Home Gaming Women are leaving tech faster than they can be replaced

Women are leaving tech faster than they can be replaced

3 min read
216

Sieve

There is a big push in gaming and tech to get more women into the industry. Thanks to a variety of programs aimed at giving girls the skills needed to excel at coding and engineering, the goal is for greater diversity. However, there’s no point filling the pipeline of talent if qualified women keep quitting. So why are women getting pushed out of the industry?

An LA Time article takes a look at what’s happening in tech. Instead of getting stories at the bottom or the top (yes, there are a small number of wonderful success stories of female CEOs, too), they looked in the middle. Women who were qualified and worked at interesting companies, but were leaving tech due to a hostile work environment. But what is hostile?

According to a Harvard study quoted in the article, the hostile environment includes a sense of isolation and lack of clear career path, but I think this example explains it best:

She had built a prototype for a travel website, she said, a feature to auto-suggest cities and airports based on the first three letters typed into the search field, fixing a long-standing problem.

Her male bosses told her she’d built it without permission. Then they said only architects within the company could pitch features — and all the architects were male. In the end, the project was handed to someone else, and she was assigned to less interesting tasks.

As she goes on to explain, as an isolated incident, she wouldn’t have thought much of it. But it developed into a pattern where she was continually asked to prove herself while getting passed up for no apparent reason. Another anecdote is similarly vague, and yet telling.

Tracy Chou, 27, a well-known engineer at Pinterest, said she was once bypassed at a previous start-up because her boss thought a new male hire was more qualified. When Chou pressed for an explanation, she recalled him saying: “It’s just this feeling I have that this person will be able to get stuff done faster than you.”

Various companies are evaluating their own policies and procedures to ensure that things improve for women in business. For example, Google’s data showed women were promoted less often than men because workers need to nominate themselves; women who nominated themselves got pushback because women are typically rewarded for modesty and penalized for what might be seen as “aggressive” behavior. Google included female leaders at workshops to coach everyone (male and female) on how to promote themselves effectively and found that the gender difference among nominees disappeared.

Of course it will take a lot more work from companies to help get rid of this sexist undercurrent. While everyone faces struggles in their quest for career success, those hurdles shouldn’t be based on factors out of their control, be it gender, sexual orientation, race, etc.

It’s interesting to think that our push towards getting girls into tech might be fruitless if the culture doesn’t change. Of course this article is primarily anecdotal and it would be interesting to see new research into the topic, but it still offers some telling insight into an important trend in tech that I’m sure carries over to gaming as well. Personally, I am one of the lucky few who hasn’t experienced gender-based hostility in the workplace. But then, despite working in the tech and gaming sector, my actual job description doesn’t include any coding or engineering – it might be a very different case in that scenario.

Last Updated: February 24, 2015

216 Comments

  1. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    February 24, 2015 at 15:12

    I know that something similar is happening in academia, with female academics leaving the field for greener pastures elsewhere . It’s sad, because it takes years to cultivate the skill and “good” academics are few and far between – regardless of gender.

    Reply

    • HvR

      February 24, 2015 at 15:48

      Depends on the institution and department.

      Looking back at my uni days would say out of my top 5 lectures 2 were women. Both highly respected in their fields; computer science and maths.

      Reply

    • Sageville

      February 24, 2015 at 15:55

      Where are these “Greener pastures” and what are they doing right?

      I’m assuming there are some non-patriarchal work-places out there. These should be lauded.

      Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    February 24, 2015 at 15:15

    “sense of isolation and lack of clear career path” hey that’s my job in a nutshell

    Reply

    • Guild

      February 24, 2015 at 15:15

      Sounds like mine as well…..and that’s why I’m looking for something else

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        February 24, 2015 at 15:16

        Thing is, I’m truly stuck at mine. It’s complicated but I need my job as much as it needs me.

        Reply

        • Guild

          February 24, 2015 at 15:18

          Thankful not so much with me. Although I know that want me and would prefer for me to stay but my evil knows no bounds and must be spread elsewhere. Thinking of looking into Eskom, surely they have placement for a prince of darkness

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:19

            I could go work for Eskom and not cause nearly as much damage as their top level staff.

          • Guild

            February 24, 2015 at 15:21

            If you were top level staff there you could retire on the bonus pay outs in year one.

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:27

            And all I would have to do is turn the power off every now and then.

          • Anon A Mouse

            February 24, 2015 at 15:29

            Homer is that you?

          • Guild

            February 24, 2015 at 15:33

            DOH!!

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:33

            I wish. Would love to bang Marge every night……….wait I didn’t say that out loud O_o

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 15:34

            O_O

          • Ranting Raptor

            February 24, 2015 at 15:34

            urrrrr…… wieeeerdooooooo

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:19

            Um, they do seem oversupplied in that department at the moment

          • Guild

            February 24, 2015 at 15:20

            Lol 🙂

    • Brady miaau

      February 24, 2015 at 15:19

      MUSHROOM

      Fear of the dark and get fed shit

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        February 24, 2015 at 15:21

        Isn’t it kept in the dark? I’ve dealt with so much shit I feel like I need to wear overalls to work.

