women in technology - How are women perceived in the tech world?

How Are Women Portrayed in the Tech Industry?
By: Chelsea Burcz

Bravo, the television network known for such “classic” shows as the “Real Housewives of Orange County” and “Millionaire Matchmaker,” premiered their latest gem of a camera-ready-reality this week, and this time it’s about Silicon Valley and some of its techy ladies called “Start-ups: Silicon Valley.”

Produced by Randi Zuckerberg (yes, Mark’s sister), many women were hopeful the show would highlight ladies as powerful figures in the start-up tech industry. But Forbes recently published their disappointment in the show’s portrayal of hardworking ladies in the biz, noting that, “This is a step back for women in tech if we’re trying to say that working in the industry means toga parties, spray tans and living at The Four Seasons.”

As the start-up tech life becomes more and more glorified (and more and more a part of popular culture), the general public is paying attention to these up-and-coming entrepreneurs. And with women like Marissa Mayer stepping into the limelight, it made us wonder how women, and specifically fashion bloggers, take part in the tech world.

It’s astonishing how low the number of women attend tech meet ups is, especially as there are thousands of fashion bloggers who are both tech and business savvy.

Is the tech world still very much one dominated by men? Or do women in tech feel a disconnect?

How do you feel about how women are portrayed in the tech industry? Or, as a fashion blogger, do you categorize yourself differently?

Comments

Nasreen says:

November 9, 2012 at 4:54 pm · Reply

I think that woman are definitely becoming stronger and more powerful in the tech industry business. I never even gave it a thought that its mainly dominated by men!

http://lazyobsession.blogspot.com
Jessica M says:

November 10, 2012 at 1:12 am · Reply

My blog (http://herinfernalmajesty.com) is about the intersection of fashion and technology, which I began because I realized how bizarre it was that we feel the need to separate these two fields, even though they so clearly go hand in hand.
I think that just as men have gradually become more comfortable in speaking irony-free about fashion, (Hello, #menswear!) so are women slowly becoming more comfortable in speaking about technology.
Donna says:

November 10, 2012 at 1:50 am · Reply

I haven’t seen that show yet, but I have worked in tech for much longer than I’ve been blogging. Sadly, there is a definite gender gap in the field, and there are still many people who don’t think women are good at technical jobs. I’ve had a few jobs where I wasn’t allowed to do something but a man with less experience was. Hopefully as time goes on people’s minds will continue to change about women’s technical abilities.
It’s hard to say how seriously viewers will take the Bravo show. If they’re smart they’ll realize that it’s television, entertainment. I think social media and blogging are different from purely technical work, and women have a better chance at being recognized in those fields.
Donna
http://www.prettysparklythings.blogspot.com
VienneMilano says:

November 10, 2012 at 10:27 am · Reply

As a woman who worked in the high tech for many years, I can assure you that there is certainly a gender gap in the field. For example, in most executive meetings only 10% were women. Since there are so few women in this industry, it is not surprising that we are mis-represented – particularly by the media.

Aside from that, the high tech industry is not a fashionable one. Therefore, no matter how fashionable you may be, it is very likely for you to feel out of place.

As a woman, I genuinely enjoyed working in high tech field. I absolutely love the people I worked with. However, I left the industry to follow my passion, which is to start a fashion brand.

http://www.viennemilano.com
Sistatech says:

January 1, 2013 at 2:11 pm · Reply

The numbers are low for women in technology and tech startups. I think the field has been dominated by men for a long time and thus their is a stereotype associated with the field -geek, nerd. And, if you don’t fit the mold and look the part of a person that doesn’t care about your appearance only the ‘code’ you maybe seen as superficial or not focused. I disagree. I loved the NYT article on women Techies in Silicon Valley and how they want to be themselves loving fashion and looking good, while also being a smart women with career goals and achievements. We need to focus on what people say and do and let people show their individual style whatever it may be. I call it Tech driven, fashionably styled.

What do you think?

Nasreen says:

November 9, 2012 at 4:54 pm · Reply

I think that woman are definitely becoming stronger and more powerful in the tech industry business. I never even gave it a thought that its mainly dominated by men!

http://lazyobsession.blogspot.com

Jessica M says:

November 10, 2012 at 1:12 am · Reply

My blog (http://herinfernalmajesty.com) is about the intersection of fashion and technology, which I began because I realized how bizarre it was that we feel the need to separate these two fields, even though they so clearly go hand in hand.
I think that just as men have gradually become more comfortable in speaking irony-free about fashion, (Hello, #menswear!) so are women slowly becoming more comfortable in speaking about technology.

Donna says:

November 10, 2012 at 1:50 am · Reply

I haven’t seen that show yet, but I have worked in tech for much longer than I’ve been blogging. Sadly, there is a definite gender gap in the field, and there are still many people who don’t think women are good at technical jobs. I’ve had a few jobs where I wasn’t allowed to do something but a man with less experience was. Hopefully as time goes on people’s minds will continue to change about women’s technical abilities.
It’s hard to say how seriously viewers will take the Bravo show. If they’re smart they’ll realize that it’s television, entertainment. I think social media and blogging are different from purely technical work, and women have a better chance at being recognized in those fields.
Donna
http://www.prettysparklythings.blogspot.com

VienneMilano says:

November 10, 2012 at 10:27 am · Reply

As a woman who worked in the high tech for many years, I can assure you that there is certainly a gender gap in the field. For example, in most executive meetings only 10% were women. Since there are so few women in this industry, it is not surprising that we are mis-represented – particularly by the media.

Aside from that, the high tech industry is not a fashionable one. Therefore, no matter how fashionable you may be, it is very likely for you to feel out of place.

As a woman, I genuinely enjoyed working in high tech field. I absolutely love the people I worked with. However, I left the industry to follow my passion, which is to start a fashion brand.

http://www.viennemilano.com

Sistatech says:

January 1, 2013 at 2:11 pm · Reply

The numbers are low for women in technology and tech startups. I think the field has been dominated by men for a long time and thus their is a stereotype associated with the field -geek, nerd. And, if you don’t fit the mold and look the part of a person that doesn’t care about your appearance only the ‘code’ you maybe seen as superficial or not focused. I disagree. I loved the NYT article on women Techies in Silicon Valley and how they want to be themselves loving fashion and looking good, while also being a smart women with career goals and achievements. We need to focus on what people say and do and let people show their individual style whatever it may be. I call it Tech driven, fashionably styled.