http://giffconstable.com/2010/02/thoughts-on-techcrunch-silicon-valleys-gender-problem/ Giff Constable's blog on technology, media, startups, and whatever else interests me Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:14:00 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://giffconstable.com/2010/02/thoughts-on-techcrunch-silicon-valleys-gender-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-231 sue Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:08:30 +0000 http://giffconstable.com/?p=468#comment-231 Yes, there is discrimination. And it is enormously hard to get promoted as a woman. There is still a mindset that men won't take direction from a woman, and if you are a man who is a different race - white and the team is all Indian or black and the team is all white, they won't promote you. There is a societal force larger than the "can-do" individual and the dude writing here is in denial. In fact, studies where the same resumes are submitted as a man's name or a woman's name most of the time gets call backs as a man. A scientist recently underwent a sex change operation to become a man, and he is surprised at how he is accepted now. Discrimination is not about winning or being the best and brightest or even free market. It's about cronyism at its worse. Without legal penalties and social penalties, it blooms. Unfortunately, improving things won't be a matter of gentle positive vibes and affirmations, but due to the work of activists. Yes, there is discrimination. And it is enormously hard to get promoted as a woman. There is still a mindset that men won't take direction from a woman, and if you are a man who is a different race – white and the team is all Indian or black and the team is all white, they won't promote you. There is a societal force larger than the “can-do” individual and the dude writing here is in denial. In fact, studies where the same resumes are submitted as a man's name or a woman's name most of the time gets call backs as a man. A scientist recently underwent a sex change operation to become a man, and he is surprised at how he is accepted now. Discrimination is not about winning or being the best and brightest or even free market. It's about cronyism at its worse. Without legal penalties and social penalties, it blooms. Unfortunately, improving things won't be a matter of gentle positive vibes and affirmations, but due to the work of activists.

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