I am a physicist working in industrial research and development. I don't know how my field compares to computer-related fields in terms of gender representation, but believe you me, physics is very much a male-dominated field. In school (starting in high school), I was more often than not the only woman in my physics classes, and even when there were other women, we were always <10%. At my current workplace, we have ~25 employees, 7 of whom are women--one is a business-person, one is an accountant, two are lab techs, two are biologists. I am the only physical-science/engineering woman--the people I work with directly are all men. This has been the case for all of my education and professional career.
I have rarely experienced anything I would regard as malicious sexism or harassment. Having said that, a big part of the reason why is that "not being full of sexist dickbags" is one of the criteria I apply to potential places of employment. I'd never go so far as to claim that there is no sexism in my field.
A bigger issue is unconscious sexism, and it's true that I sometimes feel I have less room to be mediocre than a male colleague might, and am judged slightly more negatively for being aggressive than I would be if I were a man. But, I don't think that's a reason not to be doing work in a field I find interesting and challenging (and financially rewarding).
As for myself, I'd much rather be in my situation where I have to deal with localized instances of sexism, but where I get respect for what I do, than be in a field which is devalued throughout society because it is female-dominated (e.g schoolteaching, nursing). At least I know how to fight back against assumptions that I am a secretary and not a scientist.
I am not a parent, but I have been a child, and one thing I have never told my parents (because it would make them feel bad) is that I clearly remember several instances from when I was a kid, where they subtley (and unintentionally) discouraged me from pursuing certain paths, because I wouldn't fit in. If I'd listened to them, instead of following my desires, I would not be as successful as I currently am.
Here via vito_excalibur
I have rarely experienced anything I would regard as malicious sexism or harassment. Having said that, a big part of the reason why is that "not being full of sexist dickbags" is one of the criteria I apply to potential places of employment. I'd never go so far as to claim that there is no sexism in my field.
A bigger issue is unconscious sexism, and it's true that I sometimes feel I have less room to be mediocre than a male colleague might, and am judged slightly more negatively for being aggressive than I would be if I were a man. But, I don't think that's a reason not to be doing work in a field I find interesting and challenging (and financially rewarding).
As for myself, I'd much rather be in my situation where I have to deal with localized instances of sexism, but where I get respect for what I do, than be in a field which is devalued throughout society because it is female-dominated (e.g schoolteaching, nursing). At least I know how to fight back against assumptions that I am a secretary and not a scientist.
I am not a parent, but I have been a child, and one thing I have never told my parents (because it would make them feel bad) is that I clearly remember several instances from when I was a kid, where they subtley (and unintentionally) discouraged me from pursuing certain paths, because I wouldn't fit in. If I'd listened to them, instead of following my desires, I would not be as successful as I currently am.