Forum Moderators: phranque
I work with a dozen different vendors of internet related services, have lots of networking contacts within the internet biz and have a department here at work. In all cases, I deal with more women than I do men.
She seemed less surprised than I was.
Seriously, she could out code most of the webmasters I know, but brings an element few male webmasters can ... the ability to synergize, which I feel women naturally have the ability to do. It is just a matter of time until more women figure out the easy job we have and start coming into the market in droves.
Cheers,
CaboWabo
When I attended my first pubcon in Boston, I'll admit I felt a bit outnumbered, but certainly not unwelcome by the guys. Because of my username, a lot of people seem to be surprised I'm a woman when they first meet me. Each pubcon though, I see more and more women coming out.
There are women in this industry (webmaster, programming, SEO, affiliates) and some of them will be the most kick ass competitors you will ever come across.
As anyone who has posted there can attest, she is an absolute master at css and css-p code. Puts many of us verbose men to shame. (That lady can pare down a CSS file and pin-point a browser bug faster than nobody's business.)
Gender has nothing to do with design or coding skill. It's all about the smarts. Which, my wife tells me, is all about the gender. But then she's also a raging lunati...I mean, feminist. ;)
cEM
These pioneers took it upon themselves to inform, teach and enlighten millions of budding Web developers.
They were instrumental in making Web site creation accessible to the general public.
When I attended my first pubcon in Boston, I'll admit I felt a bit outnumbered, but certainly not unwelcome by the guys. Because of my username, a lot of people seem to be surprised I'm a woman when they first meet me. Each pubcon though, I see more and more women coming out.
that was actually something that had crossed my mind- how out of place I'd really feel. it'd be a bit awkward if there were practically no women around in the cons. (I haven't yet made it to one yet, though)
According to the whole male brain versus female brain theories, men tend to do better at technical skills like maths and programming, whilst women tend to do well with language and communication. Webmasters need a range of skills from both traditionally male and female-dominated areas, so it should be no surprise that there's a mix of both sexes taking part.
you could argue that that's mostly social, really. in all-female schools, the number of girls/women pursuing traditionally masculine fields of study (especially technical/math heavy stuff) really skyrockets.
"From my imagination, this is a quite male dominated industry, right? "
Is that supposed to deter us? :o)
I started out getting my BA in English with the intention of being a writer and took as many computer/internet classes as I could squeeze in and started doing websites for friends on the side and it developed into my sole business. I prefer promoting the writing of others more now but it sure helps to have the BA under my belt when it comes to proofreading client's input.
I write all my code by hand and thus I don't have to upgrade expensive web design programs.
How many men here write their code by hand?
[edited by: Lorel at 4:21 pm (utc) on Dec. 6, 2004]
I think that there are probably more women in the business than many people think. They just aren't as apt to make themselves known, is all. That is not a snap at either side, but many of us women, due to effects of traditional roles and whatnot, are still learning the art of networking so the men don't notice us as much.
I think that's very true, but I think there's more of us than there was a few years ago...
What I call myself depends on what I'm trying to convey - there's just so many hats you can wear as a webmaster.
LisaB
there's just so many hats you can wear as a webmaster
Only in this thread would accessorizing your career choice be an issue (oh god, please let them understand that was a joke).
This is true of males and females in the web industry. What do any of us call ourselves that will make an impact to those outside of the field?
Blogs don't write themselves.
Couldn't resist, please don't flame me to death, I am just kidding :)
I've never been one to let others' expectations and stereotypes determine what I can (or can't) do ...
[Caveat: not everyone WANTS to go further into the business - so maybe that's where she is as well.... Or maybe you'd prefer not to have her here where she can see some of your posts? That's not being mean, btw, just had that thought....]
I can definitely confirm the comment made earlier about all-women colleges. I went to one- the percentage of women in the sciences was amazing. It didn't affect me thought, as I'm not one to let men influence my decisions in any way!
I don't really think it's a case of male versus female, either. More of how each person's brain is. I know quite a few men who are designers and artsy. And I know quite a few women who are more technical. Just depends on your strengths and how you use them. Some of us were born with the ability to understand technical concepts. Others were born with the ability to draw, paint, etc.
any ways keep it up girls
three cheers for u all here
hip hip
hip hip
hip hip
hurray!
At PubCons and the board, I always feel welcome (although outnumbered by the males). It was awesome to see more of a co-ed group in Vegas for PubCon. Female webmasters are here, and a lot more are finally starting to be more visible. And it's also cool that there are some who are hard core spammers, just like the boys, totally breaking the sterotype (again). ;)
I wish to Propose a Toast to all the ladies here.....Raising a Wine Glass now...."Here's to all the Ladies in this business....Thank you for making this place lively". <<
Either everyone missed it...or no one appreciates my toast :(
regards,
Prash.
You're welcome :) I prefer to raise my Starbucks cup instead of a wine glass this early in the morning ;)
From my imagination, this is a quite male dominated industry, right?
I dominate them every chance I get. There's nothing "soft" about my skills.
I'll leave the rest up to that imagination of yours.
Darn, wish I thought of that line first ;)
Without Laura Lemay, Elizabeth Castro and Lynda Weinman, I honestly don't think the Web would have blossomed as it did in the mid-90's.
I am often taken as a man because of my name. I am an old-time programmer and regard myself as a software developer rather than designer. But I turn my hand to a bit of design as well. I knew a woman quite a few years ago who ran an all-female software house.
Actually, there are no prejudices when it comes to gender, race, religion, etc. while participating in online communities. There are no predisposed prejudices as we do not know who is on the other end in most instances. This makes for an environment that is free of all that stuff we get to face daily in our offline lives. A good portion of my social life occurs online. I probably need to get a life, huh?
Well, Starbucks 4 U, wine 4 me as it is night time here.
regards,
Prash.
I'm a web developer, a web designer, a former SysOp and former FideoNet member, an early adopter and any other "male dominated" label someone might want to try using (outdoors enthusiast, hiker, backpacker, etc.)
We're out there, we just don't see the point the wearing our low-cut blouses ALL the time when we're trying to get work done. :)
Best team I ever worked on in a Fortune 500 company was all male except for me. The guys were awesome, my boss was awesome, and the women I worked with outside of our team (many of whom were senior IT analysts or project managers) were superb. The only time being the only female on the team ever came up? Some newly hired PhD (a woman with a degree in cognitive psychology of all things) approached me and asked, dumbfounded, "Doesn't it bother you to be the only female on your team?" I smiled and told her, "No, why ever would it? We're all geeks and programmers."
[edited by: Triarii at 7:50 pm (utc) on Dec. 6, 2004]
Salud, Prash and all! It's noon-ish here, so I'm into beer....