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          February 24, 2015 at 15:21

          Yes, but how else do I enter Iron Maiden into an otherwise ordinary conversation? bet you did not think of that.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:21

            I did not, well played

          • Gideon Venter

            February 25, 2015 at 09:37

            m/,

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        February 24, 2015 at 15:26

        lol, I’ve always loved that definition.

        Reply

    • Brady miaau

      February 24, 2015 at 15:28

      On a more serious note, as I get older and get fed more responsibility, I am sometimes, not often, finding it difficult to get staff not to feel like they are aimless and not part of the bigger picture. Sometimes someone is left out just because of various situations, for example some member of the team has a fight with wife or husband early morning, feels dissociated anyway and then something small happens, that can fester. I work very hard against that. I like to think I work with people, then resources.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        February 24, 2015 at 15:31

        My problem is everyone left. All the coders. I’m stuck supporting a website that I can make minor changes to. I got the most of the database mapped without any documentation.

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          February 24, 2015 at 15:41

          Eish. Databases can get hair-raising. Triggers? What? Oh that is a Store Proc that does that by calling that insert trigger after it was inserted. Um. What?

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:42

            Got a call once, the automated emails stopped working and I was like. The site does whaaaaaaat?

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:48

            Ok, ok, genuine laughter there. Not at you, but in sympathy. I get you. Well done for sticking it out.

            Of course, you got a raise when the others left, right? Ah, no

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:50

            Just the yearly salary increase 🙁

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 15:50

            At least you get that, I didn’t even get inflation last year! Measly 4%

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:53

            O_o

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 15:53

            IKR?

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 16:07

            It’s bullshit!

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 16:09

            I’m sure bullshit is more than 4% haha

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 16:15

            lol

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:53

            Sir Chief, that does not sound good. Can you do anything about that? Or is the company struggling in the great economic climate we have

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 15:55

            Company is doing exceptionally well actually, but the reasons behind all this is known to me, but not for the public eye

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:55

            fair enough. Good luck!

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 15:57

            Aye, tx dude

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 15:57

            Hows about teaming up with ye olde Admiral?

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 17:47

            Not sure if this was in reply to me, but I have sent mail to both Zoe and Geoff, perhaps they can put you in touch.

          • Anon A Mouse

            February 24, 2015 at 15:54

            Oh how I wish to have an increase, my last one was in 2010. Which means that I’m actually being paid less than when I started, but I have more responsibility also. Life in the private sector FTW!!

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:55

            Went through the same a few years back. A bad place to be. Hope it comes right soon

          • Anon A Mouse

            February 24, 2015 at 15:57

            I have a job, can feed myself, have a roof over my head and have most of my hair left, could have been far worse.

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 17:27

            I love the way think about things! Round peg, round hole makes for a happier life

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:05

            I got nothing also, my workload has tripled and am paid half of what someone at my level is supposed to get. The more I read you guys’ posts, the more I feel I seriously need to look for a new job. I am a woman in a traditionally ‘male’ job but I chose it because I’m passionate about it…unfortunately my gender counts against in this company.

          • Darren Peach

            February 24, 2015 at 16:06

            What do you do ?

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:06

            chemical engineer

          • Darren Peach

            February 24, 2015 at 16:08

            I have nothing, You probably make way more cash than I do. My sister gets paid peanuts, She is in her comfort zone although I know she could earn more…

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:11

            Nope, I get less than what the graduate engineers get as starting salary in Joburg. I suppose that’s what you get for living in the gramadoelas. No traffic, low crime, shitty salary.

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 16:12

            I’d take a gramadoela city and no traffic over the sh!thole of Midrand ANY day

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:15

            That’s why I haven’t changed jobs yet. Can’t stand the city.

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 16:16

            Keep it that way, peace is worth more than money

          • Anon A Mouse

            February 24, 2015 at 16:17

            You’re working for the Boeremag in Orania aren’t you?

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:24

            Orania is actually a very nice place. Been there and wouldn’t mind living there. Yes, they’ve got internet too. And running water. Alas, still Eskom.

          • Darren Peach

            February 24, 2015 at 16:13

            If I freelance, Which I currently do…..I can technically ask for R 3500.00 a day. But, Given how greedy people are, I only Ask R 2500.00 a day. You may think that sounds good but I do spend weeks without any work whatsoever and I don’t get work over December and January.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 24, 2015 at 16:15

            That’s the crap thing about freelancing. Difficult to budget with a fluctuating income.

          • Darren Peach

            February 24, 2015 at 17:12

            Hence my Xbox being sold.

