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We are fortunate to have interviewed a Tech Girl local to Victoria. We wondered what it is like in a world where girls are competent and confident with their technology, so we sent a survey along to Aleya a talented business owner to provide some insight into her lived experience as a female in the Tech World. We at Girl Power 3.0 thank her for her contributions to our Blog about Girls inspiring Girls and inspired by Girls to touch the buttons! She certainly does, so please read more about Aleya!
Girl Power 3.0: Please tell us your relationship with technology. For example, what field are you in? or How do you use technology in your spare time?
I ‘m an art director and web/digital content developer. I rely on technology as much for my livelihood as my social network and it’s a big enough part of my life that I loose sleep and experience some initial anxiety when access to my computer, iPhone and the internet is limited. I’m not super proud of this.
GP3: If you have a good relationship with technology, how did you forge this? What experiences provided you with the tools to feel confident using technology?
I consider my use of technology to be pretty key to my having overcome a lot of social anxiety and lack of self-esteem It’s also key to my ability to build a competitive skill set in my field. I’ve mostly taken advantage of the passive opportunities – like learning skills required for creative disciplines online where I’m not held back from experimenting by my reluctance to have have my initial attempts on display. It’s has been key to my developing a critical professional network that I wouldn’t have had the confidence to put together in-person.
GP3: What barriers did you face,if any, due to your gender or gender stereotypes?
When I first began working in the advertising/design field in New York as a graduate fresh out of school I was in almost every company I worked for, the only female on staff in the creative department. With the exception of one agency that was owned and run by three female partners, the creative departments were generally staffed by men (young and old), the IT departments were staffed by men and the account management department (responsible for coddling clients) was largely staffed by females deemed better equipped to handle business men and CEOs of varying temperments.
Several things made me realize the gender stereotypes at work:
Despite being employed as the senior art director I was often mistaken for an accounts person.
In meetings and presentations, it was not uncommon for new clients to display a look of concern when introduced to me as the art director on their account than they would with the male designer with 5-10 years less experience.
On more than one occasion I was told I designed like a man. I have yet to figure out what the hell that means.
GP3: How, if at all, is technology tied into your identity? ie. Identity production...
I’m in a field where the tools being used change and advance at a ridiculously rapid rate. Being able to stay on top of the latest technology available to you and giving yourself space and time to grow familiar enough with it to harness it for your own work and creative expression often becomes a part of my profession that’s really only realistic to men in the field once we reach the age that women’s spare time is more invested in finding a partner, nurturing a new relationship or raising children.
Having chosen the more typical “male” path in my field, I’m once again finding myself amongst fewer and fewer females invested in staying relevant and up-to-date. I’m starting to see that being a female in the field is once again becoming a key part of how I’m identified by others whether I like it or not.
Some times I struggle with this sometimes I use it to my advantage. Mostly I wish it wasn’t in the way of how people evaluate what I do.
GP3:vWhat, in you opinion, prevent girls from accessing or feeling confident using/producing technology?
I think I can really only speak for myself on this one. In my case it wasn’t so much my own giving into some really out dated stereotypes about what genders are best suited technology-based fields as it was those around me I relied on for support and reassurance. There’s far too much subconscious programming that happens to a person well-before a kid has developed the agency required to make their own decisions about their plans for their life’s work. Particularly in the field of technology, where there is already a culture of worshipping the newest and latest (in computers, etc.) it takes a certain amount of self-confidence to feel competent and worthy of being given access to these “magical” things.
GP3: What message would you give to girls today about pursuing technology or computer based fields?
The field is ENTIRELY LEVELLED!!!!!! Think sprawling bazaar of wonderful, accessible opportunities to sample rather than towering cathedral to carefully climb. The biggest factor in people’s success with technology has less to do with the opportunities presented or made available to them and more to do with how willing they are to put themselves out there. Anyone that thinks it’s un-ladylike to be willing to put themselves out there and promote themselves will be hurting themselves.
GP3; Can you recommend us any other links about girls creating media or producing technology? How about Programs you may know of for girls trying to get into such a field?
This event has become a huge success locally and gets tremendous participation from women in some creative and technology related fields. My guess it has something to do with the absence of men.
OUR EVENT!!!!
While we struggle to find female presenters that are confident and willing, we think we’ve had a hand in introducing some pretty talented women to the local professional community at our PechaKucha Night. Myself and Amanda Smith are the organizers and recruiters:
Aleya has had a hand in introducing technologically savvy, talented women to the professional community and we are so pleased to have introduced her to you! Thank you Aleya for an insightful and inspiring look into your place of work/world. If you would like to share your relationship with technology with us, please send us an email to receive your survey as engaginggirlhoodsproject@gmail.comhttp://www.anonymousadvertising.com/index.php
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