Sabrina Dent: Freelance web designer, developer and internet marketer living in Cork, Ireland with one dog and a husband in no particular order.
Ladies Who Lunch
Bock the Robber has very kindly invited me out for a pint. Unfortunately, I am otherwise engaged that afternoon.
A few men have sent me mails or Twitters to ask the same question Bock has, namely “If I hosted a blogging event and made it men-only, would a hailstorm of shit not come down on my head?” (So far, no such queries from anyone of the female persuasion.)
My basic position is that there is zero need for a men-only event because men, in their sheer numbers, tend to dominate most tech and blogging events in Ireland. Not, mind you, intentionally; I do not think that men in the sphere we’re talking about here have set out to disenfranchise women from these events. But for a wide variety of reasons, women simply do not engage in these kinds of valuable networking, learning and leadership gigs in the same proportions as their male counterparts.
I am completely used to walking into a meetup, a BarCamp, a conference or an event to find I am the only woman, or one of a very few women in attendance. I am routinely the only woman presenter or panelist at events where I am asked to speak. I am shocked and delighted that six of the 38 people currently registered for the upcoming TechLudd in Dublin are women. I owe Anton €20 because my guess was three. And that was optimistic.
So my personal point of view is that to have an event described as “Men Only” is intentionally exclusive, whereas given the current gender imbalance in technology, blogging and authority in Ireland, a woman only event is an effort to be inclusive. We may simply enjoy a moment of strength in numbers and several bottles of nicely decanted Chardonnay. Or we may plot to raise the profile of some of the best among us, find ways to encourage each other to step forward into more events, and devise nefarious ways take over the Irish blogsphere.
After all, studies do show that we’re more cooperative, you know.
That said, we’re not talking about a conference, BarCamp or other self-described “tech event” here. We’re talking about drinks at a bar. And I have zero problem with the boys gathering for a friendly pint while we paint each other’s nails and compare manicures.
Statistically, women are also better endowed with skills for compromise, conflict resolution and consensus, so on that note I’d like to add:
Bock, I am sincerely looking forward to meeting you at the Blog Awards, no matter how much we may disagree on this issue. And it would be my pleasure to buy you a pint.
16 Jan 2008
| In: Ireland + Social Networks |
Sabrina, I think the meet up is a brillian idea. Last year, I only knew one other blogger so i made my boyfriend come to the awards with me, that was the only reason I went. If there had been something like this on first, there would have been no need for that.
The other thing is that the bloggers who live in Dublin seemed to know each other already and if you were coming up from the rest of the country it could seem like a clique that you weren’t in. (it wasn’t like that at all, but if could SEEM like that if you were new to the blogging scene)
16.01.2008, 9:36 amMaz, I totally agree with your line of thought. Most likely the other half is staying home to babysit, so I am really looking forward to getting to know a few of the people I read most before the event.
I actually am not at all shy about turning up at things but I thought it was a great idea for other people who are more hesitant than I am when Ina suggested it, for just the reasons you said.
16.01.2008, 9:41 amI was miffed when I first heard of this event, and considered posting on it, but on reflection decided that it would be a pointless and hypocritical path to take. I believe that my undoubted gender privilege precludes me from my being able to moan about a meeting like this with any kind of authority.
However, to say that a ‘women only’ event is inclusive is nonsensical. See that ‘only’? That means ‘exclusively’, that does.
And as for the getting to know people before the event, great idea. I’m doing that too, but with people, not just men or women.
16.01.2008, 9:57 amSome people are so touchy! ;-)
16.01.2008, 10:37 amInternet … serious business.
Applause to all involved. Profiles raised and all that. Another opportunity for Sabrina to pimp Techludd ;-)
To really make a point, a men-only event could be held simultaneously right next door. By my reckoning, that’d be a sake-drinking / wasabi eating competition in the stockroom of the Asia Market. In your face, tea party!
Finally, storm in a teacup, kthxbai
16.01.2008, 12:02 pmActually Sabrina I think the female numbers at TechLudd are likely to be more like 10 or 12 in the end which is fabulous I think. Perhaps some of the female bloggers have entrepeneurial ideas too. Great to have more female perspectives anyway. You guys think differently you know. Guy Kawasaki recommend asking a woman about your ideas in his book “the art of the start” because of this different way of looking at the world, you guys don’t have the “kill” gene apparently.
16.01.2008, 12:32 pmOh how I beg to differ Guy… :P
Excellent post Sabrina. A very neat defence of the meet up, even though no such defence should be necessary. As many others have suggested, this is a pathetically big deal over absolutely nothing.
It reminds me somewhat of the familiar moan heard from those unhappy about (for example) Gay pride parades. You know the one: “Well, why can’t we have a STRAIGHT pride parade?!” This is usually followed by a stream of reactionary garbage about double standards, political correctness gone mad, blah blah fucking blah.
Though the whole of the above post hits nails on heads more concisely (and articulately) than I could manage, the following quote is (on its own) more than sufficient to shut disgruntled voices up:
“…there is zero need for a men-only event because men, in their sheer numbers, tend to dominate most tech and blogging events in Ireland.”
End of story (or it should be).
20.01.2008, 10:45 pm