This male privilege checklist is aimed specifically at male programmers; clicking the links in it will direct you to appalling examples of sexism in the open source community.
For any female working in computer science, specifically as a coder, most items in this list will not strike you as exceptional.
Let me address a couple that really hit home with me personally:
“The freedom to do your job without anyone insinuating that you only got hired because of affirmative action or “quotas”, or because of the anatomy you happen to possess.”
While this hasn’t happened to me(yet) since I’m still an undergraduate, this is the problem quotas present: While it may lead to an increase of women in top positions, it also leads to women not being taken seriously and being accused of not getting there by their own skills and hard work.
It may be true that these quotas are the only thing that can break or at least push some women through the glass ceiling, the bigger part of our society will only ridicule women in top positions more, suggesting that if she didn’t “sleep her way up”, she’s only there because of quotas, not because of her competence. This won’t make her job easier, and make it even harder to prove herself. Of course quotas will be unnecessary after the revolution, but in the meantime I’m still unsure on the issue(opinions are welcome though!).
“The freedom to make mistakes or say stupid things without worrying about it getting added to the pile of “why women suck at computer stuff”.”
This is the reason why, when people talk about things I know nothing/little about, I just shut up, and I don’t ask questions. Usually, when I get home I google the subject at hand, but I could’ve learnt so much more by just asking, but I don’t because I’m afraid of ruining other female-coder’s reputation, because everything negative a woman does anywhere affects people’s thoughts of women in general.
Also, check out this gem. This guy actually arguments that there are few woman programmers, therefore women(as a class) are worse at programming than men. Why? Because if women were good at programming, there would be more female programmers -headdesk-. The lack of female programmers obviously has nothing to do with male-centered hiring tactics and women’s oppression and the patriarchy in general.
“The freedom to attend a technical conference without fear of sexual assault.”
This one is probably more recognizable for non-programmer women, because sexual assault is well, everywhere. Still it’s worth mentioning that even in the unsexy world of computer science, females get harassed for being there.
“Attending a technical talk without people assuming that you’re only there because your boyfriend dragged you along with him.”
This one applies for me, not so much in computer science but in the heavy metal scene(which is somewhat unrelated to this post), some guy comes to talk to you and asks if you’re there with your boyfriend(“Yes, I dragged him along”), or tries to “save” you from the moshpit(“I jumped in voluntarily, I like to blow off steam this way”) or tells you how awesome it is to have a woman in the pit(“The fact that I have a vagina does not mean I cannot kick your face in, you stupid sexist turd”).
Moving on.
“Knowing that if you attend a professional conference, there will be a restroom you can use.”
Check out the link with this one, apparently there was a con where they changed the women’s restroom to a men’s restroom. I understand not wanting to wait in line, but couldn’t they have made them ungendered? It must be awkward to clearly be SO unexpected there.
“Not having to think about what gender you are”
This goes for any woman, anywhere, so just for emphasis.
“Walking home unafraid after a late-night coding spree.”
You can obviously replace “late-night coding spree” with anything that goes on after dark and this applies to every woman’s experience, again.
“The freedom to listen to speakers say that software should be so easy to use that even your mom could use it without wondering whether they have you in mind.”
THIS. I talked about this with a guy I know from uni, and he just didn’t get what the problem was, you know, since women are generally worse at computer stuff. It’s just a “figure of speech”, not harmful at all. auyughvbdjewhgfy.
Not to mention the “girlfriend experiment”:
“One way to measure [Ubuntu] usability is to sit your girlfriend in front of a Linux desktop and see what problems she encounters trying to do some normal desktop tasks.”
This is SO arrogant I just CANNOT believe it. Like your girlfriend is some kind of moron who cannot determine easy desktop functions when they’re a little different from the Windows interface. GAH. I’m actually the one who fixes my Nigel’s laptop around here, because you know, sometimes women are better at computerstuff.
“The expectation that if you say you are a programmer, people will believe you.”
This has happened to me and multiple female-programmers I know. Because, you know, programming is for guys. Shouldn’t we be studying educational theory or something? Something we can use when we’re at home having kids?
“The freedom to discuss the role of gender in programming without people thinking you’re being (a) self-serving, (b) whiny, (c) bringing politics into realms where it’s not relevant, or (d) all of the above.”
THIS SO MUCH. I cannot count the number of times I have swallowed shit to prevent being labeled a “whiny feminist bitch”, which label would make it harder for me to find a decent job in the male-dominated world of computer science.
“The privilege of being able to deny the existence of your own privilege as a male programmer.”
They’re doing it. 99% of them. It stings.
