[Linux-aus] geek feminism - from the other side

[Russell Coker]

On Tue, 1 Mar 2011, Eyal Lebedinsky <eyal at eyal.emu.id.au> wrote:
> Mmm. I resent the claim that men (which I am one) are somehow inferior
> to women in IT.

Whenever there is a factor which makes it more difficult for a group then 
members of that group who participate will tend to be more dedicated, and this 
usually results in being more effective.

When I worked in London in 1999 Australians were well regarded in the IT 
industry.  The Australians I worked with in Australia through the 90's didn't 
seem to work any harder than the British people I worked with in London.  But 
as London is about the furthest place from Australia that one might go to 
advance their career the Australians in London were quite dedicated and did a 
good job.  I'm sure that any British people who moved to Australia to advance 
their career would be equally dedicated.

When I was at university in 1991-1993 among the Australian students in my 
course there weren't many women, but the few women were very dedicated.  They 
knew what they wanted and worked hard to get it.  Having a slight preference 
for hiring a female applicant would reduce the probability of getting a 
slacker.

I don't think that men are inferior.  It's just that the women who are less 
dedicated departed long ago.  But the IT industry is still a place where a man 
with minimal talent can earn a decent salary.

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