mindgraffiti

I admit I read all 82 pages in a single sitting. I generally have no taste for statistics or graphs, but today was different. The 2007 Web Design Survey by A List Apart has been released. It was sparked from the debate that women are not being fairly represented at web conferences, and so a study ensued. Sam’s World of No eloquently summarizes this best:

What I like about Zeldman is his can-do attitude. Earlier this year, a set of rants and comments about the demographic of people engaged in web design, and particularly the male/female debate, was marked by its lack of informed data. So Zeldman and various other happy cog people, through their A List Apart/An Event Apart vehicles, commissioned a full survey to try and plug the gap. It was published on the 24th of April this year, and open to responses for almost a month. There were 32,831 respondents, and the full report is available online, along with the data breakdowns.

Do read Sam’s Ten Comments on the A List Apart 2007 Web Design Survey. I agree in general with his observations and find myself laughing at the especially sharp comments (highlights below) in #2:

There is blogging well and there is blogging badly. … It’s a bit like getting data that says that racing drivers have cars.

and #7:

Nobody wants to be a webmaster. … Let’s get rid of this title once for all and give the sometimes extremely talented people that hold something decent to put on their business cards.

yet I strongly disagree with #3:

There is no widespread practical education for web development.

Perhaps this is a regional issue? Maybe there is a lack of attention by education institutions to fill the need in England? In the U. S. many universities, colleges and technical schools are creating degrees and certifications concentrating on web design and web development.

Last, but not least, #6:

The proportion of women is just low. Sometimes there really are statistical realities, and the women argument appears to be one.

Hear hear! I have been following the conversations about women in web-related fields closely, for obvious reasons. Despite the finger pointing and accusations that have flown around this topic, it is a simple fact that there are only a handful of females in any given company, holding web-related positions.

My non-scientific, blatantly biased answer to the question Why? is simple as well: most women are flat-out not interested in web work.

The few women who gravitated towards math, science, computers and shop class in their youth have already joined the ranks. We are just spread out thinly among all the traditionally male-dominated fields as Architects, Chemists, Computer Programmers, Engineers, Developers, Designers and Chefs among others. The few women who enjoy pulling things apart and asking how does it work? are already here, working with the web. Opportunities abound and women are free to join in wherever they please.

I am less concerned with glass ceilings and sexism in the workplace than I am with child rearing. As fathers and mothers, be more concerned about encouraging and teaching both your sons and daughters how to sew, rebuild an engine, cook, repair a flat tire and balance a checkbook. It opens up the world of possibilities to them. It seemed natural to know how to change the oil in my car, just as it seemed natural for my brothers to know how to sew a button on a shirt. Once the vocal detractors come around (ewww, dissecting frogs is for boys!) kids are already set in how they see their role. No one will be able to tell them they can’t do something because of their gender, especially when they already know they can.

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