The opening sentence starts the same way as most articles about women in technology, making us feel like an endangered species. (Crikey!) But then it gets worse, and worse, and worse. I feel like printing and framing it.

The things I could say about this...

Because we're afraid of cooties. Snark snark snark.

Could you possibly have a more provoking question if you tried?

Apparently you *can* have a more provoking question.

I like frilly interfaces and flowers myself. NOT.

Completely missing the point!

ARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!

More than I'd trust a certain reporter, apparently.

The following segment is just... horrible.

• Q Is Anita Borg a real name?
• A Anita Borg was the founder of the Institute.
• Q Was that before Star Trek: The Next Generation, or after?
• A It was really her name.
• Q Bad luck.
• A She passed away a few years ago from brain cancer. She was a very dear friend of mine and I took over here a few years ago.
• Q Oh. I'm a terrible human being. Is that what you're saying?
• A No no, she used to have these big pictures of Borg all over her house. She was a Star Trek fan.

...

...

...

There are no words to explain how terrible the article is. It is downright irresponsible of the Toronto Star to publish something this insensitive and disrespectful, considering the pressures that are already on women in technology.

Should we cut Jen some slack just because she's a fourth-year Ryerson University journalism student, or the Toronto Star for giving its columnists free rein? At what point are journalism students supposed to gain common sense? Jen asked those questions, typed up the interview, and the Toronto Star published it. At what point was someone supposed to go, "Wait a minute, what is this article saying?"

ARGH! Read, blog, link, whatever: clueless journalist. Her e-mail address is jgerson@globeandmail.ca . Help her learn not to do that again.

On Technorati: women, cascon2006, cascon06, cascon, rant

Random Emacs symbol: compilation-find-file - Function: Find a buffer for file FILENAME.

On Technorati: socialtech, women

I love wearing quirky little things like that. It gives people a whatzit and invites them to talk to me. I've had random conversations with people because of the Tux penguin pin, for example.

Stuff like that helps me establish myself as a geek girl instead of just someone's significant other at tech events. I *really* should make a sticker that reads: "Emacs: More than just a text editor. It's a way of life!" Or "(I (think (in (LISP))))"

Hmm. There's a book about writing for bumper stickers. I should request it. Fortunately I don't have the budget or space for an inkjet printer, so I'm forced to find other ways to make these little jokes happen...

On Technorati: socialtech, geek, women

She quit because her job had challenged her integrity. "For five years I worked at a technology company, working on a piece of software that was crap. And we all knew it. And we worked with our clients, with this piece of software, everyone fully knowing that it was a piece of crap. Yet we still had to implement it, put on a brave face, and once it went live... disappear."

Oftentimes, our work challenges our integrity. That's one of the barriers we face as women in technology. Not just crude jokes and administrative tasks, and everyday situations where our integrity is challenged. That's why Leesa considered quitting technology altogether.

Leesa also called attention to how horrible a job women do supporting each other. Five women in a team of 200, and they didn't even feel comfortable having lunch with each other for fear that their managers would misconstrue it.

She fell in love with technology again when she discovered podcasting, and has been passionate about it ever since. She's chosen not to focus on the negative stuff that she encounters in the industry, and instead has chosen to surround herself with positive experiences and individuals. That's her strategy, and it's worked really well so far.

Leesa ended her speech with a call to support each other and to look at solutions instead of just focusing on problems. And she's right: a positive outlook breeds positive outcomes!

On Technorati: socialtech, women

She spoke of the need to encourage more women to go into math- and science-intensive programs in education because women usually lack this background in high school and college, which makes it harder for them to get into IT.

Hong described a few of the challenges women deal with at work. Even among women who have prepared well, many of them don't feel comfortable in the "boys' club." Traditional IT men tend to compete to be "as incomprehensible as possible." Another challenge facing women and technology is the balance between family and work. If they get into a high-speed track, they can find it hard to keep that balance. Hong shared an interesting observation: women often find that the long hours aren't really necessary, but men enjoy lingering around the workplace. Women also struggle with different standards for success. While men are expected to be good providers, the modern woman is expected to be both a good careerwoman and a good wife.

She recommended more women-friendly curricula that provide stronger technical backgrounds and, more importantly, promote gender equity.

On Technorati: socialtech, women

ISisters builds community centers that help women on social assistance learn how to use technology. Cathy described one Inuit woman: "Very cool to watch a grown woman send her first e-mail, and then a week later, see 12 emails from her family and friends up north whom she hadn't connected with in a long time."

She also mentioned the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance - Women in Technology (CADA-WIT), which has just opened a Toronto chapter.

