Harassment & unfair treatment of women in IT - Can we change the behavior and culture?
As a woman, have you experience harassment or discrimination on the job? It seems that it is as prevalent as ever…How can we unlearn all of the perceptions and discriminations that we learn as we grow up? These are the questions I am pondering as I’m reading a New York Times article on the research published by the Center for Work-Life Policy, a nonprofit organization that studies women and work.
Based on data from 2,493 workers (1,493 women and 1,000 men) polled from March 2006 through October 2007 and hundreds more interviewed in focus groups, the report paints a portrait of a macho culture where women are very much outsiders, and where those who do enter are likely to eventually leave.
According to the study, women at the age of 35-40 leave their tech jobs…some completely drop out, and some leave for “softer” job…due to the non supportive and hostile work environments.
The 147-page report is filled with tales of sexual harassment (63 percent of women say they experienced harassment on the job); and dismissive attitudes of male colleagues (53 percent said in order to succeed in their careers they had to “act like a man”); and a lack of mentors (51 percent of engineers say they lack one); and hours that suit men with wives at home but not working mothers (41 percent of technology workers says they need to be available “24/7”).
How much more evidence can we get to finally prove that things need to change?
Here are two stories of two different women….
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Tech Republic’s Women in IT series: Esther Dyson
Sonja Thompson, a news editor at Tech Republic, has launched a Women in IT podcast series, which consist of interviews of women who are currently working in IT, their careers and technology in general. I had the pleasure of participating in the Women in IT series in September 2007.
This month Sonja interviewed Esther Dyson, who is a commentator on emerging digital technology and is known as a pioneer in many technology circles. She is a great role model for Women in IT and I would definitely recommend listening to the podcast interview.
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