT
Reads:
 10,509
"I'm for more women in technology, but against affirmative actions of any kind," says Yakov Fain, Java Developer's Journal Enterprise Java Editor. His remark comes in a discussion thread triggered by a blog posting he wrote earlier this week in which he noted, while watching the live SYS-CON.TV coverage on Monday of the "Real-World AJAX" seminar in San Jose, that none of the speakers was female.

Fain's approach to the issue of Feminiizing Technology may be a little eccentric: "I’ll  join the AJAX camp as soon as I see more ladies there," he writes.

But let us just consider his observations about the gender imbalance itself.

"During the short breaks between the AJAX seminar presentations, the video camera was showing the attendees moving around. Sure, there  were some women there. First, I was surprised: how come all the men were dressed down, while all the women were dressed up in a tuxedo-like suites. Then I realized that these women were hotel employees serving water to the attendees. Finally,  I’ve  spotted a couple of AJAX-looking women. But the number of those was really small. My statistics are very subjective, but I’d say that men/women ratio at this event was about 25 to 1."

"Women are smarter than men," Fain goes on to write. "They have this special gut feeling that helps them in making  the right decisions in life."

The whole blog entry caused One reader, Karen, to write to Fain:

"Web development, like software development, like computer engineering, is still primarily made up of men, and unfortunately, this trend is going in the wrong direction. While more women than men are now entering college, the rates of women enrolling in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and medicine...er, well, maybe not medicine) are declining."
"I have not studied this," Karen continues, "and my own personal experiences have been rather limited to the still female-dominated field of library science. I would venture to suggest that the causes are deeper and broader than this site is meant to handle."

She continues: 
"If you are at least somewhat concerned about this trend, you may want to consider some easily accessible remedies, including being more inclusive in your dealings with women (inviting them to the seminars/sessions, re-examining resumes to look beyond the technobabble, and providing ample opportunity for women in sessions to respond or ask questions), as well as fostering a new generation of girls whose interest in science and technology is often dampened by the social pressures of the real world, which still projects the image of computer geeks as short, shy, socially-immature men with pocket-protectors, by volunteering to give a programming class to a Girl Scout troop."
To which Fain responds:
"Your suggestions won't work. You can not force women into technology. I'm not going to hire a Java programmer just because the candidate is a woman, even though I like working with women."
He notes that he's leader of the Princeton Java Users Group, and that the men/women ratio there is 7/1.

"Do you think if I'll be sending special invites for women they'll show up? I doubt it. Traditionally, most of the women take care of kids/husbands/boyfriends in the evening and not attending JUG meeting. I'm for more women in technology, but against affirmative actions of any kind."


Published April 28, 2006 – Reads 10,509
Copyright © 2006 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
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Most Recent Comments
zincink 05/28/06 12:43:29 PM EDT

Men value social relationships...they just have a different view on it..conferences enable them to chat about the work and daily life and throw in a dose of bits-bytes chat in the middle..

There aren't many women in the field because nobody will hire them..simple as that..

If I remember correctly the majority of women are in Art Director positions and the creative field.

From my experience, East Coast, the trend seems to be that the majority of male tech workers are located in other countries...or temp workers who have arrived here in the US and will work for less pay.

Tech male workers of the future will have to know multiple languages to keep up with global technology. That is my guess...
Yakov Fain 05/02/06 09:33:06 AM EDT

Patty writes,"We value social relationships and have more well-rounded lives than our male counterparts. That's why you don't see us at JUGs or at conferences. There's way more to life than bits & bytes."
In other words, let these male geeks gather in the evenings discussing bits and bytes, so us, well-rounded ladies, will have something to do during business hours :)
Patty 05/02/06 09:04:50 AM EDT

I am a female Java architect who has been developing Java systems for more than nine years. I have served as a technical lead on several successful projects and devote at least an hour a day to keeping current with trends. The thing is, I do all of this during work. In the evenings and on my own time, I DO NOT log on, talk about computers, Java, or anything else technical. At the risk of over-generalizing, I think women have better and more interesting things to do. We value social relationships and have more well-rounded lives than our male counterparts. That's why you don't see us at JUGs or at conferences. There's way more to life than bits & bytes.
Des Walsh 04/28/06 07:50:34 AM EDT

Leah McLean has lots of talents. As well as being a leader in the coaching world, Leah is one of those people who not only understands technology but can explain it to the rest of us. Her always eminently readable Working Solo blog is dedicated to providing information to women who 'don't want to let a lack of technology understanding stunt the growth of their business'.

Last week, Leah launched the first of what is to be an annual survey of 'the uses and challenges women have with technology in their business'.

And there are some excellent prizes which will enable the winners to tap into Leah's knowledge and coaching skills.

The survey is open till May 15, with prizes to be drawn May 19. From a quick look, I would say the survey could be completed unhurriedly in five to seven minutes at most. The survey, with details of the prizes, is at the Working Solo website. Here's the link: http://www.workingsolo.com.au/techsurvey2006.htm
WomenInTech 04/28/06 07:34:52 AM EDT

Technology is, by most people's estimation, a "male" field. With lots of women as senior staff members at top tech companies and as well as women "behind the scenes" in making technology happen, women still face huge obstacles even in this day and age. According to a report by Purdue University's School of Technology, women in traditionally male industries face challenges that women in more integrated areas do not. And, believe it or not, more hiring of women isn't necessarily a perfect thing:

"Many traditionally male industries are beginning to see the value of a diverse work force, so women are beginning to be hired more frequently," says Wasburn, who studies gender issues in the workplace and teaches a professional preparation course for women. "Unfortunately, male coworkers often view these women as 'Affirmative Action' hires, and they have to prove themselves to their male colleagues."
WomenInTech 04/28/06 07:34:40 AM EDT

Technology is, by most people's estimation, a "male" field. With lots of women as senior staff members at top tech companies and as well as women "behind the scenes" in making technology happen, women still face huge obstacles even in this day and age. According to a report by Purdue University's School of Technology, women in traditionally male industries face challenges that women in more integrated areas do not. And, believe it or not, more hiring of women isn't necessarily a perfect thing:

"Many traditionally male industries are beginning to see the value of a diverse work force, so women are beginning to be hired more frequently," says Wasburn, who studies gender issues in the workplace and teaches a professional preparation course for women. "Unfortunately, male coworkers often view these women as 'Affirmative Action' hires, and they have to prove themselves to their male colleagues."