Cathy spoke about her passion for the technology and the effect that sharing this passion had on the women she taught. Through encouragement, sharing and being a positive role model, she transforms the lives of the teenage mothers, natives, and new immigrants who go through iSisters.

—-

I'd love to help out with something like that when I'm older. That way, I can not only help people become more comfortable with technology, but also help them make the most of life.

On Technorati: socialtech, women

Someone jokingly mentioned a study that claimed that the probability of marriage was proportional to a man's IQ but inversely proportional to a woman's. Quinn added that this study has been ripped apart in blogs before, but the factoid nonetheless sparked an interesting discussion about alpha females and relationships. And yes, despite my consensus-building, nurturing side, I'm still very much an alpha-type geekette.

This should make life interesting.

On Technorati: women, relationship

Jane and Nadia are thinking of putting together a workshop right before the Social Tech Brewing August event. The workshop will teach foreign-trained IT professionals the basics of (social) networking, giving them greater confidence and helping them make the most of the session. I'd love to help out with that!

There _are_ cultural barriers. I'm lucky because I can speak English clearly and confidently. I'm lucky because school gives me a natural opportunity to get work experience - that all-important Canadian experience that people look for. I'm lucky because networking is fun for me. I like connecting with people.

Not everyone is that lucky, and hey, I struggle with cultural differences or self-doubt from time to time...

In this, too, I want to be an evangelist. Evangelizing IT and inspiring confidence in women isn't a matter of talking _at_ them, but rather I need to listen to people's concerns and tell people stories: stories about other people who've faced similar problems, stories of approaches to try, stories of who they themselves can be in the future...

On Technorati: women, socialtechbrewing

Random Japanese sentence: 赤ん坊は猫の尾でおもしろく遊んでた。 The baby was amusing itself with the cat's tail.

# What are the challenges facing women in IT today? What can we do to change these challenges? # What is the definition of women in IT? Roles for women in technology does not necessarily have to be restricted to "pure techie", perhaps it's our perception about women in IT that needs to change. # The non-profit sector has always been a female dominant sector. Is this true for technology roles as well? If not, why? # Who are some of the leaders/organizations out there that are making a difference for women in technology? What innovative projects are they working on? # Best practices/tips for women who woud like to get a career in technology. # Do female foreign trained professionals in technology have more barriers to overcome? Are there any existing resources for these women?

On Technorati: women

E-Mail from Phillip Smith

Random Japanese sentence: 犬はその特性が猫とは異なる。 A dog is distinct from a cat in physical characteristics.

The most egregious example of gender-bias in English is, I think, the existence of two words for students. Male students are students; but female students are co-eds. This originates in schools being for males only. So, when they allowed girls to come "along" (this is what co- means), they were viewed as nonessential appendages. Kind of like Adam being created independently, and then Eve was formed to assist him. I have insisted that all my students expunge this word from their vocabulary. I no longer allow them to say they live in a co-ed dorm, for example, since that implies that the dorms are really there for the one sex only. There are only male dorms, female dorms, and mixed- gender dorms (although this is a misnomer, since gender is not the same as sex; but we can't very easily call them two-sex dorms without raising eyebrows; unisex might work?).

E-Mail from wsmith

On Technorati: women, issues

Congratulations, everyone. We put a stop to an issue that 'insulted' the dignity of women in the IT industry.

And we did it as one big unruly mob.

Are we a mob?

I don't know. I don't think so.

We stand on our individual pulpits or post in our individual columns and we simply speak our mind, letting other people decide what they think and how they feel about the issue. Even my http://del.icio.us/sachac/digitalpinay links feels like a shopping-list of other people who wrote about the issue, and I'm sure there are other blogs out there I hadn't seen.

Nowhere on those blogs did I see anything even remotely close to a physical threat. People joked about having "Digital Pinoy", a male version of the contest. People suggested flooding the mailbox with fake application forms or complaints, or calling them up to register their protest. In fact, some people suggested just promoting it as a beauty pageant instead of something different. I did not see a single thing directed toward the potential contestants. I don't work that way, and chances are, neither do you. I do not know anyone who'd make such a threat. As a rule, the geeks I know prefer the pen over the sword. This is not to say, of course, that no one out there can make that kind of threat. All I'm saying is that there are many, many of us who are more moderate than the press release implies.

I was outraged enough to want to raise hell about it. I didn't want this to be an issue that quietly slipped by. I wanted them to know that I thought what they were doing was wrong. They were perfectly capable of continuing with the original plan, I knew, but maybe they'd listen to the points I raised. I helped spread the word to other people because it was something far bigger than my little corner of the Internet or my little perspective on life, and I was not disappointed by the variety of insights I gained.

