Description
Book SynopsisThis book offers a critical analysis of the contemporary and global tech culture and exposes the gender bias of masculine tech ideology and stereotypes.
Is the place of ‘women in tech’ immovable from masculine leadership practices? And what are the cultural, social, personal and economic consequences of gender as a point of difference in the context of work in the tech sector?
Mariann Hardey examines the rise of entrepreneurial work and leadership, the contemporary urban setting of global tech work, and specifically women’s place in tech clusters. The book engages with attempts by women to establish and then sustain their professional status and long-term careers, despite predatory social media trolling and inappropriate sexualized behaviour. Based on a series of commentaries from research undertaken by the author about workers located within ‘tech cities’ in the UK, USA and East Asia regions, the work exposes the serious problem of women’s position in the industry. While this study continues to be critical of the conceits of masculine tech ideology, prejudices and stereotypes, the work contributes to recent calls to help find solutions and ways forward.
Trade Review‘The contemporary, liberal aesthetic of the digital technology sector is categorically undermined by this insightful text, which draws on women’s voices to evidence the toxic conditions of their working lives and how gender inequalities remain shaped and reinforced by space and place.’ -- Professor Andy Miah, Chair in Science Communication & Future Media, University of Salford
‘The lack of women in working in the tech sector is a well-documented problem. Even more worrying to me is the lack of women considering a career in technology. I welcome Mariann’s contribution to understanding the issues around a lack of diversity in tech especially looking across a number of leading cities around the world to provide a ‘meta’ look across multiple clusters.’ -- Herb Kim, Director, The Thinking Digital Conference
‘Having set up the UK’s first online Women in Tech network BCSWomen over 20 years ago in response to my negative experiences at tech conferences I’ve been active in this area for a generation. This book adds so much to our understanding of what is really going on in tech culture around gender and diversity and as such is completely invaluable. A seminal, pioneering work that makes a fundamental contribution, read it now.” -- Sue Black OBE, Professor of Computer Science, Durham University
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Tech Work After TechnoFem Chapter 2. The Problem with The Label 'Women in Tech' (WiT) Chapter 3. Taking Up Space as a Woman in Tech Chapter 4. Finding Work and Working through Masculine Tech Toxicity Chapter 5. The Place of Women's Activism in Tech Clusters in the Era of #everydaysexism and #MeToo Conclusion. A Suitable Job for a Woman
