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Why Calling Women “Girls” in Tech Is a Problem
I was just trying to find a game I had previously wanted and tried searching. I remember being the only ‘girl’ in my computer programming classes — it happened more than once. I also remember going to install some application I designed at a Lock and Dam and being the only female in the group…. and also the only one doing the work, while everyone else stood behind me to watch me finish so that we could head off to a tour of the lake. In all honesty I didn’t feel disrespected by that group, but I did notice the disparity. Up until more recently I’ve been lucky to be in groups that respected women in the field — though my most recent experience didn’t prove the same. Recently though I got to experience the entire, ‘complain about the treatment and face retribution’., thus I moved on.
Why Calling Women “Girls” in Tech Is a Problem
Tech is an industry built on precision. We optimize code for efficiency, design algorithms for accuracy, and debug with meticulous attention to detail. Yet, when it comes to language — especially how we refer to women — this same precision often falls apart.
It’s common to hear accomplished, professional women in tech referred to as “girls.” On the surface, it may seem harmless or even affectionate, but the implications are significant. This choice of words…