I am not against PCS, and I am certainly not against promoting technology. This was not some master plan to bring down PCS nor was it a symptom of crab mentality. I sincerely want to promote computer science in our country, and I spoke out because I strongly felt that the contest I heard about would do more damage than good. I pointed out flaws and offered suggestions. I knew they wouldn't be able to remove the 'beauty pageant' stigma from the event if they continued with their criteria, so I suggested other things they might do instead.

Was it really all the outrage from blogs? Companies have sponsored highly-criticized events before. The Miss Universe contest has legions of detractors. No, I don't think it was sheer outrage. I'd like to think that the sponsors pulled out not because the contest attracted lots of bad publicity but because the sponsors listened to our thoughts and thought we made sense. Money speaks, and it took the sponsors to make PCS consider other ideas. We argued as well as we could, and that resulted in slight modifications of the event. PCS thought it could deal with the other objections, but it took sponsors to really drive the point home.

It's a pity that PCS focused on extreme reactions in their press conference. Instead of making bloggers feel respected and listened to, they polarized the issue, turning it into an us-versus-them fight. That wasn't the best way to deal with this kind of issue. I would have respected them more if they calmly outlined the issues and thanked everyone involved, but I understand why they said those things. They are also human, and it is hard to be calm when you see a pet project fall apart. Other critics are also human, and it's hard to accept someone's words as face value when you see it more as a cover-up. There must have been better ways to deal with the whole mess, but it's done now, and all that is left to do is to reflect on the whole matter.

I must confess being guilty of taking pot shots at PCS when I think what they say doesn't make sense. For example, I think their cancellation is yet another example of bad PR, and I'm half-tempted to volunteer to edit their press releases from now on. I'm allowed to have and express opinions. I'm not a journalist, just a geek. I care not only about my work but also the culture and environment I work in.

That said, they're fine, and they did have good intentions. I can't imagine Leo Querubin waking up and saying "I think I'd like to have a sexist contest," and I believe them when they say they weren't thinking of making it a beauty contest. They just didn't think about it hard enough. Who here hasn't made mistakes like that before? Who here hasn't been defensive about mistakes, trying to rationalize them as long as possible before realizing they were wrong? I appreciate how they invited us to join the press conference, although the timing was bad for practically everyone. (A Saturday would've been better, really, or they could've just held it online. That would've been much more fun!) I appreciate how they asked someone who understood the other side to serve as a consultant. (Hi, Ranulf!) I appreciate how, to the very end, their intentions were sincere. I don't think they were in this just to make money. I think they just picked the wrong way to achieve a goal, and then a wrong way to save face.

PCS still serves a valuable purpose. They have other projects and they don't need to be replaced or destroyed. Besides, there is no organization ready to step into the gap. I hope that the lesson they carry away from all of this is not that the public does not understand them, but that we understand their objectives too well to let them quietly make mistakes. We speak because we care.

Are we a mob? A thousand voices exploding on the Internet may seem like a chaotic mess, but if you listen carefully you would be able to discern the clear, calm tones of people like Dominique, Joey, and Sean. You would hear people who spoke from their hearts _and_ their minds, like Clair and Xenia. You would even hear non-IT people with a clear understanding of the issues, like Marcelle. We are not a mob. We are simply people who know what we believe in and who care too much to be silent.

I will reflect some more on this if other people have interesting posts, but in the meantime, I would like to thank the bloggers who shared their thoughts, the journalists who helped us raise awareness of the problem, and the rest of the gang for listening in.

Although it could have gone better, it was good that we did this.

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, soapbox, philippines

Asked what he has learned from the experience, Querubin said: "Well, actually a lot. One is that people really think differently. I was very surprised at the public briefing that some people apparently feel that others don?t have the right to use a word [such as] ?digital? differently from the way they use it.

Hmm. Apparently, they managed to annoy more than just us crazy bloggers. Who'd have thought?

The organizers added that threats to splash acid on the contestants and flood the contest's e-mail address with spurious application forms, also contributed to their decision to cancel the event.

Splashing acid on contestants isn't our kind of thing, although the _organizers_, now... *ahem*. No, no, we're not into physical damage. We'd be happy to flood their e-mail box or otherwise inconvenience PCS, but we don't cross over into meatspace. Definitely some other angry group. What fun.

