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Are you a woman reading this?

Published on Monday, May 12th, 2008

Ok, this is probably one of those publishings that will be a miserable failure, a crash-and-burn post. But hey, we learn from our mistakes, right?

The reason I’m writing this is that the IT and web development business is filled to the brim with men (Hah! Mostly overgrown boys, I mean) who dominate this trade. Therefore, I would like you to prove the general public’s prejudice wrong, and write a comment now if you’re a woman reading this.

Please, show me that there are a fair number of you out there!

Posted in Developing | 29 comments

29 comments

katy lavallee
May 12th, 2008 at 23:48

I’m out here!
Adeline
May 13th, 2008 at 0:13

Hi!
Alexandra
May 13th, 2008 at 2:21

Yep!
Cheope
May 13th, 2008 at 2:45

Hi from Italy!
Deborah
May 13th, 2008 at 3:41

Hi Robert,

I’m here too! I’ve been a reader of your writing for the past three (?) years. I notice the same issue at work (college IT department), in online forums, in college classes, and at conferences that there are fewer women than men.
Jennifer Edmondson
May 13th, 2008 at 4:11

Hi! Another one here… from Australia The token female at my (IT/web dev) workplace
skysophia
May 13th, 2008 at 11:20

HELLO, I am a woman
Jrf
May 13th, 2008 at 11:30

Yet another female coder here, been reading your blog through RSS for over two years at least.
Maaike
May 13th, 2008 at 11:36

Hi Robert,

I’m here! *waves*

I think you should consider writing another post and ask the men to say hello, too. Then you actually say something about the man/woman ratio.
Yoren
May 13th, 2008 at 14:11

Hi, Robert,

I’m a female web developer in Taiwan. I’ve read your blog for more than a year~
Angela
May 13th, 2008 at 16:20

Hi. I am a web designer in the Colorado, USA area. Reading your blog to learn more about development.
Megan
May 13th, 2008 at 16:34

I’m reading
Nancy
May 13th, 2008 at 19:36

I’m out here too. You are right - mostly dudes in this field. My sister is a firefighter, and there are very, very few women there. Funny that we both chose professions with few chicks.
katy lavallee
May 13th, 2008 at 20:23

@Nancy My momma wears combat boots and my gramma’s a trucker! (it’s true)
mdmadph
May 13th, 2008 at 20:26

And here I thought, as all nerd culture has ever taught me, that programming was like kryptonite to women.

Seriously, though — I’ve met plenty of intelligent women in my life, but I hardly ever meet any that are truly interested in programming.
Robert Nyman - author
May 13th, 2008 at 23:27

Thanks everyone, it’s very encouraging to see! It was especially fun to see people who I believe have never commented before to write something.

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

Maaike,

Yes, Maybe I’ll ask for boys/men in a future post, but if they’re not too lazy to comment, my guess is that it’s fairly overwhelming in comparison. Still, seeing that a number of women are reading really makes me happy!
Jennifer Griffin
May 14th, 2008 at 16:06

I’m also a female programmer. I can honestly say I have not met any other female programmers until this year when I started attending user group meetings and events.

We’re still a rare breed.
Stevi Deter
May 14th, 2008 at 18:20

I’m a woman who is a programmer. I’ve been lucky in that most of my career, I’ve worked with other geek girls, and at my current company, we have several smart women. But overall, it’s frustrating. I’m helping to start a Geek Girl Dinners group here in the Seattle/Redmond area to give us more chances to network and have fun.
Frances Berriman
May 15th, 2008 at 11:23

Sorry - bit slow on the uptake.. but you knew I did anyway!
Robert Nyman - author
May 15th, 2008 at 11:31

Jennifer,

Yes, in certain contexts, it takes some time to find female programmers, but they are indeed out there.

Stevi,

That sounds like a great idea! Good luck!

Frances,

Yes, I was wondering for a moment where you were; if I’d lost you or something.
Alissa Miller
May 15th, 2008 at 15:58

Hmm, late to the party on this one. But I am a regular reader.
Robert Nyman - author
May 15th, 2008 at 16:03

Alissa,

It still counts!
Virginia
May 16th, 2008 at 0:41

I actually just stumbled in here via your getElementsByClassName article, figured I’d comment as I am of the female sex!
Erica
May 16th, 2008 at 6:05

I’m also late on the uptake and a female web designer-like person. Can’t really say I’m a fully fledged designer. I mostly do A LOT of research and adapt things from elsewhere. I also arrived at your site for the getElementsByClassName article. That was absolute gold!

Also from Australia, in Brisbane.
Robert Nyman - author
May 16th, 2008 at 7:48

Virginia, Erica,

Good to hear that it helped out, and welcome here!
Leanne
May 18th, 2008 at 16:48

And another one

I’ve been reading your blog for some time so thanks for all the invaluable help!
Robert Nyman - author
May 19th, 2008 at 14:37

Leanne,

Great welcome!
Annelie
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:55

Guess I’ll say hi as well then.
Robert Nyman - author
May 23rd, 2008 at 14:31

Annelie,

Welcome!

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