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Sexism in Web Design

April 2nd, 2010

I’ve just read an interesting article about women in web design. And I’m stunned.

It’s been 22 years since my (female) manager was ‘demoted’ to non-manager following the birth of her child, because she needed to reduce her hours to 40/week. It’s been 33 years since my summer job at a state law enforcement agency—where I had to keep a desk between me and the division head. It’s been 34 years since a guy declared in class that he hated when girls used big words and that they should stay barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. It’s been 38 years since Title IX was passed…

You’d think we would be past all this bullshit by now.

But, apparently, we’re not.

Addendum: 4/22/2010

This drivel about what designers can learn from girls was posted today. :P

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10 Responses to “Sexism in Web Design”

Mark McCorkell
April 2, 2010

I think I know the article you are referring to. It does baffle me that there is still some sexism in Web Design. All the girls I know that do Web Design/Development are all masters of their craft, and niche.

Rosalind Wills
April 2, 2010

Well put.

It’s sad, really; I’ve always found the design community as a whole to be so welcoming, and the web such a “come-one-come-all” forum, that it’s really depressing that there are still people out there trying to drag discourse down. The same can be said of any community, of course, but in the communication venue of the future, you tend to expect better…

I was heartened somewhat by that article’s references to the support communities that are out there as well. May have to check some of those out. =P

Catherine
April 2, 2010

I wonder if I’ve prepared my daughters enough for workplace crud like this. Though I know they won’t suffer fools!

Catherine
April 2, 2010

Thanks, Rosalind. I tried out the Women Desiger’s Group, but much prefer the #DCTH gang.

Rebecca
April 6, 2010

It’s really sad how much sexism is still around. I was lucky enough to have parents that never let my extra x-chromosome hold me back from anything I wanted to do. My sister and I rode dirt bikes and horses just as well as the boys. We were never told we couldn’t do anything because we were a girl. It was a great bubble to grow up in.

But the real world hits you hard once you step out of that bubble. I was flabbergasted when I realized how it really is out there. However, that bubble put a great amount of stubbornness inside me. I refuse to be taken for granted because I am a woman. I know what I can do regardless of my gender, and most of the time can do it better than those men who think I can’t, simply because I don’t have that huge ego getting in my way. I’ve found that it doesn’t take long to gain respect if you work hard, and are good at what you do, and don’t let them take credit for what you’ve done. I’ve seen some of those sexist men try that. Just have to stick up for yourself when that happens.

Catherine
April 6, 2010

Thanks, Rebecca!

It’s funny, neither of my daughters ‘get’ it–they’ve not yet encountered sexism. That’s the good news. I just wonder how they’ll deal with it when it happens to them–if I’ve prepared them for real world!

Christine
May 19, 2010

I am getting out of the web design business because of the sexism. It’s a 2nd career for me (I am old enough to be a mother for most of the posters here) and I actually get it from BOTH genders because the women I deal with seem to listen and/or respect contributions regarding site marketing and design from men rather than from women (myself included). So we can be our worst enemies. And also, being middle aged and female and having been in this industry for 12 years now, it’s very hard for anyone to take me seriously while job hunting. What, a 50 year old who knows PPC backwards and forwards? You gotta be kidding me. So now, I have divested all my sites to a male former coworker, who I am sure will get A LOT more respect and will be listened to more than I have been. Good luck, my friend.

Catherine
May 19, 2010

I’m sorry you feel that way, Christine.

As much as I get angry about the sexism that still exists, I’m not going to let it prevent me from doing work I love. That said, I do think it’s easier to handle (sexism AND ageism) as a solopreneur than traditional EE.

I see web design as a great career choice from wherever I want for as long as I want–well into traditional ‘retirement’ years.

What Say You?