Comments on: Attending Techy Conferences as a Female

By: Elliot

Elliot — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:01:08 +0000

Rosalyn – I think you inspired the new social signal cartoon: http://www.socialsignal.com/cartoon/cherchez-la-femme

By: Vanessa Alvarez

Vanessa Alvarez — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:42:57 +0000

Being a tech analyst in this industry, I face this everyday…being taken seriously is no small feat. You do have to prove yourself more than the guy next to you, otherwise you “don’t know what you’re talking about”. Unfortunately, in order to gain a reputation you have to take definitive stands in anything you think or say, no matter what.
It was great meeting you last night, let’s keep in touch.

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:21:28 +0000

I was relieved that I knew a few people the first time I went to Code4Lib, although it turns out to be a very friendly crowd, so my nervousness was unwarranted. There's a local tech event that I won't name that I've sworn I won't attend again without dragging a colleague, after spending one lunch break standing awkwardly eating pizza alone, possibly the only woman in the room. I'm currently taking CS classes and am thinking about attending the Grace Hopper conference as a way to get my feet wet in nonlibrary tech events. Having started my program as a slightly older student I've already got a case of imposter syndrome and a mostly female event seems like a more comfortable way to start. So I definitely don't think you're crazy at all.

By: Heather D.

Heather D. — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:10:07 +0000

I think a lot of us have the same feeling. I sometimes feel that way just going to work (I work in the tech industry). I went from being in a (somewhat unusual) group of 7 with 3 women last year, to now being in a group of 12 where I’m the only woman, so all the insecurities about being good enough in tech are rearing their heads again.

By: Karen Coyle

Karen Coyle — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:42:40 +0000

I’ve been doing this for about 30 years and I still go through some of the same stuff. (http://www.kcoyle.net/howhard.html) The first time I went to a major computer conference (MacWorld) they had porn booths in the exhibit hall! with the actresses signing CDs of their work. It was not a comfortable moment. I attended DefCon II with a group of women who went to “crash” the conference, and we were the only non-girlfriends there. It’s especially hard because in many cases women do NOT approach tech in the same way as men. One of my favorite quotes is from Ellen Spertus, Prof. at Mills College, who has said: “I want to prove that you can be rigorous AND nurturing.” I think that’s a great goal.

By: Dorothea Salo

Dorothea Salo — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:14:16 +0000

That’s part of the reason I make a point of commenting on posts like this. :)

By: Rosalyn Metz

Rosalyn Metz — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:58:07 +0000

Thanks Dorothea! It helps that you commented because I thought people might think I was crazy for saying it.

By: Dorothea Salo

Dorothea Salo — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:33:15 +0000

Thank you for saying this. I have had the same feeling… in fact, I’m very nervous about a conference I’m going to in a couple of months.