Harassment and Women in Tech

At a time when we are becoming more acutely aware of the level of harassment endemic in American businesses, government, and the entertainment industry, we must pay particular attention to women working in technology fields. Some new research conducted by the non-profit organization Women Who Tech, revealed the full story of the level of harassment which is going on in tech industry. We need to encourage more women to enter technology fields, and play a part in the rapid growth and cutting edge developments. Women have something to add to this industry. But it is difficult for women to break into the field, and then to stay in the field because of an often hostile work environment as well as rather significant levels of sexual harassment. Because of the "brogrammer" atmosphere, women are being left out of this sector of the economy and limited in their potential for professional growth. Listen to our discussion with Justyn Hintze from Women Who Tech as we discussed their research on women in tech and the shocking level of harassment they face.

Online Harassment: When Women Aren't Welcome

In my discussion with Justyn Hintze from the non-profit Women Who Tech, we unpack the various forms of cyber harassment and the various platforms in which women are most likely to become victims of cyber harassment. The anonymous nature of the cyber environment can contribute to a willingness to push boundaries of appropriate behavior, sometimes becoming abusive, hateful, or even dangerous. Justyn helps debunk some myths about cyber harassment, and what you can do if you are the recipient of harassing online messages. She also offers some tips on how to protect yourself from unwelcome and often abusive exchanges in the online environment.