Women in Technology

Sorry to put a blog about work on here but I just have to get this out. I work in technology and in my particular role there are approximately 400 of us worldwide and of those there are 35 females. So a few of us thought we would put together a lunch with the 35 to network, bond and cut our hands to become blood sisters. Organize future pillow fights, and exchange recipes - you know the usual stuff girls do!

So we organize the event during our next worldwide meeting held later this month in beautiful Las Vegas. Send out the invite to the group and we get a wonderful response. Except of course ONE higher form of life ''female who responds with something like this:

"I have NEVER considered myself a minority because I am a woman working in technology. I thought I was hired as a person for my abilities and brain, not the shell of the body I am in. I just deal with things like everyone else because this is the job I am in. I don’t expect extra concessions because of being female as that is very insulting to me."

Well, actually that is EXACTLY what she sent back. And of course my first response involved things that dont translate well into an email and have lots of hand gestures and flailing about. So, since I am on the clock and on company email, I pulled my pants up and refrained from the initial response. HOWEVER - this is my own, free-form, offend who I want, non-corporate sponsored, 5th amendment right blog of all blogs! I am sure you can figure out the hand /finger motions that immediately pointed at the screen while reading the response..... to an invitation to lunch! Moving on I am forced to craft a PC response only to point out the fine print that this is not a corporate sponsored event and has nothing to do with EOE, Equal Rights, Women for the rights of road-kill, Group for banning all books and media from all schools and libraries, Radio Broadcasting for the Deaf, Drive Thru ATMs for the blind or banning religion from churches. We are just simple folk looking for a free lunch. AND, by the way Ms. 'I dont want to be treated any different than a concrete wall' we declined from sponsorship by the corporate Equality group b/c of said stigma!

I also dont expect special treatment or think I have special needs. Websters definition of a minority is : the smaller in number of two groups constituting a whole; this is just math people! We happen to be in a male-dominated field and women inherently have a different set of challenges and HEAVENS FORBID we get a gaggle together when the opportunity arises to share some useful tips and tools of survival! Oh, and by the way - we wont be offended if you decline the invitation (aka PLEASE dont come and I forgot to tell you that we moved it to Alaska in January - hope you can make it). And seriously you get an invitation to lunch and respond so rudely (see previously mentioned hand gestures) - did you just not have a mother and are taking it out on the rest of us? Get over yourself! But please dont injure the properly brought up polite young man that thinks you might appreciate or say 'thank you' if your door were opened for you! The topic did arise along the lines of equality that we not ask about family and the home unit, etc...so one person suggested maybe the option that some people are of the 'other' group (aka transgender or of the like) OK, then go visit the HR office and get yourself a different check box and a giant raise but I guarantee if we were so overly sensitive to every possible option and named the group "Vagina's in Technology" we would certainly offend more than just the one!!!! And I will be sure to make her buy her own drinks, change her own flat tire and oil, massage her own neck and open her own door even if her hands are full of bags, babies and she is balancing a variety of sports balls on her head while holding dirty cleats in her teeth (I dont say that from experience). And by no means am I suggesting that the powerful anomaly breed of women cant do all of the above and more with one hand tied behind our backs, but regardless of who opens whos door, buys the drink or changes the tire - a simple thank you is in order!