Points of Difference: a Feminist issue.

Discussing points of difference can attract comments about points of similarity, suggesting that the similarities override the differences. The people discussing the points of difference are not actually oblivious to the similarities. They are just discussing the points of difference. Or the impacts of the points of difference. Or, in the case of geek feminism, discussing the impacts of the beliefs people have about the impacts of the points of difference.

Women in IT are like guys in IT except that the majority (guys) brew up a culture based on their perception that women in IT are not like men in IT. The difference lies in the perception that there is a difference, not in the difference itself. The points of difference between female IT workers and male IT workers do not constitute a professional difference. Gender is not perceptibly relevant. The fact that it has an impact on the careers, productivity, self-confidence and lives of women indicates that it does have an impact.

But it is not "being female" that causes the problem. The problem is a cultural myth that conjures up the supposed difference in ability, individual value or worthiness. In a perfect world, these myths would not exist, and it would be taken for granted that women and men are equal. But we are flawed individuals dealing with other flawed individuals in a flawed world.

One key problem women in IT face is not one of dealing with our own professional flaws, but with the flaws of other professionals. And, of course, of dealing with the impacts of the beliefs of our colleagues regarding our gender, which they do not realise is a professionally irrelevant point of difference.