          • Anon A Mouse

            February 24, 2015 at 16:16

            The sad part is when I was still in auditing, that was my hourly rate charged to clients. I myself didn’t even see 5% of that.

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:16

            You’ve got way more guts than me though. Freelancing would terrify me, not knowing for sure when the next project would arrive, if it would arrive etc.

          • Darren Peach

            February 24, 2015 at 16:20

            Yeah, It goes well and than it goes badly. Last years was very bad. I had no work for most of the year and was living off my dad. He died on the 15th of September and I feel constant guilt that my situation had something to do with it. Life lesson, People do not give a fuck about your problems. Scuse the french.

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:25

            French excused and my condolences.

          • Darren Peach

            February 24, 2015 at 16:27

            No worries. It’s life.

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 17:22

            Yes, that is how freelance works. Sad but true. Good looking in keeping it going and may the weeks without week be few

          • Anon A Mouse

            February 24, 2015 at 16:14

            That’s me as well, can probably get to double my salary if I move to Gauteng, but who needs all that aggression early in the morning.

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 17:48

            my house is 3 km from my office. Not an accident

          • HvR

            February 24, 2015 at 16:18

            Chemical engineer in the gramadoelas. Mining?

            If so get your GCC and go get rich.

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:22

            Fertilizer. Might get GCC for factories tho. At the moment I’ve got the glorious job of getting our whole factory up to ISO 9001 standard. It’s a battle.

          • HvR

            February 24, 2015 at 16:51

            Congrats on the engagement, I had to first trap my better half in marriage and then slowly convert her.

            It seems GCC is “the new flavour of the month” thing to have due to new and incoming legislation.

            ISO spec compliance is a good skill to have on a CV, can form the basis for consulting business. My father made a good living of ISO and Mil-spec compliance consultation after he got BEE replaced in the 90’s. Does kill the your soul a little bit though.

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 17:18

            I know, it’s deadly dull at times but I suppose once you know how to do it you’ll easily find work as consultant, seeing as very few people wants to do it…

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 17:27

            ISO 9001? Have fun. Involved, but luckily on the periphery. Like any business system, it must have consistency in how it must be applied and be stuck to throughout the year. Last thing you need is to be running around the week before an audit.

            Also, once you have set that up, make sure is on the CV and perhaps use that as a springboard to getting yourself where you feel you belong. Good luck, round peg in a round hole is always my goal.

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 16:07

            I know there is quite a culture AGAINST women in management where I work, so I can understand your pain

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:08

            hell I’m not even management yet, even though I am better qualified than the current manager hahaha!

          • HvR

            February 24, 2015 at 16:11

            Get a new job, only time I’ve ever “moved up” in either salary or position was moving to new company. Something I’ve learned is if you are willing to continue to eat the corporate BS they will be happy to feed it to you.

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:13

            Not much choice here, and now life happened…I got engaged a week back! 🙂 🙂 So now I’m still trying to figure things out a bit. I’ll focus on work again when I’m not so high on happiness again, don’t know when that will be!

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 16:14

            Congrats!

          • hubble19

            February 24, 2015 at 16:20

            Thanks!! He introduced me to WOW, I got hooked, I bought him Diablo III, he bought me Xcom, I bought him Far Cry, he allows me to share the man cave, lol obviously a match made in nerd heaven.

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 17:28

            That sounds like you are very happy. Well played!

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 17:37

            Wow I’m so jealous. Congratulations!

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:51

            Me too. I run more than one department now. No increase. Ironically, I arranged for increases for two of the people put under me.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 24, 2015 at 15:57

            The yearly salary increase isn’t an increase if it’s not more than inflation, then it’s just an inflation adjustment. I made people happier with that gem when they were complaining about increases last month.

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 16:07

            You made me sadder 🙁

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 17:17

            Well done. Um. Ok.

        • geel slang

          February 24, 2015 at 17:16

          The company I work for took over a web application from another developing company and get this, the database had no relationships defind, not one.

          Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        February 24, 2015 at 15:32

        I hate hearing people described as resources. It dehumanises them.

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          February 24, 2015 at 15:40

          Indeed it does! One big happy family. Like families, we fight. And differ. But ultimately work together.

          Reply

    • Wyzak

      February 24, 2015 at 16:09

      Can’t be, us men never feel like that.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        February 24, 2015 at 16:15

        XD

        Reply

    • Darren Peach

      February 24, 2015 at 16:11

      What do you do for a living ?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        February 24, 2015 at 16:15

        programming, using a defunct language.

        Reply

        • Darren Peach

          February 24, 2015 at 16:15

          Ok. I feel you with “Lack of Career Path “.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 16:19

            Studying though, need to break free.

          • Darren Peach

            February 24, 2015 at 16:27

            Good for you. I am stuck for now. I always wanted to get into the film business but I have serious family commitments that are just not practical for that life choice.

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 20:27

            What are you studying?

