[sqeaky]

Maybe because plumbing and HVAC aren't growing at the same exponential rate as IT. Few fields are.

Maybe because by pure statistics[1] or by anecdote men tend to have greater upper body strength than women. This matters when replacing 50x 10kg condenser coils or carrying 10 meter long segments of steel pipe up stairs. But it doesn't matter at all when solving problems in front of a keyboard and a compiler.

[1] one example in hand grip strength - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17186303

[TheAdamAndChe]

Why should exponential growth be a prerequisite for equality?

[sqeaky]

In the long run it shouldn't be.

In the short term, it means firing experienced people of one class to hire inexperienced people of another. Fast growth means that equality can be reached faster with just equal training and hiring.

[TheAdamAndChe]

I see what you're saying and it makes sense. I disagree with the underlying assumption that differences between men and women are purely cultural and that all nonphysical jobs should be evenly distributed among the sexes, but if you disagree, then what you are saying would be a great way to create a more even distribution between the sexes.