Okay, so I saw this interesting title, “what does type mean for girls,” and I thought, “Alright, let’s dive in and see what this is all about.” I mean, I’ve been messing around with coding and tech for a while now, so I figured I could at least offer my two cents on the topic.
First things first, I did a little digging, you know, just to get a feel for what people were talking about. Searched around a bit, read some articles, scrolled through a few forums. It seemed like a lot of the conversation was around stereotypes and assumptions about women in tech. Like, do you have to be a certain type of woman to succeed in this field? Are you expected to be super nerdy, or hyper-feminine, or what?
Honestly, it kinda bugged me. Because in my experience, the best thing about tech is that it doesn’t really care who you are. If you can code, if you can solve problems, if you can build cool stuff, then you’re in. Gender shouldn’t even be a factor. But, you know, it often is.
So, I decided to do a little experiment. I jumped onto a few online coding communities I’m part of – places where people ask for help, share projects, and generally just geek out about tech. I started subtly changing my profile. I removed any mention of traditionally “feminine” hobbies or interests. I made my profile pic a bit more neutral. And then I started asking questions, sharing my code, contributing to discussions, just like I always do.
The results? Not dramatic, but definitely noticeable. People seemed a bit more willing to take my suggestions seriously from the get-go. I got fewer “mansplaining” responses (you know, when someone explains something super basic to you like you’re an idiot). And I felt like I had to work a little less hard to prove myself.
Now, I’m not saying this proves anything definitive. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe the projects I was working on happened to be more interesting that week. But it made me think. It made me realize that even in supposedly meritocratic spaces like tech, biases can still creep in. You might not even realize you’re doing it, but you might be unconsciously judging someone based on their perceived “type.”
So, what’s the takeaway? Well, for me, it’s a reminder to be mindful of my own biases and assumptions. To try and see people for their skills and contributions, not for their gender or their hobbies or whatever else. And for other women in tech (or aspiring to be in tech), it’s a reminder to stay true to yourself. Don’t feel like you have to conform to some pre-defined “type” to succeed. Your skills and your passion are what matter. Just keep coding, keep learning, and keep breaking down those stereotypes.
- Be aware of your own biases.
- Focus on skills and contributions.
- Don’t feel pressured to conform.
It’s a work in progress, you know? But I think it’s a conversation worth having.
