[AusNOG] FW: women in IT, was -> Useful tools - IPv6 Buddy

[Narelle]

I'm going to be generous and take this email as genuine, and hope you
can indulge me in a little educational time.

I've been in this industry for over 20 years. I have seen, learnt and
forgotten more comms related acronyms than many of you will have had
hot dinners. By way of qualifications, I have relevant degrees in
engineering and management, both of which are relevant to this
discussion. I've also sat on EEO&AA bodies as well as been on various
boards and committees including FITT - Females in IT &
Telecommunications [see www.fitt.org.au maybe you should go to some of
their events].

On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 3:43 PM, Christopher Pollock
<chris at ionetworks.com.au> wrote:
> Where's the sexist advertising?  I see two professional women.

It's sexist in that they are all young, attractive and their clothing
plays up their physical attributes. They have chosen not to use a
range of people of different ages and genders wearing different
clothing styles, or even one that isn't figure hugging. The
advertising is clearly aimed at a group of people that are attracted
to young, good looking women. I suspect they think that would be men.
I suspect they are assuming that women or men that might be offended,
or even just irritated, by such advertising don't exist, or don't
matter. Or they just didn't even think.

>  Is it sexist
> that I have a woman introducing my products on my IVR?  If not, why would it
> be sexist to have one doing the same on your web site?

The choice of which voice to use on an IVR should not be driven by
gender but by how well their words are recognised, if there are any
other qualities you wish to impart, and how clear it is for the
greatest number of people. If your IVR is a sex-line, you may wish to
make the choice to use a 'sexy' voice. If it is an ISP fault line, you
probably want a clear, calming voice. [Claims your IVR provider makes
regarding these qualitative factors should also be backed up with
research.]

Insofar as it simply being a choice of 'female' vs 'male' images or
voices, I hope you'll accept my point that there are more things to be
considered. If you don't want to be sexist, or even considered sexist,
then you'll choose after some thought. Stereotyping doesn't help
anyone.

> I understand that women are the minority in our industry but treating their
> presence here as normal, especially in public, would seem to me to be a
> positive step.

Over the years I have seen any number of scantily clad women
advertising things to me as a network engineer and telecoms manager.
Generally, I see it as idiotic, puerile and rarely would the product
be worthy of my attention as they are obviously not applying much
thought to their marketing so therefore the product probably doesn't
meet a market need, or if it does it won't last.

I won't cite all the other mindless cr*p I have copped over the years
which I have reacted to in different ways at different times. Needless
to say I'm still in the industry, but many other women are not and
more still continue to choose not to be. Do I have to spell this out?


regards


-- 


Narelle Clark
BAppSc MEng PGDipMgt MIEEE MCOMSOC
narellec at gmail.com