          • Hammersteyn

            February 25, 2015 at 07:40

            c#

          • Brady miaau

            February 25, 2015 at 09:14

            Ok, good stuff. Do it well. Microsoft exams? Should be the way to go, for industry recog. I know several programming languages and C# is one of my favs (which I do not know brilliantly well)

            Also, do not underestimate good knowledge of Design Patterns and system architecture. Not a lot at first, cause can get overwhelming

          • Brady miaau

            February 25, 2015 at 13:35

            I like your habit of giving upvotes, because, in a case like this, I know you read the message.

          • Hammersteyn

            February 25, 2015 at 13:45

            XD

          • Michael John- A

            February 25, 2015 at 16:30

            hey I’m looking for cool writers for http://techmymoney.com/

        • Anon A Mouse

          February 24, 2015 at 16:31

          But you already speak English deliciously, why don’t just do it in that? ;-P

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 16:52

            hehehehe

        • geel slang

          February 24, 2015 at 17:08

          What language are you using now and what are you studying?

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 17:19

            Using Visual Foxpro. Studying c#

          • geel slang

            February 24, 2015 at 17:26

            Good stuff, make sure you work some ASP.NET into your studies. Good luck man.

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 17:31

            ASP using MVC will be my first website 😀
            Thanks buddy.

  3. Hammersteyn

    February 24, 2015 at 15:17

    Give managers incentive to be more progressive. Or have they tried that already?

    Reply

  4. Gavin Mannion

    February 24, 2015 at 15:21

    “Her male bosses told her she’d built it without permission. Then they said only architects within the company could pitch features — and all the architects were male. In the end, the project was handed to someone else, and she was assigned to less interesting tasks.”

    same thing happened to me when I was a junior… so so stupid

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      February 24, 2015 at 15:22

      Yip. “Who the hell told you to do this?. Next time you will get fired”

      not your job description and other things like that.

      And the fact they handed to someone else is the true insult: her idea was worth something.

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        February 24, 2015 at 15:25

        99.9% chance that less than a month later they complained that employees don’t show initiative.

        Reply

        • RinceThis

          February 24, 2015 at 15:26

          You KNOW it.

          Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          February 24, 2015 at 15:26

          Followed by team building weekends and consultants being hired to figure out why that’s happening

          Reply

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 24, 2015 at 15:28

            I work for a corporation. While other people read Dilbert cartoons and laugh, I read them and cry.

          • Norm

            February 24, 2015 at 15:29

            As do I. As do I.

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 15:32

            Have you ever read Userfriendly (old webcomic), now THAT is very accurate in terms of tech support and system administration

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          February 24, 2015 at 15:27

          Oh Snap!

          Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        February 24, 2015 at 15:27

        Yep, happened to me as well, when I was a junior, I thought it was a good idea to digitize some of the old maps in the archive to eventually add to our GIS database. Such a practice was frowned upon.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          February 24, 2015 at 15:28

          You were out performing your “betters”

          Reply

        • Brady miaau

          February 24, 2015 at 15:46

          Well, yes, but who wants digitised maps? Um. big industry around that now. Lots of money in that. GIS, for those that know what they are doing, is still going places. Or the lucky that got in early.

          Reply

    • Dean

      February 24, 2015 at 15:24

      I have a feeling it happens to all juniors in corporate environments…

      Reply

      • Brady miaau

        February 24, 2015 at 15:25

        It is part of the learning curve, sad to say. You may only work on authorised projects.

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          February 24, 2015 at 15:28

          And then you realise, you’re merely there to pick up a pay cheque, and you become just like the other disgruntled old bastards. I think it’s the natural order of things lol.

          Reply

          • HvR

            February 24, 2015 at 15:31

            “Being innovative and hard work gets rewarded” is a myth all parents should dispel right after they tell their kids the Easter Bunny and Santa isn’t real.

          • Pariah

            February 24, 2015 at 15:55

            SANTA ISN’T REAL?!?!?!?!!! SHUT UP! GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE!

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:39

            Yes, but on a very serious note: I will be extremely pissed off if one of my team members was working on something that was not authorised (or at least discussed with me), because I have schedules and planning and expectations of what people are doing. I allow a lot of leeway in how you do things, but we must all work toward a common goal. There is always space to discuss a new, clever idea.

            I work at a smallish firm, where the management (above my head) still listen to ideas and want innovation

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:41

            Communication is very very important. But not so much that everyone is stuck with email correspondence most of the day. Which I’ve seen happen.

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:43

            Indeed. I am still learning, but have certain principles I would like to stick by. And overloading with Admin is not the way. I can quote parts (too much!) of the PMBOK, but also know how quickly a small firm will go bankrupt trying to implement ALL of the “industry accepted” project management steps. Overload.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 24, 2015 at 15:51

            I loved my job back when we were still a private company, even after the 1st corporate buy out it was good, but the 2nd has ruined it. Primarily though over-management & a focus on processes and procedures; which are very important, but not when they’re impractical & disruptive. Implementation is so important, and so neglected.

