Part of my job at school, is the manage all the technology in the classrooms. As such, I'm a huge supporter of girls in typically male career roles. Technology and sciences especially. Therefore, when a friend of mine posted this article on facebook, I was annoyed and appalled. This really needs to stop. Is it STILL that hard to believe that whatever boys do, girls can do as well?
A very important message about sexism in the tech industry:
This past weekend, at a major technology conference in Silicon Valley, two men presented a disturbing smartphone app called "Titstare." Their presentation of the app, which objectified and demeaned women on a giant screen, was the first at AOL's Techcrunch Disrupt event - meant to spotlight the future of the industry. It was one of two presentations that day which made it clear that women are still not entirely welcome in Silicon Valley.
Unfortunately, many in attendance were likely accustomed to the hostile treatment of women in the tech industry. However, in the audience on Sunday was also 9-year-old programmer Alexandra Jordan, a young girl who would later present her own app, which allows kids to organize play dates with classmates. Alexandra's remarkable story was overshadowed by the mistakes of the men who came before her.
Whether we look at the team that built the "Titstare" app, or those at Techcrunch that approved it (the company has since apologized), it's clear that we need more women in tech. Not just because women deserve to be represented better, but because girls like Alexandra should be inspired to pursue their technological dreams - without being made to feel like objects for the male gaze. But in the current culture, with its institutionalized sexism and continued marginalization of women, this is exactly what's happening.
So we must continue to call out sexism in the tech world whenever we see it. We should also share innovative stories like Alexandra Jordan's with our own family, friends and colleagues. Her accomplishment has the potential to inspire more girls and women to explore technology and remind boys and men that girls are just as capable and deserving of respect.
Share this message with your fellow peers. In this way we can ensure that future generations will attend tech conferences full of Alexandras - and free of sexism.
Onwards,
Jennifer Siebel Newsom & The MissRepresentation.org Team
A very important message about sexism in the tech industry:
This past weekend, at a major technology conference in Silicon Valley, two men presented a disturbing smartphone app called "Titstare." Their presentation of the app, which objectified and demeaned women on a giant screen, was the first at AOL's Techcrunch Disrupt event - meant to spotlight the future of the industry. It was one of two presentations that day which made it clear that women are still not entirely welcome in Silicon Valley.
Unfortunately, many in attendance were likely accustomed to the hostile treatment of women in the tech industry. However, in the audience on Sunday was also 9-year-old programmer Alexandra Jordan, a young girl who would later present her own app, which allows kids to organize play dates with classmates. Alexandra's remarkable story was overshadowed by the mistakes of the men who came before her.
Whether we look at the team that built the "Titstare" app, or those at Techcrunch that approved it (the company has since apologized), it's clear that we need more women in tech. Not just because women deserve to be represented better, but because girls like Alexandra should be inspired to pursue their technological dreams - without being made to feel like objects for the male gaze. But in the current culture, with its institutionalized sexism and continued marginalization of women, this is exactly what's happening.
So we must continue to call out sexism in the tech world whenever we see it. We should also share innovative stories like Alexandra Jordan's with our own family, friends and colleagues. Her accomplishment has the potential to inspire more girls and women to explore technology and remind boys and men that girls are just as capable and deserving of respect.
Share this message with your fellow peers. In this way we can ensure that future generations will attend tech conferences full of Alexandras - and free of sexism.
Onwards,
Jennifer Siebel Newsom & The MissRepresentation.org Team
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