It is interesting to me that Bruce does not engage the criticism in his article other than to showcase it. Instead, it is implicit in his article that the mere fact of there being little recognition of the problem is itself damning evidence that there is a big problem. For all I know there might indeed be a huge problem, but the answer is not to vilify the people who make sexist remarks. This may make them shut up, yes, perhaps even apologize, and it will also make them resent what happened, sowing the seeds of actual resentment of women where nothing like that need have existed.
Bruce says that it is no matter if people intend to be sexist. It is a huge difference, because when you attack people, they come to hate you (Bruce) and the horse you rode in on (women). If someone intends no slight to women, is this really the way to go? I say no. The answer is to friendly (!) and calmly (!) explain to someone why you (!) think that their behavior is a problem. What Bruce could do is to tell them that you are working to get more women into computers, and having the field feel welcoming to them, and that this person can help do that by thinking about whether what they are doing in future will offend women, and that you understand that no offense was intended. See how that will go over better?
Somehow I think the way to get more women into this field is not to attack the men in the field on behalf of those women.
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It is interesting to me that Bruce does not engage the criticism in his article other than to showcase it. Instead, it is implicit in his article that the mere fact of there being little recognition of the problem is itself damning evidence that there is a big problem. For all I know there might indeed be a huge problem, but the answer is not to vilify the people who make sexist remarks. This may make them shut up, yes, perhaps even apologize, and it will also make them resent what happened, sowing the seeds of actual resentment of women where nothing like that need have existed.
Bruce says that it is no matter if people intend to be sexist. It is a huge difference, because when you attack people, they come to hate you (Bruce) and the horse you rode in on (women). If someone intends no slight to women, is this really the way to go? I say no. The answer is to friendly (!) and calmly (!) explain to someone why you (!) think that their behavior is a problem. What Bruce could do is to tell them that you are working to get more women into computers, and having the field feel welcoming to them, and that this person can help do that by thinking about whether what they are doing in future will offend women, and that you understand that no offense was intended. See how that will go over better?
Somehow I think the way to get more women into this field is not to attack the men in the field on behalf of those women.