I recently listened to another great podcast by Scott Hansleman called Hansleminutes — Model View Culture. Scott, interviewed Amelia Greenhall and Shanley Kane about their new media platform which focuses on technology, culture and diversity.

I learnt about ‘mansplaining’.

It’s when men in tech explain things to women in tech in overly simplified and patronising terms that make a lot of assumptions about the womens’ skill set.

Not sure who coined this term but I’ve seen this in not just in tech but anywhere it would be unusual to see more women than men like the hardware section in a home centre or in a mechanics garage etc.

The bulk of the conversation revolved around under-represented groups in technology whether it be women in tech or anyone that’s not a typical white male and about not judging or marginilazing when you come across such diversity in tech. All was well till I realised maybe I was also taking part in judging and marginalizing.

One of the points that most struck a chord is about complimenting a female coder on being a coder. I don’t personally come across many female coders and the few times I have, I do genuinely think it’s cool that they are female and choose to code. Is it wrong to think this way? And why is it that I think that being a female and coder is cool anyway?

Upon some introspective thought, I came to the conclusion that I like anything that that different. Different as in unique. And it is the uniqueness that I admire. But how can I show appreciation for something or someone for being unique or having a rare quality without offending?

Upon more thought, I tried to place myself into a different pair of shoes. Being a Software Engineer and an Indian I guess I can kind of relate. The opposite of impressed kind of happens when people find out I’m a Software Enginner due to most Indians being characterized as being Software Engineers or working in some IT related field. And I think I realised what it is that offends.

It is being put into a box. Or more specifically being put into a box that is condescending in some way. If we meet a female who is a coder, or a Indian who is a Software Engineer, putting them into a dismissive box is where we could be going wrong. Instead how what if we looked at their person on their own merits despite age, sex, language first? What if we took the time to get to know the person and resist the need to place the person into a category whether or not that category is right or not?

Just a thought…