Wishbones and Backbones

A friend sent along this article that offers seven reasons why women still aren't on par with men in IT. The article title seems extreme, but it makes some good arguments and shows that the gender gap seems to be worldwide. One thought-provoking comment was this quote from a female manager at Intel: "I find networking to be a major problem. I cannot have the same informal ‘outside work’ relationship with my peers and senior executives that my male ‘competitors’ could have without spouses being concerned and some people’s tongues wagging."

The piece raises some interesting questions, including whether or not women suffer, because unlike many men, they aren't good at marketing themselves at work.

The piece also includes a great quote that highlights the challenge of overcoming the effects of social conditioning and how it prevents women from asserting themselves and developing their skills and potential. It's from Clementine Paddleford, an American journalist and food writer: "Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where a backbone ought to be."

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