Gender Boundaries in Tech: Men at Women’s Conferences — Acceptance or Overstep?
As I take a quick break from my busy planning for SwitchCon tech conference. I wanted to share something intriguing with you before I go underground for a while.
Recently, I stumbled upon a tweet that sparked quite a debate. It revolved around a conference exclusively organized for women that saw some men identifying as non-binary attending. The conference organizers clarified that they welcomed non-binary attendees but not men. This sparked a flurry of opinions — some criticized the men for attending, while others questioned the need for gender-specific conferences, arguing that they might not solve the inclusion issue.
Let’s pause for a historical perspective: Did you know the first programmer was a woman?
Meet Ada Lovelace, who is celebrated as the world’s first computer programmer. Back in the 1830s, she recognized that a computer could follow a series of simple instructions (a program) to perform complex calculations. Ada’s journey into computing began when she met mathematician Charles Babbage, the brains behind the Difference Engine, a mechanical calculating device. Lovelace found inspiration in Babbage’s work and became his lifelong friend. Together, they envisioned the Analytical Engine, a far more advanced computing machine. It’s clear that it was collaborative work between two people who saw an opportunity without even thinking about their gender.
Today, we see a higher male presence in science and technology. Not necessarily because they are naturally more inclined, but because they happen to find these industries genuinely fascinating. Meanwhile, many women choose to pursue careers outside of tech, driven by their own passions and interests. In response, there have been numerous initiatives aimed at promoting gender diversity and inclusion in tech. However, the reality is that many tech events, even those open to all genders, tend to be predominantly attended by men.
The reality is that men attending tech events isn’t about posing a threat to women. Many are driven by a genuine passion for tech and a sincere desire to engage in these events. If event organizers were to deliberately exclude women, that would indeed be a grave injustice, but I’m not aware of any such occurrences.
From my personal perspective, I’m committed to promoting inclusivity within my initiatives. My selection criteria are founded on competence, not gender. If a woman possesses the skills and expertise necessary for the task at hand, I wholeheartedly welcome her to my team. After all, it’s all about getting the job done effectively.
In the grand scheme of things, it all boils down to choice. We can encourage and champion women in tech, but ultimately, personal preferences will reign supreme. Just as we have more women in professions like nursing, the path we choose is often guided by our interests and passions.
The key takeaway here is that while we can inspire and create opportunities for women in the tech industry, the power of choice should never be underestimated. Inclusion should be about embracing everyone who’s passionate about technology, just as Ada Lovelace once did with the Analytical Engine.
Catch you on the flip side,
Stay inspired ❤️
Temidayo
