Last night I went out for a couple of drinks with the guys from Integrum, and we ended up having quite the discussion about our work environment and our specific personalities. We talked a bit about the difference between men and women in the programming world; a topic that I find particularly interesting seeing as how I am one of few women in this line of work. One of the guys asked me if I thought it was hard to be a woman at Integrum, and I think he was surprised when I said "yes." The truth is, it's not Integrum that makes it hard for me, but the industry itself. Whether we like it or not, it is harder to be a woman developer than it is to be a man. I've actually been very lucky at Integrum, because while it's still hard for me, I give all the guys a lot of credit for allowing me to prove myself. Sometimes, women don't even get that chance. I like to think that I am good at what I do, and I want to be thought of as a good (maybe someday, great) developer and not just a chick who thinks she can code.
While I'm talking about women in development, I'd like to give a little shout out to the devChix, a group of women developers with a mission to create a community for women in development to try and make it easier for them. At RailsConf I got the chance to meet Desi and several other women in the group, and I must say it was nice to chat with other women who know how I feel.
Thanks to all the guys that were there last night voicing their opinions, and to my friend Jenna for helping me sort through my thoughts today. I am proud to be a woman in this field, and I will continue to try and prove that I belong here.
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