EmilysHere - why is sarah lacy so angry? #tcdisrupt
10 minutes ago via web
sue_anne - Had high hopes for #womenintech panel. Unfortunately moderator set a bad tone and it turned in to a snarkfest. #tcdisrupt
emilyjo - RT @tenaciouscb: Renaming "Women in Tech" to "You shut up. No, you shut up." #tcdisrupt <--watching online...exhausting!
Those Twitter tweets sum up what part of the panel I saw here at the gate. In fact, when the livestream was first activated, Sara's angry voice lit up a good 20-foot square area of the gate. Volume down on the computer.
First, let's get this out of the way. Sara's awesome. She's done a lot for herself in carving a good niche in tech journalism. She's a friend. Well, we'll see after this little crit, but for now, yes.
To watch her just go out and eat the panelists was disappointing. Presented with an effort to show Women In Tech getting along, Sara revealed just why there's a problem after all: infighting.
In other words, the old problem demonstrated at times when a minority of people in any group faces discrimination - one person saying "I'm OK," and the other saying "I'm not." The the two fight rather than seek agreement.
Well, I've got my ticket. On to Denver.
And wishing I were backstage to see the aftermath of this war.
Sara, don't hurt em.
To be totally honest this panel was more than just a disappointment it was both damaging to those women in the tech industry and moved people's expectations of women in technology backward. It stereotyped them as catty, juvenille and uninformed.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I wasn't on the panel. Honestly this panel should have been about inspiring more people into technology as a whole with a focus on how to get there and steps to take to be great in tech. Being a female is only a small part of being successful in this industry. Sure there are specific differences such as maternity leave but let's work that issue seperately.
The fact is this was uninspiring and quite frankly more than disappointing. Whatever happened to these women that made them lose their way I will never know. They need to get a grip and if they want to make a difference in this industry regarding numbers of women in tech, start acting with some dignity and self control. Show why you should be held as a positive role model for young people! Do good! And when doing events where you have the ability to make a positive difference create a positive call to action that everyone can do, both men and women. At the end of the day this isn't a women's issue this is an industry issue and it needs everyone to inspire and encourage!
i agree with the commenter above. The panel did a disservice to ALL women. Sarah should not be allowed to do panels ever.
ReplyDelete