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Honestly, I really do not understand why women being programmers is such a hyped concept. I have seen many women as doctors, lawyers and in science. Women might
by mycodebreaks 15y ago
Honestly, I really do not understand why women being programmers is such a hyped concept. I have seen many women as doctors, lawyers and in science. Women might be more interested in other professions, which I think is the only reason that keeps women from working as programmers or engineers.
Definitely, the problem, if it is a problem, is due to choice women make, not due to their abilities.
- ceol 15y agoWomen becoming programmers is hyped for the same reason women becoming doctors and lawyers was hyped decades ago: diversity fuels innovation. They're interested in other professions because the culture surrounding programming is such a "boy's club", it's like a nigh-impenetrable shield. And it's not so much they're interested in other professions as they are pushed away from programming. The lack of women in programming isn't their fault. It's ours.
- lrhot9 15y agoPlease name a couple of diversity-fuelled innovations
- ceol 15y agoHere are a couple of links to lists of contributions by women to various fields. Medicine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_medicine#Pioneering_women_in_medicine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_medicine#Pioneering_wo... Computing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Computing#Timeline_of_women_in_computing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Computing#Timeline_of_... Engineering: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_engineering#Notable_women_in_engineering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_engineering#Notable_wo... Geology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_geology#Female_geologists http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_geology#Female_geologi... Hopefully it's apparent that having a fresh viewpoint on a problem or in a profession is valuable.
- lrhot9 15y agoSurely you can see that those lists doesn't answer the question. "Nineteenth century British geologist" isn't an innovation, and a woman contributing to a field does not mean that "diversity fuels innovation".
- ceol 15y agoI'm sorry. I don't have a list of innovations that happened because an underprivileged person joined a profession and used their world view. I could say the rise in Facebook/casual gaming proves there was a market going untapped, but I'm not sure if that was done by a woman/casual gamer, so I'm hesitant to use it. I was hoping it would be apparent that bringing in a different perspective would help a brand or profession appeal to a wider audience, but if you would like hard evidence this happens, I'm afraid I don't have the patience to research it. If that means my point is null-and-void, so be it.
- lrhot9 15y agoI'd agree that bringing in a different perspective helps a brand or profession appeal to a wider audience. What's not apparent is that diversity fuels innovation. They're different statements.
- ceol 15y agoI believe innovation is the next logical step to widening your appeal. You make new and interesting advances when the work you're doing is for a different type of person or project.
- mangodrunk 15y agoHow are women different?
- ceol 15y agoThey are few and far-between in a lot of the tech industry.