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The Middle East Beats the West In Female Tech Founders

PolygamousRanchKid writes with this except from the Economist: "Only 10% of internet entrepreneurs across the world are women, according to Startup Compass, a firm that tracks such things. Except in Amman and other Middle Eastern cities, it seems. There, the share of women entrepreneurs is said to average 35% — an estimate seemingly confirmed by the mix of the sexes at 'Mix'n'Mentor,' a recent gathering in the Jordanian capital organised by Wamda, an online publication for start-ups. Reasons abound, and they are not always positive, says Nina Curley, Wamda's editor. Although more than half of university graduates in many Middle Eastern countries (51% in Jordan) are women, the workforce is dominated by men (women provide only 21% of it overall, and a paltry 16% in Jordan). The internet, however, is a new space that is more meritocratic and not as heavily male. The technology also lets entrepreneurs work from home, making it easier to raise children."

3 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Again with women by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    They live longer than men ... yet more is spent on women's-specific illnesses.

    When underage boys are raped the woman can successfully sue them for custody and child support

    Violence against men in the media is rampant. Remember Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones? He was tied down and sexually assaulted by two women. He then had his penis cut off. Imagine if something similar was done to a woman.

    Remember when Catherine Kieu castrated her husband because he wanted a divorce? This is how this women's daytime talk show covered it.

    Need more info: Man Woman and Myth

  2. Feminism by rhyder128k · · Score: -1, Troll

    Usual feminist nonsense. The countries that adhere least to feminist philosophy have the most female tech entrepreneurs.

    Remember how feminism works:

    Some tech jobs are male dominated = men and women are equals.

    Jobs such as working with young children are female dominated = female brains are different!

    Any argument that could be made in favour of affirmative action for women in tech could also be made for affirmative action for men in nursing or working with kids. This could be extended to non occupational roles such as being a homemaker.

    I remember reading a quote along the lines of "Apartheid cannot be reformed, it must be abolished.". Feminism can't be tweaked to make it male inclusive, it has to be either replaced with a new, gender-neutral philosophy or attacked by a male orientated one.

    I wonder what the gender composition of most the penal system in that country is? Oh hang on, that's because female brains are different, right?

    --
    Michael Reed, freelance tech writer.
  3. Re:Anonymous Loooser by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    I believe that most heterosexual intercourse i.e. PIV or penis in vagina sex, under patriarchy, is effectively rape. This sounds a controversial and extreme position. However, it perhaps appears less so when we consider the evidence.

    Most women are educated into the idea that sex with a man = PIV. So sex without Penis in Vagina, is not full sex or not really sex. I, along with many women, was taught that I could choose whether or not to have sex with a man, but if I did, that would involve PIV.

    I was taught that sex = PIV, through sex education classes, Hollywood films and the idea of virginity. All 3 present PIV as real sex, and everything else as foreplay or extras.

    In addition, we have the existence of compulsory heterosexuality. This phrase describes how all of us are educated, forced or cajoled as children and teenagers into being heterosexual. At the extreme end there is forced marriage and child brides. But even when we think we have chosen heterosexuality, the reality is that our whole upbringing constantly told us as girls that we are heterosexual and that we will have a relationship with a man.

    This is done by asking us as young girls if we have a boyfriend in a teasing manner, our mothers giving us advice about boyfriends before we are dating, books and films aimed at children where a girl or woman has a boyfriend, playing at weddings, etc. Girls are constantly told they are heterosexual and that they will have boyfriends.

    So as women we have been often been educated or cajoled into being heterosexual. We are taught that we must have a male partner. And when we have, we are told that if we want sex, we must have PIV.

    So can women really be said to consent under patriarchy to PIV sex? And if they don't meaningfully consent, would you call that rape?