Asked what he has learned from the experience, Querubin said: "Well, actually a lot. One is that people really think differently. I was very surprised at the public briefing that some people apparently feel that others don't have the right to use a word [such as] "digital" differently from the way they use it.

Now that is a rather strong spin.

I know the people who went to the public briefing. They're nice, rational people who were willing to give PCS a chance. We might not like the way PCS just throws around the word "digital", but we said it might be very misleading, not completely wrong for PCS to use.

That's probably just because we're more in tune with geeks today than they are.

Anyway, good riddance to that Digital Pinay thing. I hope they go back to focusing on the national programming contest, and I hope they do it better this time. I did that schtick throughout high school. Great experience, although PCS screwed up every now and then too.

(Psst! They have a professional category! Reunion, anyone?)

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, philippines

I think we've reached an acceptable compromise. The Philippine Computer Society is dropping the offensive beauty-pageant-like parts of "Digital Pinay 2005" and they've clarified their position.

If the contest is clearly marked as a search for future managers, I think it will not negatively affect the image people have of the technical side of things.

I still believe there are more effective ways to get an idea of someone's leadership potential than through text voting or clothes modelling. Presentations and business case analyses could give contestants a more realistic idea of what skills will be useful in their professional lives. Women who can speak and write well will be far more effective leaders than those chosen on the basis of looks or on the number of friends who are willing to sink money into a text popularity campaign. Then again, all contests make some kind of simplification. As the organizer, PCS decides what to search for.

I think it is time to let PCS figure out what to do with their concept. Perhaps they'll make it a success; perhaps they'll have problems fulfilling their admirable goals. Whatever happens, we have all learned much from the experience. We have learned the power of protest, and perhaps PCS has learned to be a little more careful. (At the very least, it knows it needs better public relations.)

I believe that "Digital Pinay 2005" can be a good idea if handled well. PCS has invited influential women like Sun head Cynthia Mamon to judge contestants. If these judges could make time in their busy schedules to guide the winners, perhaps having lunch every other week or even just once a month, then the winners of "Digital Pinay 2005" would win far more than monthly participation in PCS activities. They would gain guidance and mentorship.

I do not regret speaking up about this. I do not regret going public with my opposition to the original form that circulated through e-mail. I do not regret pointing out the deficiencies in the original contest structure. I do not believe this was something that could be handled quietly. PCS needed to clarify its position not only to those of us noisy enough to complain about it but also to other people who might have received only the form. I am glad that the furor caused by this has revealed that most people won't take this kind of nonsense.

In the course of checking this out and keeping track of the activity through my shared bookmarks, I have met so many wonderful people through their blogs. Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. Let's get together on a couple of projects—that summer camp idea looks like a good start, and I'd gladly volunteer time for that.

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, philippines

My former grade school principal, Lala Castillo, had wrinkles around her eyes that showed how much she smiled. I never saw her dressed in sharp business suits. I think she was always in flowing skirts or sensible pants. She knew all of us by name. As a child, I wondered if I could just skip being an adult and be old and wise like she was. I think she's beautiful.

Didith Rodrigo, the chair of the computer science department, is not one for beauty pageants. I don't think she wears make-up. But she made us feel welcome. She knew what she was talking about, and she could explain herself very clearly. She was also a great listener. I think she's beautiful.

If PCS wants to judge on "beauty"—which basically means how much does a woman resemble advertisements—then they risk closing their eyes to the real gems, people who can _really_ inspire others.

As for me, I'm going to stay in my own little world where results matter more than appearances, where ordinary people become beautiful when you get to know them.

I'm glad that I'm not spectacular. At least that way, I don't have to worry about people speculating about my breast size, unlike one of my friends who occasionally has to put up with that despite being a brilliant physicist. At least that way, I know people pay attention to my ideas and not just to my body.

I still feel a little insecure from time to time. Am I where I am just because I'm a girl, just because I was in the right place at the right time? Would I have gotten as far if people didn't make a fuss over the fact that ooh, look, a girl's _really_ into tech?

Then I go online and talk to people who don't know anything about me, people who even assume I'm a guy until the regulars laugh and correct them, and I realize that I'm good enough on my own.

That's an assurance the DigitalPinay winners might not have, because they'll wonder: was I hired because my resume was good and I can really make a difference, or was I hired because I won a beauty pageant?

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, philippines, rant

They say that the contest is a search for future chief executive officers and chief information officers, and have decided to keep their original criteria: 20% popularity (text votes, another revenue-generator), 20% personality (sound bites in the question and answer portion), and 20% poise (modeling business wear, formal wear and sports wear). Oh, right, and 40% intelligence and achievements, but since that's all evaluated behind the scenes, we'll only get to see the 60% part.

