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A Word About Women

Pondered by Nat 2 years ago, mid-August

I read Women 2.0 this morning and figured it was time to jot down some of my thoughts on the role of women in technology, business and as consumers.

Women in Technology Businesses

While I was browsing around the web reading all the great Web 2.0 sites out there, I realized that a majority of these applications cater to men. Not because of the purpose that they serve since they are “made” for all sexes, but being designed, programmed and coded by men there usually isn’t an ounce of female input involved in the product. Now that may be par for the course, but isn’t that a bit strange?
- Wisdump

It is obviously harder to find females in technology - I am used to spending my life as the solitary female, or one of a vastly outnumbered group. I know there is a big push to drive more women into technology, but I must say, in the meantime the most forward thinking industry in the world today is shooting itself in the foot by not having a large chunck of the diversity that drives innovation. The 'token female' is not a badge I would ever like to wear, however, simply being a female in a heavily male dominated industry gives you something that males will never have - the female mind. And that in itself is extremely valuable.

In my experience, women like technology for vastly different reasons than men - I hated computers until I saw them as a means to communicate and suddenly it all made sense to me, however the thrill Tim gets from understanding how it all works underneath is simply not there for me.

This is just one of the gajillion reasons that I brought Tyme White on board at 9rules. She does everything that a guy can do in her position (and more), but also offers something a man could never do and that is give us the female perspective on things that we so desperately needed. Now we still have a long way to go to understanding where she is coming from on certain things, but believe me when I say we are starting to get on the same wavelength no matter how much adjusting it takes.
- Wisdump

Women as Consumers

I have always been amazed by some of the best business minds out there, who doggedly refuse to see women playing any sort of a significant role in business. The results of this is that the products they offer to women consistantly fail to give us what they want.

In New Zealand, women play netball, men don't (largely). However, I feel like it is safe to bet that a male designed the hideously short skirts that all netball players wear. For goodness sake! It is very difficult to focus on a game when your knickers are constantly on display, and it prompts the all-to-common saying "Only a man would have designed this!".

But it's not just female only purchases you are jeapordising by not incorporating women:

If you have any sort of knowledge about today’s economy you know that women control a majority of all major purchasing decisions. I know at my parent’s house nothing major gets bought without my Mom’s go ahead (sorry Dad). Same with my grandparents.- Wisdump

Something to Think About

When an industry that is meant to be driving worldwide change and racing us towards the future, has issues with including women, straight away you have an opportunity.

So next time you design something or have an idea about a new site, ask a female what she thinks about it and you will get a honest answer which will go a long way in letting you know how successful you will be.
- Wisdump

… Because it seems even the most forward thinking in the space are still getting it wrong. (I'll give you a clue: your audience isn't just male and females aren't there to simply offer our opinions on the great ideas generated by males)

5 Responses to “A Word About Women”

olivier blanchard Says:
August 15th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
Awesome post!!!
Anonymous Says:
August 16th, 2006 at 12:45 am
Getting into business with a woman was the best move I've made in business! Balance is everything.
Gavin Heaton Says:
August 16th, 2006 at 9:12 am
Great post, Nat. I have actually been thinking how best to respond to your article.
I have been lucky to work with some of the smartest, most generous and talented people in the IT industry here in Australia, and some of the most inspiring of these leaders are women. And I am sure that EVERY DAY they had to break down more barriers … regardless of how high they climbed the corporate ladder. It is a constant battle … and not just for women. Those who listen only to men get one side of the story … and are impoverished for it.
Julia Dorofeeva Says:
August 18th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
I have always said that women are more flexible. They do not concentrate on details. They see the whole image. That’s why their new look may be called a fresh one. may be that’s why it’s so difficult to get into a woman’s mind: Everyone understand the details (they are concrete), noone will have the same image about generals, abstract things.

I agree that women consumers are more imprtant cause they make decisions, women bosses are more creative and women friends are worse then men. In this case men win )
Jamesb Says:
August 23rd, 2006 at 3:46 am
Nowhere is this more evident than in gaming. Jesus, the whole games industry is pretty much a homage to male geek fantasy and is so immature. But the 2.0 world is also guilty of being systematically sexist not only in the way it executes and designs [most of which wreak of pubescent male aesthetics] but in the very propositions it puts out.

Nat, give me 5 sites, games, services etc that you think serve as inspiration for developing things for women [and men].