| > Recent posts on the problems of gender inequality in the tech and science fields have continued to reinforce the idea that women are subordinate to men. This seems to be one of the main points of this post, but I do not agree. By and large women are subordinate to men in the business world and women do encounter personal and institutionally oriented sexism in tech. Acknowledging and talking about living and dealing with that reality do not reinforce that sexism, that sexism already exists and is a prevalent force and women already know this because they live the experience. On that: > The sad thing is the effect of repeating these issues on those people who are already affected by the issues themselves, i.e. women who are struggling for equality in the tech and science industries. Hearing that this is a problem, that their field isn’t fair, that men are not including them in the industry the way they should… these negative sentiments are being drilled into the minds of people who could actually change this for the better. Isn't part of the problem that women are undermined in their attempts to make their working industry and business lives better? What efforts are taken and how they are hampered is directly linked to the current state of how people are treated in business and tech. Sharing that experience is one of the few ways that women can begin form the basis of action that changes communities for the better or creates communities for themselves. I totally agree with the OP's points of action. However, there are limitations that are externally imposed by women who entered in tech and they have a right to know that. Others have a right to criticize and call out others for sexist rhetoric. On this the OP says: > No more ‘calling people out’ for making mistakes unless we’re offering to help them fix it. Someone who is receiving unfair treatment has absolutely no obligation to the person treating them unfairly to be nice to them, so I do not believe this can every be helpful advice where there is a power imbalance. For folks who are peers or part of the same peer group, calling out sexism is an important part of not letting that sexism perpetuate. |