Back in August, Shira Ovide wrote this WSJ piece, asking "where all the women in tech startups?" It garnered a lot of controversy from both male and female technology workers - from men who said not to blame them and from women who countered by by telling them to look a little harder.
There is a growing number of amazingly talented women in technology, and a growing number of women who just dig it. There are tech websites and blogs owned by women and major tech companies ran by women. As more and more kids grow up with the technology that most Gen Xers and older didn't have access to - and as girls see that tech isn't the domain of boys, as it was made out to be back in the day - the gender parity in technology will even out.
Until that parity happens though, we have work to do. Even though some of the most fervent male feminists I've worked with are techies and though there are plenty of men out there who are happy to help us get what we work for, there are just as many who would rather keep it a boys club. We still have to work twice as hard to prove ourselves worthy, and when we dare toot our own horn it's many times met with muffled snickers and patronizing replies. On top of that, we have to prove that we aren't just about having babies - a sore spot for women in any profession who care about both career and family.
Online, more media sites are reaching out to the female audience, but as Technorati's new women's area attests, the sites are typically candy colored, overly floral, and are limited to the stereotypical subjects that appeal to women. Holly Pavlika confronts Technorati by asking where is the technology? Even today, women with interest in technology are a novelty.
There are many who insist that lists and articles that single out women in anything actually help perpetuate the sexism problem, but I disagree. If we want to make sure that girls today know they can be geeky and can look forward to a rewarding career in tech, it's as important as ever to promote the women who are already out there creating a path for future generations.
Below is a short list of great tech sites aimed at promoting women in technology or just written by women who are tech queens:
- Kim Sherrell - a popular Tweeter, Kim Sherrell has a great blog highlighting technology, new media, art, film and more.
- TechFemme - Fab blog by Emily Gonzales highlighting women who are paving the way in tech. This is a great reference in finding inspiration for any woman thinking of trying her hand at a start-up or tech career.
- Girls in Tech - started by Adriana Gascoigne in 2007 to help women get their tech businesses and careers off the ground through networking, workshops, and conferences.
- Jolie O'Dell - Mashable's Jolie O'Dell writes up all things geek. She doesn't aim anything at women, she's just a bad-ass techie who knows her stuff.
- Geek Feminism - this blog mixes up the definition of tech to include science and engineering, gaming and more. They feature smart techie women and are always on the lookout for resources and inspiration.
Who else would you add to the list?
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