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:52

            wise words. Implementation. Like form over function

    • RinceThis

      February 24, 2015 at 15:25

      lol

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 24, 2015 at 15:26

      She probably neglected to refill the coffee pot while building it.
      *Runs

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        February 24, 2015 at 15:26

        No sammiches for the CEO?! 0_O

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          February 24, 2015 at 15:31

          No muffins for EXCO!!!

          Reply

          • HvR

            February 24, 2015 at 15:32

            At my first job if we got muffins at the company meeting we knew it was retrenchment time.

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 15:33

            Oh snap!

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:34

            At least you didn’t leave empty handed.

          • HvR

            February 24, 2015 at 15:36

            Later on you learn the people getting retrenched were the lucky ones. They 1 to 3 months paycheck with all their leave days payed out. Dumbasses like me who held out to the bitter end got to take home their desks as payment with no muffin.

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:38

            Sell the desk, buy muffins. Hopefully you’re better off now?

          • HvR

            February 24, 2015 at 15:41

            Yes, that was years ago. Immediately got a new job with 30% pay increase. Money lost and stress was put down to life lessons learned about the corporate world.

            Still have my retrenchment desk.

          • Hammersteyn

            February 24, 2015 at 15:42

            XD

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 24, 2015 at 15:42

            Last time we went through retrenchments I volunteered for it. The HR manager still asked me if I was serious, then said no. lol.

          • Ranting Raptor

            February 24, 2015 at 15:43

            :'(

          • Ranting Raptor

            February 24, 2015 at 15:34

            eish 🙁

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            February 24, 2015 at 15:34

            “Hey guys, are you going to the departmental meeting at 9h30?”
            “Uh… wait there’s another one… didn’t we just have one?”
            “Guys, I saw them delivering some muffins”
            “WHAT?”
            “Wait what does that mean guys, I’m new here”
            “Bro, it means ‘HOLD ONTO YOUR BUTTOCKS'”

          • Brady miaau

            February 24, 2015 at 15:39

            Ouch!

    • Sageville

      February 24, 2015 at 16:05

      I knows that feel:

      Functional: Ag do us a favor, please add this feature, at least start working on it!
      Me: I really shouldn’t until you give me the signed spec.
      Functional: The spec is coming, just get started on it at least, so we can make our deadline.
      .

      Me: Ok, it’s done, I still need that signed spec though.
      Functional: It’s coming, we sent the changes to production this morning.
      Me: Huh? At least you tested it?
      Functional: I’m sure it’s fine.
      .
      Boss: WTF put this in?!!??
      Me; *Looks for Functional who is now on leave* *Cries*

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        February 24, 2015 at 16:11

        You also know that if you hadn’t done it, the boss would be saying, “WTF wasn’t it put in?”

        Reply

        • Sageville

          February 24, 2015 at 16:15

          INORITE! and when I do block them by demanding a signed spec, the functional will go whine at the boss, then I get the “You need to be more flexible”…. luckily that boss is no-longer around.

          Reply

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 24, 2015 at 16:17

            Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I usually go with the former hehe.

  5. Blood Emperor Trevor

    February 24, 2015 at 15:24

    Women get shit because of their gender in male-dominated industries, like mine, and it’s very rarely to their faces. I used to end up being forced to listen to crap like that & sit there gritting my teeth while other male managers would casually slag off my female manager & colleagues, and obviously I agree with all that because I’m one of the guys. I remember one even baldly stated it’s right women get paid less than men for the same job because they have maternity leave & the company has to recoup that cost, and wasn’t joking. What fun!

    Reply

    • Guild

      February 24, 2015 at 15:30

      Jeez, sounds like you were definitely in the wrong place. The Engineering company I’ve been with for the past 3 years has got more female employees than male. The only thing that disturbs me is when we in a meeting with the Contractor and a fight breaks out between us and the Contractor and then one of my female colleagues starts crying cause she doesn’t like the shouting, conflict is too intense or a harsh comment was directed at her. Thankfully hasn’t happened in awhile but does make me uncomfortable.

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        February 24, 2015 at 15:35

        Oh I’m still in the same place & it still goes on. I’m just not included in those conversations much any more. Apparently it makes people uncomfortable when you don’t participate in it & just glare when asked to. 😀

        Reply

        • Guild

          February 24, 2015 at 15:37

          WTF? It still goes on?

          Reply

        • Sgt. M

          February 25, 2015 at 10:08

          Thanks for that now I need to reprint a 200 page document because there’s coffee all over it!

          Reply

  6. Ranting Raptor

    February 24, 2015 at 15:32

    Oh dear I am going to be unpopular but here goes and I am going to try be as sensitive as possible.

