Steve Heckman
Aug 9, 2017 · 2 min read

I liked your response for a number of reasons. First, the left in general doesn’t like to be questioned, even though they might have “Question Authority” bumper stickers on their Prius. Yet you addressed it respectfully and tactfully.

Second, diversity of faces does not equate to diversity of ideas. Often, quite the opposite. I may be a white male, but I’m hardly average.

Third, people are attracted to careers for any number of reasons. I was born to be an engineer. I can’t attest to my biology, as I don’t know who my birth parents are (but found a half-brother via Ancestry.com and he flies 737’s for United). But I was a nerd school (a male nerd prepays for any future success, I can’t speak for female version and what school may of been like). But at an early age I tore everything apart to see what is inside, and I still have a hammer and chisel in my tool bag at work. But now I get paid to take thing apart! My point here is though women do tend to be attracted to certain careers, that does not mean that all are identical. Nor are men, some men enjoy nursing or social work.

Quite frankly, I can’t care less of the percentage of women in tech. What I DO care about is how the women who chose tech are treated by their male peers. There is no excuse in treating them badly, though I suspect part of that is the average age of a male in tech to start with. When 35 is considered “old”, something is wrong. The lack of mature male role models could very well be part of the problem. Some startup cultures are pretty much on the level of a frat.

I work in a manufacturing company, with a small engineering staff. Yet, we have fired several men and women for “misbehavior” (one engineer was let go for sexual harassment). It has no place in the workplace (nor outside work, but that is no longer my responsibility).

But the last thing we need is NOW setting the standard of what is right or wrong. Its ok for them to be a voice, but just one of many.

    Steve Heckman

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