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Lawsuit Shakes Foundation of a Man’s World of Tech
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/technology/lawsuit-against-kleiner-perkins-is-shaking-silicon-valley.html?_r=3&smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto
(snip)
The complaint, laced with accusations of professional retaliation after spurned sexual advances, has riveted Silicon Valley, whose venture capitalists generally prefer media attention for their businesses and deals, not themselves. Instead of talking about the New New Thing, people are discussing an old, old problem. And they are taking sides.
Although the accusations have yet to be heard in court, even some of Ms. Pao’s critics concede that she is exposing an uncomfortable truth about Silicon Valley: starting tech companies in 2012 is still a male game, and so is funding them.
(snip)
Of course, it depends on your perspective. Sandy Kurtzig was one of two female engineering students in her class at Stanford in the late 1960s and is still in the game, with a start-up funded by Kleiner. She always tried to take the valley’s sexism in stride — “When men made passes, I just downplayed it so the guy doesn’t feel he’s being put down when rejected” — but is disappointed by its persistence.
“I am shocked there aren’t more women in high positions in Silicon Valley,” Ms. Kurtzig said. “I always thought the world was going to be gender-blind.”
...
(snip)
The complaint, laced with accusations of professional retaliation after spurned sexual advances, has riveted Silicon Valley, whose venture capitalists generally prefer media attention for their businesses and deals, not themselves. Instead of talking about the New New Thing, people are discussing an old, old problem. And they are taking sides.
Although the accusations have yet to be heard in court, even some of Ms. Pao’s critics concede that she is exposing an uncomfortable truth about Silicon Valley: starting tech companies in 2012 is still a male game, and so is funding them.
(snip)
Of course, it depends on your perspective. Sandy Kurtzig was one of two female engineering students in her class at Stanford in the late 1960s and is still in the game, with a start-up funded by Kleiner. She always tried to take the valley’s sexism in stride — “When men made passes, I just downplayed it so the guy doesn’t feel he’s being put down when rejected” — but is disappointed by its persistence.
“I am shocked there aren’t more women in high positions in Silicon Valley,” Ms. Kurtzig said. “I always thought the world was going to be gender-blind.”
...
Those last two paragraphs present a very nice snapshot of one of the reasons so little has changed.
Ms. Kurtzig expresses surprise that things haven't become gender neutral, after having explained how she let men get away with treating her in an unprofessional manner and not a colleague and an equal.
Yes, women, if you downplay sexism and misogyny, that actually enables it to continue. It encourages the behavior when you don't call it out.
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12553712#post21
You are right about this:
I called the vendors out on it, but not my coworkers. Because I didn't want to be that b*tch nobody liked.
I am not a tech geek anymore so it doesn't come up now... I changed careers a few years back.
Hopefully today I would do better (rather than just putting my head in the sand and trying to "blend"
. I can see now where I failed but damn... back then, I just wanted people to like me. It was hard enough being the only girl in the room.
You are right about this:
Ms. Kurtzig expresses surprise that things haven't become gender neutral, after having explained how she let men get away with treating her in an unprofessional manner and not a colleague and an equal.
Yes, women, if you downplay sexism and misogyny, that actually enables it to continue. It encourages the behavior when you don't call it out.
Yes, women, if you downplay sexism and misogyny, that actually enables it to continue. It encourages the behavior when you don't call it out.
I called the vendors out on it, but not my coworkers. Because I didn't want to be that b*tch nobody liked.
I am not a tech geek anymore so it doesn't come up now... I changed careers a few years back.
Hopefully today I would do better (rather than just putting my head in the sand and trying to "blend"
. I can see now where I failed but damn... back then, I just wanted people to like me. It was hard enough being the only girl in the room.
