“We Will Invite Men For Interviews Because They Seem To Be More Successful”: How Dud Recalled Gender Stereotypes In IT

“We Will Invite Men For Interviews Because They Seem To Be More Successful”: How Dud Recalled Gender Stereotypes In IT
“We Will Invite Men For Interviews Because They Seem To Be More Successful”: How Dud Recalled Gender Stereotypes In IT

Video: “We Will Invite Men For Interviews Because They Seem To Be More Successful”: How Dud Recalled Gender Stereotypes In IT

Video: “We Will Invite Men For Interviews Because They Seem To Be More Successful”: How Dud Recalled Gender Stereotypes In IT
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RTVI: How did you understand that such an information product is needed, and how did your colleagues react?

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Anna Plotnika: In terms of socio-ethical views, I am an intersectional feminist. The rights and status of women and, in general, the problem of equality are very close to me. I wanted to show these stories, tell how real women make their way in those professions that are still stereotypically considered more male.

The main goal of the project is to inspire and show that in fact there is no more masculine or feminine mindset. It's just that there are different circumstances that hinder this or that gender on the way up the career ladder, but this definitely should not exist in the form in which it is now.

How Yuri Dud's film about Silicon Valley was criticized for sexism

At the end of April, journalist Yuri Dud released a large documentary about the IT industry, expatriate entrepreneurs and the benefits of moving to the United States. The video lasts more than three hours, and during this time not a single woman appears in the frame. At the same time, Russian-speaking women in Silicon Valley, of course, work and often occupy leadership positions in large corporations.

The unfounded gender preponderance caused a lot of controversy among the audience, the filmmakers were accused of discrimination. “Yuri doesn't like interviewing women, and it played very against him. In America, this is called sexism and lack of equal opportunities,”said Ksenia Chabanenko, founder of the Yoken PR agency.

“Gender discrimination in careers is not a myth created by 'evil feminists', it is a reality confirmed by economists around the world. In the world of business, they look around: "There is not a single female top manager, so women are bad top managers." Such stereotypes increase the fear and reluctance of women to do business (as if they have few obstacles without it),”wrote Marina Mentusova, creator of the Why Women Achieve project.

There are studies that prove that girls are better at coding, but still there are fewer girls in the industry itself. At the same time, I personally communicate with young girls and women and I see that it would be great if someone once could show and tell that everything is available, there are no obstacles, except for our some prejudices and attitudes.

RTVI: Why is there a gender preponderance in such innovative areas as IT and Data Science? How is it that they are considered masculine?

Anna Plotnika: It's all about our thinking, how we look around us. And our thinking bears the imprint of how historically the division between masculine and feminine has developed. Historically, girls and women have gained access to education in general and to higher education in particular quite recently. The same suffragettes in the 20th century defended the right to vote. Women gained access to knowledge much later than men, so stereotypically we still think that everything related to intellectual work - work, mind - is about boys. It is worth remembering that in the prevailing way of life, an obstacle for girls is 2 and 3 shifts (here she means terms from femtheory). Raising children, caring for the elderly and about everyday life in general is still, in fact, a woman's responsibility. Women put a lot of effort and resources into this.

RTVI: Is this problem only in Russia or everywhere? For example, in the same film by Dudya about Silicon Valley, all the experts are men. Is it Duda or is it really impossible to find women professionals in this field in the USA?

AP: The point is how the conventional Yuri Dud thinks. He would rather invite a hero than a heroine, because this is how his thinking is arranged. Although in large corporations women are employed in leading and managerial positions. Nevertheless, we are used to thinking that we live in a more masculine world. First of all, we celebrate their successes and achievements. Therefore, we will invite men for interviews, because they seem to be more successful. The point is how it happened historically, not how it really is. There is no scientifically proven evidence that girls think differently.

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