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The Style Geek: Weighing In On Women In Technology
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Over the next few months, we’re going to be making some exciting changes to the EE-Tech-News blog. One of those changes is the addition of monthly columns written by Matt, Gary and me. My column, The Style Geek, will focus on the three aspects of technology that I’m personally passionate about: social media, women in technology and the occasional intersection of fashion and technology. In this, my inaugural column, I explore the reasons why women are their own worst tech enemies (Technemies? Did I just invent a new word?) and suggest a few ways we can change ourselves in order to change the ratio.
Stop Worrying, Start Doing
I’ll be honest, I’ve shied away from the “issue” of women (or the lack thereof) in technology because I thought that I had no new ideas to bring to the table. Having started to work in the tech industry late in the game (2009), I’m constantly worried that I’m one step behind my peers. Being a right-brained thinker who writes about technology for a living, I sometimes feel inferior to my left-brained, web developing colleagues. I mean, if you’re not programming a web app, you’re not a true techie, right? Wrong! The more I stop and think about it, the more I realize that the way I view my own status in the tech world is part of the reason why there aren’t more women working in this industry.
Everyone once in a while, I’ll post a blog entry and then fret over whether it’s insightful enough, whether it’s well written or whether this will be the piece that exposes me as someone who only started working in technology two and a half years ago. Take it from someone who knows, self-doubt is paralyzing; and I’d venture to say it’s what keeps many women from applying for that job at Google or pitching that startup idea. What if I’m not good enough? What if they don’t like my idea? What if I fail?
Ladies (and gentlemen), let me tell you that if it’s not a prospective employer or a venture capitalist who tells you no or shoots down your idea, someone else at some other point in your life, will. And the sooner you learn to stop worrying about what other people think or what they might say, the sooner you can pitch, launch, write, apply or do whatever it is you’ve been meaning to do. As Kati London, Director of Product for Zynga, said yesterday at a women in technology event hosted by Glamour Magazine, “If you pay too much attention to ‘getting it right,’ you’ll be getting it wrong.”
(And yes, for the record, I’m going to start taking my own advice.)
Embrace femininity
A few weeks ago, I saw a tweet from Venture Beat’s Jolie O’Dell asking women to stop making startups about fashion, shopping and babies. She said those women are “embarrassing her.” I could not disagree more with Jolie. Now is precisely the time when women should be launching startups about fashion, shopping, babies -- or whatever else they are personally passionate about.
Recent studies show that women use social networks more than men and we all know that women have some serious purchasing power. Furthermore, a recent study by The Nielson Company showed that while men have typically been ahead of women in their adoption of new technologies, women are catching up—especially when that technology is social, relevant and improves their daily life. And whether Jolie wants to admit it or not, the daily lives of many women consist of fashion, shopping and babies.
So whether it’s a web app that pings the local diaper service every time the hamper’s full or a website that connects local female business owners with one another, as long as it’s useful, it’s worth launching! If you don’t believe me, just ask Jess Lee.
Get with the program
As I mentioned before, I’ve wrongly assumed for many years that you needed to know how to code to be truly geek chic. And while I’m amazed by what the Marissa Mayers, Kati Londons and Hilary Masons of the world (or any web developer, male or female, for that matter) can produce, that doesn’t mean that those of us who don’t have a passion for programming don’t have anything to contribute to the tech scene. As an aspiring tech journalist, it’s the Kara Swishers and the Sarah Lacys of the world who I admire most. Those of you who are business minded could look to Sheryl Sandberg or Meg Whitman for inspiration; and if you’re social by nature and want to use your people skills to make a difference, follow Stacy Brown-Philpot’s career.
Perhaps if we stop worrying about what other people think and realize that now, more than ever, the tech world is ready to embrace our uniquely feminine qualities, there will be more Style Geeks out there.
-Jenn Prentice
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Google +
Stop Worrying, Start Doing
I’ll be honest, I’ve shied away from the “issue” of women (or the lack thereof) in technology because I thought that I had no new ideas to bring to the table. Having started to work in the tech industry late in the game (2009), I’m constantly worried that I’m one step behind my peers. Being a right-brained thinker who writes about technology for a living, I sometimes feel inferior to my left-brained, web developing colleagues. I mean, if you’re not programming a web app, you’re not a true techie, right? Wrong! The more I stop and think about it, the more I realize that the way I view my own status in the tech world is part of the reason why there aren’t more women working in this industry.
Everyone once in a while, I’ll post a blog entry and then fret over whether it’s insightful enough, whether it’s well written or whether this will be the piece that exposes me as someone who only started working in technology two and a half years ago. Take it from someone who knows, self-doubt is paralyzing; and I’d venture to say it’s what keeps many women from applying for that job at Google or pitching that startup idea. What if I’m not good enough? What if they don’t like my idea? What if I fail?
Ladies (and gentlemen), let me tell you that if it’s not a prospective employer or a venture capitalist who tells you no or shoots down your idea, someone else at some other point in your life, will. And the sooner you learn to stop worrying about what other people think or what they might say, the sooner you can pitch, launch, write, apply or do whatever it is you’ve been meaning to do. As Kati London, Director of Product for Zynga, said yesterday at a women in technology event hosted by Glamour Magazine, “If you pay too much attention to ‘getting it right,’ you’ll be getting it wrong.”
(And yes, for the record, I’m going to start taking my own advice.)
Embrace femininity
A few weeks ago, I saw a tweet from Venture Beat’s Jolie O’Dell asking women to stop making startups about fashion, shopping and babies. She said those women are “embarrassing her.” I could not disagree more with Jolie. Now is precisely the time when women should be launching startups about fashion, shopping, babies -- or whatever else they are personally passionate about.
Recent studies show that women use social networks more than men and we all know that women have some serious purchasing power. Furthermore, a recent study by The Nielson Company showed that while men have typically been ahead of women in their adoption of new technologies, women are catching up—especially when that technology is social, relevant and improves their daily life. And whether Jolie wants to admit it or not, the daily lives of many women consist of fashion, shopping and babies.
So whether it’s a web app that pings the local diaper service every time the hamper’s full or a website that connects local female business owners with one another, as long as it’s useful, it’s worth launching! If you don’t believe me, just ask Jess Lee.
Get with the program
As I mentioned before, I’ve wrongly assumed for many years that you needed to know how to code to be truly geek chic. And while I’m amazed by what the Marissa Mayers, Kati Londons and Hilary Masons of the world (or any web developer, male or female, for that matter) can produce, that doesn’t mean that those of us who don’t have a passion for programming don’t have anything to contribute to the tech scene. As an aspiring tech journalist, it’s the Kara Swishers and the Sarah Lacys of the world who I admire most. Those of you who are business minded could look to Sheryl Sandberg or Meg Whitman for inspiration; and if you’re social by nature and want to use your people skills to make a difference, follow Stacy Brown-Philpot’s career.
Perhaps if we stop worrying about what other people think and realize that now, more than ever, the tech world is ready to embrace our uniquely feminine qualities, there will be more Style Geeks out there.
-Jenn Prentice
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Google +
About This Blog
The EE Tech News blog is produced by Jenn Prentice, Gary Weyel and Matt Stanford. Prior to joining Experts Exchange in 2009, Jenn worked as an editor at Metro Magazine (Raleigh, N.C.). Gary is a 10-year veteran of the advertising/marketing industry and has done work for numerous global brands. Matt is the Experts Exchange Marketing Coordinator by day and Penn State legal student by night.
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