This Post Sucks!
August 12, 2009
Guest-written by Beverly Cornell – Check her out at her Global Business Blog – Follow On Twitter
Where are all the Social Media women in Detroit.. or anywhere for that matter?
I don’t want to write this post – really, I shouldn’t have to write this post. However, I’ve read an article this morning that confirms what I’ve known for 2 years, or really most of my life.
After all, women are around 50% of social media users.
I am not a mommy blogger or social media blogger – I blog about an unpopular topic, especially in Detroit (an historically union town) globalization. I know, it’s a niche, and reading my Twitter DM’s many think I should be tarred and feathered for living in and encouraging a global world.
I accept that I talk about the elephant in the room so I’m not as popular as others. But why do I feel frustrated that more women aren’t present and accounted for? Even better, why are women not leading the way? Are there not the invites from the social media conferences? Are women not branding themselves to get noticed? What does it take to get noticed?
Historically speaking, aren’t we the gender that supposedly “gets” relationships, the very basis for social media? Oh I know there many wonderful women in this space – to name a few, Amber Naslund, Ann Handley, Katie Paine, Shannon Paul – but where are the social media femme rock stars, especially in Detroit? Do we need a social media Lilith Fair?
To be clear, I don’t usually spend a lot of my time in women’s only groups. I think it is great to support each other and I do some mentoring but I enjoy spending time at the table where all decision makers not just women hang out. And to be really honest, I like men. I like their straightforward no nonsense approach to business and often times find myself the only woman present and for that I am actually quite grateful. My offline business relationships with men are respectful, engaging and insightful. I feel welcome at the party!
I know that women have long battled the conservative boys club in this automotive town – so is social media equality too much of a cultural shift? Are we just not ready for the stage? Or is the world not ready for us?
Is there a place at the table for educated career driven women who understand social media and use it and have some modicum of success in the space.. but aren’t “in” social media?
After all.. I’m so excited to be in this space. Sometimes I feel like the kid in the back of the room with their hand up, saying, “Pick me! Pick me!”
Comments
2 Responses to “This Post Sucks!”
Got something to say?
I have to agree with you on the women leaders in Detroit. There aren’t any often times conferences and ideas get thrown around even in some circles and there aren’t women in them.
Is this cultural? I don’t know. I do know Geoff Livingston had a post about this a few weeks ago about how no women were on the TOP List of PR professionals and stuff like that. http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2009/07/29/women-snubbed-in-top-ten-speakers-list-industry-in-general/
I think this is just a historic trend which unless we as women take a stand will wind up being the same old song and dance.
A friend of mine, who is a fiercely blunt woman, posed a few questions about women on the Internet, in IT, and the PC community:
Is it really that women are being snubbed, or are they just not interested in technology?
Is there really some collusion — deliberate or unintentional — that is keeping women locked out of the community?
I myself write for Icrontic.com, a technology website, and we pride ourselves on having one of the most friendly and accepting technology venues anywhere. We’ve even grown beyond technology: We offer content and discussion outlets on travel, brewing, fitness, fashion, board games, and many non-traditional/non-technology things.
We’re very protective of our diverse, international and cultured membership. Site owners and operators frequently go to great lengths to make sure that everyone’s views have a place, and once voiced, get met with the utmost respect.
Despite all these protections and the warm community we provide, the number of women involved with our site is very small. The common theme amongst them is that they were exposed to technology and the Internet at a young age; they have grown with them and they have played a role at every stage in their lives.
While it is true that the internet can at times be chauvinist, I think that common theme of early exposure is the more compelling argument. Combine this with the anthropological idea that our adult interests are greatly influenced by our parents and peers at a young age, and we can begin to understand that the conundrum is probably one of society and/or culture.
Thankfully, women all over the globe are growing up in a connected culture where it is almost possible to avoid the PC and the internet. They won’t be robbed of the experience by parents who are not interested in technology or the internet age.
I think this will have a great influence on the number of women entering into social media or other technology/internet-related professions. In the mean time, we must be persistent in selling the virtues of the internet as a place of enlightenment, an opportunity to connect, and of enrichment.