They also deny that it's a beauty pageant and claim they never intended it to be one. And oh, oops, the first application form was a complete mistake—they didn't mean to send *that* version to the press mailing list. They *really* meant to send these sanitized application forms: ../personal/digitalpinay-coed.doc and ../personal/digitalpinay-pro.doc. So they'd like to tell all you outraged bloggers that you're barking up the wrong tree. It really isn't a beauty pageant. Even if there's a "Coronation Night" competition where people are judged on how they wear clothes instead of, say, their business plans or their ability to give presentations. Even if there's a text voting thing.

All I can say is that if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

Whatever.

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, philippines, rant

Indeed it does. After all, they're looking for future managers, and managers really do need soft skills. So that's their market. They're not trying to define a good IT professional in terms of technical wizardry. This is MIS.

They're not saying you have to be pretty to be a good geek. They're saying you have to be pretty—este, personable—in order to be a good manager. Which is all too true and we're used to that, I guess.

I wonder if they'll ask the contestants in the "Search for the Most Outstanding CIO" to model sportswear. I still think that if you're looking for future leaders, you should ask them to make speeches instead of strut around in several different kinds of clothes. You should ask them to make a difference in their community.

I also don't think we lose our femininity by focusing on ideas and accomplishments. In fact, we express it by not highlighting it, not making it the center of attention. I want more attention paid to the fact that we get results through taking risks and working hard than to the accident of our gender.

Anyway. It's their org. It's their money and it's their name. At least they've clarified their position. I have a feeling there's nothing more I can do about that. We're talking about completely different things.

You know what my problem is? I keep thinking that the C in PCS means they're even vaguely related to the stuff we do. But right, right, they're business-related, and that's a completely different world. I just have to remember that. I really should remember that PCS is a professional organization, and their definition of IT is very different from our definition of IT.

You know what? I think I'll stay out of the corporate world. I love teaching. I love showing people that they can do anything they want to do in IT. I love hacking on open source. I don't want to have to dress up in a suit to work on something cool with other people.

I guess it's time to resume life. I have things to hack on.

Thanks to everyone who listened.

PCS to push through with Digital Pinay 2005 - INQ7.net

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, philippines, rant, soapbox

These were the original apps forms.

- http://sacha.free.net.ph/notebook/personal/digitalpinay-coed.doc - http://sacha.free.net.ph/notebook/personal/digitalpinay-pro.doc

For comparison, the form I received in a forward is here:

- http://sacha.free.net.ph/notebook/personal/digitalpinay.doc

I like how the rules are no longer included so that they have more time to make up their mind. I like how the form does not mention the controversial prize of P 25,000 (look! the average monthly salary of an IT professional!) or the form of the contest.

It is entirely possible that there really was just a simple misunderstanding.

It is entirely impossible for everyone to believe that.

It is also probably impossible for them to reach everyone the first forwarded form(s) reached. They have opened up a can of worms, and they cannot neatly stuff all the worms back in.

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, philippines, rant

IBARRA "Bombing" C. GUTIERREZ
Editor-in-Chief & Publisher
Media G8way Corporation
3rd Floor, Eurovilla II Building
118 V. A. Rufino St. (formerly Herrera St.), Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines
Tel. (632) 840-4227; Fax (632)894-2487 Mobile +639178955739
E-mail: icgutierrez@mediag8way.ph

E-Mail from Dominique Cimafranca

I'm in Japan, so I can't go. I'll prepare a list of questions later, though. Who can make it?

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, philippines

mac_bolan00 posted on Jan 20 2005, 12:42 PM

just a guess: beauty pageants offend ugly women, or those half into it. examples of the latter are homely computer scientists sniffing at 'Miss IT' pageants. the above guess is as much of an insult as it is fact. as a way to soften it, i'm of the opinion that all sane women are beautiful and desirable but never mind me.

well then, i'll throw a different question at you. supposing this IT pageant was meant to benefit indigent but talented students who wish to major in IT, will you still complain at the way society commoditizes beauty, particularly in women?

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, philippines

I wonder if call centers are now considered part of IT (may computers naman sila eh, hehe).

May talent portion ba? Pano to, fastest woman who can assemble a PC? Or the usual scrabble/hangman programming test? Pabilisan mag-crimp ng RJ-45? Hehe.

To quote a friend: "Buti na lang walang height requirement."

Juskupu.

Chette Soriano • www.chette.com

E-Mail from Chette Soriano

On Technorati: digitalpinay, issues, women, philippines