    First off let me say there is a bias where men in the tech industry are chosen and I am well aware of this. But there is a very disturbing trend I see lately where certain things are seen as “against woman” and it isn’t. It’s just a douche move in the industry in general. As an example:

    “the project was handed to someone else, and she was assigned to less interesting tasks” – This was, in all likelyhood, not done because she was female but rather because it’s how so many companies work.

    It’s happened to people all over the world. Men included. I’ve heard countless people, male and female, with the same complaint. Get a good idea, do something with it, present it to the company, only to be told it’s not their place to put forward ideas like this. Fast forward a few months and BOOM. Someone else in the “correct department” is getting credit for a good idea. This is called the real world. Saying it’s discrimination against females is a slap in the face to every other person who’s had the same happen to them.

    And this is why people like Anita can be so destructive to the industry. They make it appear bad. They create a stigma and then everytime something happens to a female (Or whatever part of society was being represented) then it’s suddenly hate towards them whereas it most likely was just the corporate world being.. well… corporate.

    Leaving the industry is also not the correct steps to take here. I mean if I had to leave my industry for every time I’ve been done wrong by and every time I’ve felt secluded, I’d have been through more job professions than Sasha Grey has had cameramen.

    Now look, yes, as I said I know there is a real problem with the perception of woman in the tech industry in general. Be it journalism, dev or any other part. Top men in the industry who come from an “older generation” so to speak probably feel that they built it and so it shouldn’t go to “those who weren’t interested”. Let’s be honest. Many of them probably garner some unfair hate towards woman because they felt like they were ostracized by woman as kids when they showed interest in tech by being called “nerds” or “geeks” or whatever. That hate probably remains. It’s not fair of course. I mean we all grow up and should learn to accept the fact that kids can be ***holes. But many don’t. It doesn’t by any means make it right of course.

    But that all being said. Honestly I feel that there are far less real hate against woman for being woman in the industry incidents than there are bosses just being corporate ***hats who like to screw with people and they do this indiscriminately to all walks of life because they like feeling superior. Regardless of gender or class. If they see a chance to step on someone they are going to.

    It’s just sad that it’s so hard to find the real problem and pinpoint exactly where woman are truly being treated unfairly because the world is full of crap like this happening to everyone.

    Anyway, I know I know, I’m full of it and don’t know what I’m talking about. I am insensitive and well yeah I guess I am. I just find it hard to feel sorry for people who say they were treated unfairly because of their gender when I’ve had similiar experiences and I can’t turn around and say “Oh it’s because I’m male” because then I’m just labeled as a pansy ass who can’t look after himself.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 24, 2015 at 15:32

      tl;dr

      Reply

      • Ranting Raptor

        February 24, 2015 at 15:33

        huh. I was expecting the Admiral first….. Wait… you tl;dr me but didn’t upvote first? Your compulsive upvoting gene must be screaming at you right now

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          February 24, 2015 at 15:34

          Was actually reading.

          Reply

          • Ranting Raptor

            February 24, 2015 at 15:35

            Ah! I see… Well, as you were then 😛

        • Admiral Chief

          February 24, 2015 at 15:44

          I have people for that now 😛

          Reply

          • Ranting Raptor

            February 24, 2015 at 15:45

            Lol. Delegation FTW

    • Her Highness the Hipster

      February 24, 2015 at 15:36

      i agree that unfair things happen throughout the working world as evidenced in the comments left here. However, a pattern of hostility, lack of promotion, etc, becomes sexism if talented women never advance past this stage. “paying dues” is part of being a junior employee, but at some point you should be all paid up.

      Reply

      • Guild

        February 24, 2015 at 15:41

        Speak to my wife. If I was still working there with her, she would be my boss now.

        Edit: Although she is my boss anyway at home 😛

        Reply

        • Blood Emperor Trevor

          February 24, 2015 at 15:44

          She’s already your boss isn’t she? 😉

          Reply

          • Sageville

            February 24, 2015 at 16:27

            *Guild runs off to ask his wife if she’s ok with being referred to as “boss”

      • Ranting Raptor

        February 24, 2015 at 15:42

        Absolutely. Hence why I said it’s unfair that it’s so tough to find the real source of the problems. So much of it can be written off as “just what happens to everyone”. I’m not by any means saying it’s not happening.

        Patterns of course can be established and where the pattern persist, action must be taken. But it’s difficult to say it’s a pattern if it’s happening to many different people in the company.

        I do hate the fact that there is discrimination against woman of course. It pisses me off. But how does one truly distinguish discrimination towards woman vs just one of those things that happen over and over to all types of people? That’s all I’m questioning I guess. How do we all get to a point where we can say for certain when it is and when it isn’t?

        Reply

      • Sageville

        February 24, 2015 at 16:26

        Must be difficult to see at what point you still paying dues or being push down by that glass ceiling.

