Talibanism in Technology: 7 Reasons Why Women in Tech are Invisible

by Deepa Kandaswamy

Sat, Aug 14, 2004 11:57AM

A lot has been written about the Taliban’s treatment of Afghan women, which resulted in the worldwide outcry against women wearing full-length burkhas, which rendered them invisible and the denial of their fundamental rights. However, there’s not even a whimper about the systematic Talibanism of women in technology, which has made them invisible throughout the ages. Despite a large number of talented and successful women in the field, why is it that society tends to associate only men with technology? This appears to be a global phenomenon, cutting across class, race, and the development of countries.

Talibanism in Technology
Seven reasons why women in technology remain invisible...

by Deepa Kandaswamy

"(...)
"I think that the number of women in science and technology is certainly
larger than zero but it is a small percentage—5% or less," says Dr
Hemker, German Physicist at Credit Suisse. Aggressive women get labeled
as bitches. There is a program in California for ‘bossy broads,’ women
whose assertiveness scares men and whose companies send them to learn
how to ‘temper’ their behavior. Implicit attitudes are difficult to
change. When a woman shatters these myths and succeeds in the technical
field, she is made out to be a honchess, arrogant feminist or said to
have slept her way through to the top. Instead of being accepted for
their accomplishments, successful women are questioned as to how they
became successful.
(...)"

For more information: http://www.dqindia.com/content/special/103...

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