Comments on: More thoughts on gender in the Web world http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world KBlog by Kimberly Blessing Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:07:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Anne 2.0 » Blog Archive » Working with the Architecture of the Space http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world#comment-9919 Anne 2.0 » Blog Archive » Working with the Architecture of the Space Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:31:13 +0000 http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world/#comment-9919 [...] Is it a gender thing? Who knows. There are plenty of women blogging frequently with attention to popularity (I do so–on Web Worker Daily, but I don’t do it out of a personal urge). But it does seem to me that women publish less frequently than men and may be less likely to post on something just because it’s news and might get them noticed. This behavior means they’re less likely to get linked to, less likely to become more visible, and consequently less likely to be invited to events targeted at influencers like this one. [...] [...] Is it a gender thing? Who knows. There are plenty of women blogging frequently with attention to popularity (I do so–on Web Worker Daily, but I don’t do it out of a personal urge). But it does seem to me that women publish less frequently than men and may be less likely to post on something just because it’s news and might get them noticed. This behavior means they’re less likely to get linked to, less likely to become more visible, and consequently less likely to be invited to events targeted at influencers like this one. [...]

]]> By: Kimberly http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world#comment-9891 Kimberly Wed, 28 Feb 2007 03:10:50 +0000 http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world/#comment-9891 My comments are a generalization, but I still stand by them. I'm getting tired of men telling women, or women telling other women, that their perceptions are wrong -- they may not be <em>your</em> perceptions of the world, and there may be others out there whose perceptions don't match, but that doesn't mean that the way a person feels is wrong. (Didn't you ever watch Sesame Street?) I also don't understand how anyone can truly say they're gender blind in cases where an individual refers to their sex, or their name gives it away. And even if one does remain blind to the gender of a writer, how does that help one's understanding of what the person is saying? My comments are a generalization, but I still stand by them. I’m getting tired of men telling women, or women telling other women, that their perceptions are wrong — they may not be your perceptions of the world, and there may be others out there whose perceptions don’t match, but that doesn’t mean that the way a person feels is wrong. (Didn’t you ever watch Sesame Street?)

I also don’t understand how anyone can truly say they’re gender blind in cases where an individual refers to their sex, or their name gives it away. And even if one does remain blind to the gender of a writer, how does that help one’s understanding of what the person is saying?

]]> By: Kelly Christopherson http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world#comment-9890 Kelly Christopherson Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:43:40 +0000 http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world/#comment-9890 Very interesting discussion. I've often wonder if, because men and women view things in a different light, we tend to do things in a different way and interpret things differently. As we make progress in one area, we realize that things in another area are being thrown off balance. So, while we have responded to the lack of females in certain disciplines and choosing various careers, we have paid little attention to young males. Now we see fewer males than females going to secondary education creating a different dilemna that will need to be tackled. As for the comment, I take exception to your interpretation of the remark painting all men as "one" with the undertone that "we" all do that and to get somewhere you have to be like "us". I don't agree with the comment nor do I agree with your position. I take the comment for what it is, his point of view much the same as I take other bloggers comments and posts as their point of view - not male or female. By the way, I've met women who do this sort of thing as readily as men. Very interesting discussion. I’ve often wonder if, because men and women view things in a different light, we tend to do things in a different way and interpret things differently. As we make progress in one area, we realize that things in another area are being thrown off balance. So, while we have responded to the lack of females in certain disciplines and choosing various careers, we have paid little attention to young males. Now we see fewer males than females going to secondary education creating a different dilemna that will need to be tackled. As for the comment, I take exception to your interpretation of the remark painting all men as “one” with the undertone that “we” all do that and to get somewhere you have to be like “us”. I don’t agree with the comment nor do I agree with your position. I take the comment for what it is, his point of view much the same as I take other bloggers comments and posts as their point of view – not male or female. By the way, I’ve met women who do this sort of thing as readily as men.

]]> By: Derek K. Miller http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world#comment-9886 Derek K. Miller Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:30:21 +0000 http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world/#comment-9886 In 1992 I was part of a university task force which said that the Internet of the time excluded women and non-whites, and that needed to change. While the Internet as a whole has improved in 15 years, software and web development still have some work to do. In 1992 I was part of a university task force which said that the Internet of the time excluded women and non-whites, and that needed to change. While the Internet as a whole has improved in 15 years, software and web development still have some work to do.

]]> By: Virginia DeBolt http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world#comment-9882 Virginia DeBolt Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:30:17 +0000 http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world/#comment-9882 Thanks for mentioning my BlogHer summary. Every day could bring a new summary, there is so much being said about this. I decided to make a personal commitment to try to change the gender percentages by stepping away from my usual hidey-hole and sending proposals to at least two new conferences and at least two new publications. http://www.webteacher.ws/2007/02/i-decided-to-quit-complaining-and-take.html I like what Meri did as her action step. I mention it in the post linked to above. Thanks for mentioning my BlogHer summary. Every day could bring a new summary, there is so much being said about this.

I decided to make a personal commitment to try to change the gender percentages by stepping away from my usual hidey-hole and sending proposals to at least two new conferences and at least two new publications.
http://www.webteacher.ws/2007/02/i-decided-to-quit-complaining-and-take.html

I like what Meri did as her action step. I mention it in the post linked to above.

]]> By: Megan http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world#comment-9880 Megan Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:37:21 +0000 http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world/#comment-9880 That's an interesting point about academics. I'll have to forward this to my sister and see what she thinks (she's a professor). That relates to my ideas about lack of confidence too - low confidence means you think you have to be better so you get to be perfectionistic about your work, and therefore publish less. Scoble's quote is a good one too. I'm really glad this topic has gome up again because it's given me the chance to make a lot of new connections with women in the field. I will be adding a lot more blogers to my feed list and will try to keep making connections and linking around etc. :) That’s an interesting point about academics. I’ll have to forward this to my sister and see what she thinks (she’s a professor). That relates to my ideas about lack of confidence too – low confidence means you think you have to be better so you get to be perfectionistic about your work, and therefore publish less. Scoble’s quote is a good one too.

I’m really glad this topic has gome up again because it’s given me the chance to make a lot of new connections with women in the field. I will be adding a lot more blogers to my feed list and will try to keep making connections and linking around etc. :)

]]> By: Meri http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world#comment-9879 Meri Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:17:50 +0000 http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/archive/2007/02/27/more-thoughts-on-gender-in-the-web-world/#comment-9879 Hi Kimberley I had the same thoughts -- what we need to do is to help create the inclusive, supportive environment whence more diverse speakers can come. And so, in the geek way, I have created a website to help: http://www.makemeaspeaker.com Would love it if you could help spread the word and possibly even come and contribute :-) Hi Kimberley

I had the same thoughts — what we need to do is to help create the inclusive, supportive environment whence more diverse speakers can come.

And so, in the geek way, I have created a website to help:
http://www.makemeaspeaker.com

Would love it if you could help spread the word and possibly even come and contribute :-)

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