        In today’s society, if you see a woman at the top, you know not to fk with that lady as she must have balls of titanium, probably due to the fact that she had to build her own ladder to get up there.

        Reply

      • HvR

        February 24, 2015 at 16:26

        “”paying dues” is part of being a junior employee, but at some point you should be all paid up.”

        Nobody is keeping score, the only times I’ve been promoted, moved up or gotten a more than inflation increase is when I left a company to join another at a better position or salary. And from what I hear from friends and family of both genders that this is the norm.

        Reply

        • Anon A Mouse

          February 24, 2015 at 16:30

          That’s what’s expected these days. Either be happy with what you get or go get something else, we will fill your position with someone moving up from a lower position that you. Or give your work to your colleagues a save your salary for muffins.

          Reply

      • Darren Peach

        February 24, 2015 at 16:40

        Paying your dues is nonsense. Yeah, You need to learn and become something but the term paying your dues is a form of emotional extortion. Very similar to initiation of sorts. When you were in standard 6, You got hell from the Matrics and when you yourself get to Matric you feel entitled to it. When I started, I paid my dues by working late every night, Going through these major brands every three months and working non stop. 9am to 4am. That would go on for three months at a time. No weekends. Lost countless public holidays and all done without any overtime or re compensation in leave.Years later, My advice to any junior coming into the workforce is learn the labour law. Don’t go around quoting it, You make yourself a target very quickly. It just helps you understand your rights so if you are expected to work like a animal you are able to negotiate favorably in those situations. And Industry standard is a myth. The labour law overrides any contract that does not conform to it’s guidelines.

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 24, 2015 at 15:36

      Women and men differ in the end. Doesn’t matter how you slice it. That’s the first problem. If we were all unisex there would be no problem.

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        February 24, 2015 at 15:38

        There’d also be no sex… or maybe there would be. Actually, nature would find a way, or an orifice. Ah… nature! Such a feisty lass!

        Reply

        • Pariah

          February 24, 2015 at 15:53

          Asari. Nuff said.

          Reply

    • Anon A Mouse

      February 24, 2015 at 15:46

      Fully agree with you, as for that “It’s just this feeling I have that this person will be able to get stuff done faster than you.” I also had to go that route a few times. It’s a judgement call. Did I have real empirical evidence as to the fact that it truly is like that? No I didn’t, but past experiences told me that that was the call to make at that point. I didn’t have anything to do with the colour of the other persons skin or their gender, it was a judgement call and in the end I was held accountable for that call.
      The person being excluded might feel they have the same or better qualities that the other person but unless you work day in and day out with a person you’ll never know if it is true.

      Reply

      • Ranting Raptor

        February 24, 2015 at 15:51

        And this is what I am getting at. How can we say it’s discrimination vs judgement call. Or even corporate asshattery?

        We can’t really and therein lies the problem. So how do we solve the main problem? How to distinguish and crack down where it legitimately IS discrimination.

        Let’s face it, discrimination happens. But to label every bad break as discrimination? Also not healthy

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          February 24, 2015 at 15:52

          Hehehe “asshattery”

          Reply

    • Pariah

      February 24, 2015 at 15:51

      tl;dr

      Your ideas have been handed to someone else.

      Reply

      • Ranting Raptor

        February 24, 2015 at 15:51

        Lol. Oh darn. This is discrimination against Raptors! Don’t go to sleep! We hunt in packs!

        Reply

        • Pariah

          February 24, 2015 at 15:52

          Those pesky raptors. You can’t trust their long, well-written and thought-provoking comments. Just can’t.

          Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          February 24, 2015 at 15:53

          PACKS OF SEVEN?

          Reply

          • Sgt. M

            February 25, 2015 at 11:17

            The return of the seven lolz

    • CAE9872

      February 24, 2015 at 17:17

      Who’s Sasha Grey 🙂

      Reply

      • Ranting Raptor

        February 24, 2015 at 17:24

        Uh huh. Right 😉

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        February 24, 2015 at 17:35

        My future ex wife

        Reply

        • Sgt. M

          February 25, 2015 at 11:17

          You’d marry her? Really?

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            February 25, 2015 at 11:32

            Why not, she’s rich and beautiful. Plus she buys her own breath mints.

          • Sgt. M

            February 25, 2015 at 12:47

            Coffee spill number 2

  7. dawith

    February 24, 2015 at 15:41

    And this article has to do what with
    gaming??

    This political correctness should have no place in gaming site

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      February 24, 2015 at 15:44

      The last time I checked, you need tech to make games

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        February 24, 2015 at 16:02

        WTF???? Tech to make games? What witchcraft is this????

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          February 24, 2015 at 16:05

          WHAT YEAR IS IT?

          Reply

          • Ranting Raptor

            February 24, 2015 at 16:06

            When I refresh there better be a pic along with that comment!

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 16:11

            Nope, too lazy

          • Sageville

            February 24, 2015 at 16:33

            Bastard!

