Ask HN: How to help get more women in tech as a male?

There's been a groundswell over the past few years of organizations dedicated to helping get more women into tech, along with other STEM fields. Usually, though, these organizations are for women BY women. As a male, it feels like it would be considered white knighting, or condescending, to try and offer help to these organizations, or to attempt to start something on my own.

I'm looking for your thoughts on what I can actually do to help this movement. Any real-world experience would be greatly appreciated.

The problem with getting women into tech is that so few women finish school with a tech degree, so no matter what you do, there's going to be a huge imbalance until this changes. It's very difficult to change career later in life, for both men and women.

I think the greatest benefits come from getting girls excited about STEM careers, but this is a much longer term approach. I'm really dismayed at the peer pressure I see in school that steers boys and girls in different directions, since this is something you have to fight at home and de-program your children. Get your daughters a microscope, telescope, computer, whatever. Use it with her, show her all the cool stuff in the world and talk about how it works. Don't go for "girl-friendly" approaches, since IMO, those are condescending. Treat her like a curious little scientist, not little Suzie homemaker with a science hobby.

Having kids, it really pisses me off that people say boys are "smart, strong", and that girls are "cute, friendly". Freaking double standard.

1. Give money to organizations that are doing the work you want to support

2. Get your company to give money

3. Speak out when you see sexism

4. When you are hiring, specifically reach out to women tech organizations (I have a women's college in my town with a CS dept -- I made friends with the Dean and some profs -- I send intern and job openings to them)

I think that there's work that you can do to increase the number of women applicants, so I do it. By the way, these things help to increase diversity along other dimensions, which you should also do.

My wife and I have chosen not to have children - for reasons personal to us. That's why the outreach aspect (if I can't pass the torch along to my own, I want to pass it off to someone) is big to me.