[clienthunter]

This stuff infuriates me.

> But then last year I spoke at a conference and I heard that the numbers of women in technology was in decline and I thought, 'That isn't right.'

It is not right nor wrong! It just is. To make a statement like this is to give legitimacy to the idea that the equipment you've got tucked between your thighs is in some way relevant to your ability to do the job. Who cares? Just do the damn job and if you encounter some closed-minded fool who thinks your sex lessens you, then beat them down with logic.

Trying to kludge the world into fitting your own little vision of how it should be is a recipe for misery.

> Technology is at the forefront of the economy and women have a vital role to play. When my daughters are born I don't want them to feel like the odd ones out.

Then teach them how to thrive in the face of adversity. God knows they'll find it useful.

[TomGullen]

I don't think you're fully appreciative the hardships minorities in certain environments have to endure from the brazen level to the subtle and hard to isolate incidents.

[Tichy]

I am willing to bet that there are no special hardships for women who want to enter IT. Quite the opposite really.

[clienthunter]

True! How exactly does that improve the case for a moral crusade?

I'm disabled in a way that if I told you, you'd probably consider me worthy of your pity. If I considered it relevant - no less fought for all my similarly defective comrades - I'd be a professional victim and in a constant state of argument with the world. No thank you. I get on with it, dealing with issues as and when. If I was discriminated against, you can be damn sure they'd think differently after I was done with them, and I would be livid if some do-gooder had gone on a crusade and taken it upon themselves to have that battle for me. In fact it'd probably have the opposite effect and cause me to leave the situation - I never, ever want anyone to have the preconceived idea that I'm in some way special. I'm different, yes, but I define the relevance of those differences on my terms.