Obama Townhall- Post Townhall: Women in Technology

[vaberella]

I'm having a problem with this. I think it's significant issue and should be discussed. But I'm a bit concerned that there isn't one for Black or Hispanic involvement in IT. There is a major disparity--mainly due to income disparities which is an obstacle for minorities to have access to advanced technology.

I'm a bit annoyed that this isn't really given it's full importance. I do feel the role of women is one thing. But I do think that poorer schools are functioning at an almost 80s level IT education. While the other, more wealthy neighborhoods are on a whole other scale---basically it's a comparison between the telegraph and Text messages.

I think this is something that gets touched on and then ignored. And this is directly connected to education and our lack of education investment in poorer neighborhoods---and such neighborhoods are public schools and dependent on government involvement and investment. Then this also touches on the politics of what's going on in certain states where kids from New York's metropolitan area or some semi-rural states get really nice equipment. While cities, mainly in Texas are poor and we have Republicans who are undermining the aptitude for advancement by undermining the ability and education that is given to minority children (who are mainly effected) by poor distribution of funds or just a rejection of a distribution of funds.


~sigh~....I wish I was at this meeting to bring up the issue of Black and Hispanic women in the field. Actually they had only one minority woman on the panel and she is of East Asian descent (who have, by and large have greater income bracket (more times than not) to join the field). ~sigh~

It also reminds me of my cousin who experienced lots of animosity and racism in MIT, in the computer science field as a Black Woman who's extremely capable in the field. In actuality she was demeaned and mistreated. This something that is rarely talked about and sadly it's an issue. She managed to get somewhere really amazing because she comes from the "ghetto" of Brooklyn and made it to MIT on full scholarship and made to feel like a welfare crack baby. Is that being discussed?! Nope---nor ways to even counter act that from an elementary level to a higher education or even professional level.

It's irksome really.


UPDATE:

There's not even a Black woman in the audience. Oh for God's sakes!

[vaberella]

1. Was it me who stayed to listen to this?! n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

2. I'm in the wireless industry

bi-racial - actually multi-racial (black/white/indian) woman. Maybe it's my company only . . . but there are tons of women of many different ethnicities and quite a few in technical leadership positions. We are of mixed heritage, black, Korean, Chinese, Latina, Russian/Eastern European Immigrants, Indian, Pakistani, etc. etc. Too bad the panel didn't reveal these demographics!

[vaberella]

3. Oh that's great.

The panel was extinct of that diversity. It was really bad actually. On a side note....Majority of Blacks in the US or from the Western hemisphere are multicultural. So do you identify yourself as "multi-racial." I just say Black since both my parents are "multi-racial."

Back to the panel...ugh--very depressing.