[mblack1968]

I've been reading HN for a few years now. The tone of the response to women in IT hasn't changed much. I kept believing that if I were good enough, smart enough, and if people liked me enough, I would get ahead.

Turns out, there's a real ceiling on where I can go. Not because I lack talent. I am very good with people. My last manager believed I would be a VP at the company someday. I maxed out at that fake "architect" role made for people that require more money but can't be promoted to management. This was a large F-50 type organization.

We found that the HR departments at very large companies definitely improve diversity up and down the ranks. But there is a blockade that eventually presents itself.

This blockade can probably be summed up mathematically: The first females to go up stream will always be white. As the number of females up the ranks increases, the less obligation white males feel to grant other minorities the same privilege. Eventually, it works out to where there will be a multitude of white women paving the way at VP level, and until they die off or retire, the blockade prevents advancement for anyone else.

I call it the "wall of white women" with a sub-wall of "white male architects" waiting for their chance. If the minority applicant is not blindingly obviously superior to the wall of white males just beneath the wall of white women, there's no chance.

Unfortunate. I find it kind of hilarious and enjoy watching it form at every single major corporation.

[MollyR]

I'm a first gen korean-american woman (I guess after 30 its weird to call yourself a girl). I've definitely seen this situation too, it was a little depressing.

So I've been bouncing around startups,and even started contracting under my own c-corp to make connections and money. The respect difference has been unreal. I've had to toughen up significantly, you have to really learn to read bs and move on without emotion.

That's another option you can take, I'm personally enjoying it right now.

[mblack1968]

Thank you for responding! I like hearing solutions. Listening to my own whining is tiresome.

To your point, I left my large F-50 employer this summer and started at a smaller company. I am strongly considering contracting. Your response is encouraging.