    • Ranting Raptor

      February 24, 2015 at 15:45

      It relates to the tech industry. Tech industry includes software developers and such. Those are the kind of people that write code for games. It’s very much relevant and something that deserves attention drawn to it

      Reply

      • Sageville

        February 24, 2015 at 16:34

        Dood, don’t spoil his illusion!

        “Never look behind the curtain”

        Reply

  8. Dirk Van Der Merwe

    February 24, 2015 at 15:50

    Same old story, when a woman isn’t the best candidate for the job, is is because of sexism… Lets face facts, if you work in an industry where 1 in 10 people are female, there are going to be plenty of guys better than you, that is just statistics. If any women fail to grasp this basic concept, you probably should be working in tech.

    Reply

  9. Darren Peach

    February 24, 2015 at 15:55

    In my Industry, Woman are always in the top position. Account Executives. Creative Directors, Head of Editing Departments. But I will admit that I have seen instances where top notch ladies were pushed aside for males.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 24, 2015 at 17:39

      Marry one of them (If still single :D)

      Reply

  10. Dutch Matrix

    February 24, 2015 at 16:01

    I just had the worst bowel movement ever. Really. It looked like someone dropped a grenade in there! Wow. I did not know the human body was capable of that shit.
    (This is Post is Not related to this article)

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      February 24, 2015 at 16:02

      Thank you for sharing

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        February 24, 2015 at 16:02

        Sharing is Caring!

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          February 24, 2015 at 16:05

          I’m assuming it was a healthy colour?

          Reply

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 24, 2015 at 16:10

            No sorry. A bit too watery for my liking. Also it smelled a bit off. Not like you know, it usually smells. But like real bad.
            Like I’ve never smelled it smell like before.

          • Admiral Chief

            February 24, 2015 at 16:11

            Hmmm, when last did you have a good, normal one?

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 24, 2015 at 16:14

            A few hours ago. But that was involuntary. I opened my browser and saw a photo of Geoff, just there… Staring at me…

    • Sageville

      February 24, 2015 at 16:35

      SCREENSHOT or it never happened!

      Reply

    • Darren Peach

      February 24, 2015 at 17:26

      WTF ? LOL

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 24, 2015 at 17:39

  11. Tom Krager

    February 24, 2015 at 16:28

    why are all the examples like hidden, between the lines type stuff? I mean, im sure sexism exists in some companies but why are all the instances these individual woman use telling us they had a feeling it was because of gender? Or it’s because all the architects were men . . . so naturally that MUST mean it was because of gender. What if these ppl just sucked and couldn’t face the music?

    Also, The reasoning behind this statement, “For example, Google’s data showed women were promoted less often than men because workers need to nominate themselves; women who nominated themselves got pushback because women are typically rewarded for modesty and penalized for what might be seen as “aggressive” behavior” seems to be mere assertion. Is there some statistic to back up the assertion that women who assert themselves similarly to men were treated noticeably differently?

    Reply

  12. MAcethy

    February 24, 2015 at 16:58

    It’s amazing how it has become “news” that the issues women face in the workplace, most men have already faced it for decades! Lack of career guidance, overbearing managers, unsympathetic bosses, hostile co-workers, I’m a man and I faced all that in less than the 10 years I’ve been a working adult!

    Reply

    • nick

      February 24, 2015 at 18:02

      exactly. everyone gets discriminated against these days like it’s something new.
      i wonder if the woman who was being sidelined by the new guy ever spoke to the 40 year old white guy, the black guy, the disabled guy, the really pretty girl, the young trainee or anyone else in the company who were also being sidelined.

      Reply

  13. Tulipdame

    February 24, 2015 at 17:02

    I generally fear one statement: “The grass is always greener on the other side, because it has more sh*t.”
    Sorry for the language. I have generally seen this in other work areas too. Everywhere I go, I have seen men being favoured amd treated much better than women. And the most disgusting bit: I have seen men being the pets of their female superiors. I am sorry, no one should be anyone’s pet. Equality.

    Reply

  14. nick

    February 24, 2015 at 17:08

    The referenced article starts off complaining about the unfair treatment of women in the industry via “between the lines” discrimination and spends the last half showcasing how much special treatment/extra help woman get in the industry.

    Reply

  15. Darren Peach

    February 24, 2015 at 17:10

    My final comment on this topic is I would like to think our constitution is very progressive pertaining to this problem.

    Reply

  16. miza

    February 25, 2015 at 05:48

    I often feel like I have this problem. I generally get to the position I want, but I have to put in a lot more time proving myself than my male counterparts (despite my resume). Don’t get me wrong – I don’t think anyone is purposefully overlooking or disregarding me, but I think there is some subconscious stereotyping at play here.

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      February 25, 2015 at 13:33

      I think you are right. I have this in the tech field. Ridiculous. Best person for the job, finished.

      Reply

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