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Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

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Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#11

Post by fallentimes »

"At the last Y Combinator Demo Day I attended, there were 3 women in a room of over 100 people. That just seems a bit low to me, and I have no doubt that it reflects the candidate pool"

I'm glad she mentioned this. How could Livingston not want more women founders? She's trapped with 80 dudes six months out of the year.

I'm certainly for equal treatment, but whether the media wants to admit it or not - people are different. That's why Title 9, quota hiring and Chief Diversity officers (gag!) have been such utter failures. Right idea, wrong execution. Working in admissions in school was one of the most eye opening things I've ever done. Some of the other efforts are great, but most come off as discriminating double standards.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#12

Post by aston »

fallentimes wrote: post #11

"At the last Y Combinator Demo Day I attended, there were 3 women in a room of over 100 people. That just seems a bit low to me, and I have no doubt that it reflects the candidate pool" I'm glad she mentioned this. How could Livingston not want more women founders? She's trapped with 80 dudes six months out of the year. I'm certainly for equal treatment, but whether the media wants to admit it or not - people are dif…

Just curious whether you'd be willing to share some of those eye-opening insights with us.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#13

Post by sanj »

halo wrote: post #4

I apologise in advance as this is probably quite a controversial rant, but this sort of thing has always really frustrated me. I guess it comes down to this: I don't see how sex matters when you're a business person, when you're programming, when you're building things. The sex of the person rightfully shouldn't come into it - it's their skills that matter. The interpreter, afterall, doesn't spit out a different resu…

Might I suggest that you consider taking part in a class dominated by women? Perhaps something discussing the proto-feminist leanings of Woolf?

I'm not kidding.

I think you'll find that you're lonely. That you gravitate towards talking to other men in the group. That you feel like your voice isn't heard. That you sense resentment towards you. That your opinion isn't valid.

Now imagine going through that every day in your college career.

(I'm assuming you're a man. If you're not, then my 97% die roll failed me.)

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#14

Post by fallentimes »

aston wrote: post #12
fallentimes wrote: post #11

"At the last Y Combinator Demo Day I attended, there were 3 women in a room of over 100 people. That just seems a bit low to me, and I have no doubt that it reflects the candidate pool" I'm glad she mentioned this. How could Livingston not want more women founders? She's trapped with 80 dudes six months out of the year. I'm certainly for equal treatment, but whether the media wants to admit it or not - people are dif…

Just curious whether you'd be willing to share some of those eye-opening insights with us.

Wouldn't really call them insights, but sure.

HHI 60k, Black, 2.1 GPA, similar EC, no record, ACT Score 16 - Accepted.

HHI 50k, White, 3.2 GPA, similar EC, no record, ACT Score 22 - Rejected.

Most were variations of that. That is, less qualified applicants in similar economic situations were admitted solely because of race. Obviously I knew these practices existed (oh hai Division 1 athletics), I was just surprised how blatant it was especially with economic situations being roughly equal in many of the cases. Scholarships were even worse, but seeing as it was a few years ago, I don't remember specific cases. Just apply the above to general scholarship fund stuff.

Edit: Didn't like how the first sentence read.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#15

Post by ajross »

sanj wrote: post #13
halo wrote: post #4

I apologise in advance as this is probably quite a controversial rant, but this sort of thing has always really frustrated me. I guess it comes down to this: I don't see how sex matters when you're a business person, when you're programming, when you're building things. The sex of the person rightfully shouldn't come into it - it's their skills that matter. The interpreter, afterall, doesn't spit out a different resu…

Might I suggest that you consider taking part in a class dominated by women? Perhaps something discussing the proto-feminist leanings of Woolf? I'm not kidding. I think you'll find that you're lonely. That you gravitate towards talking to other men in the group. That you feel like your voice isn't heard. That you sense resentment towards you. That your opinion isn't valid. Now imagine going through that every day in…

Indeed. Now add a bunch of chest-pounding chicks writing self-described "controversial rants" about the utter ridiculousness of having a group just for men to feel good about themselves.

Hell, the tone of the parent article alone is enough to justify this group. Guys: we already dominate the industry, and will for the rest of our careers. There's no need to be jerks about it. If you don't see the need for a group to which you'll never belong, just keep quiet.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#16

Post by smoody »

sanj wrote: post #13
halo wrote: post #4

I apologise in advance as this is probably quite a controversial rant, but this sort of thing has always really frustrated me. I guess it comes down to this: I don't see how sex matters when you're a business person, when you're programming, when you're building things. The sex of the person rightfully shouldn't come into it - it's their skills that matter. The interpreter, afterall, doesn't spit out a different resu…

Might I suggest that you consider taking part in a class dominated by women? Perhaps something discussing the proto-feminist leanings of Woolf? I'm not kidding. I think you'll find that you're lonely. That you gravitate towards talking to other men in the group. That you feel like your voice isn't heard. That you sense resentment towards you. That your opinion isn't valid. Now imagine going through that every day in…

I know exactly what you're talking about. I once worked for a software company where the female engineers/managers way outnumbered the male engineers. It became known as a friendly place for female engineers to work and that, in turn, attracted more female engineers.

But that's not my point. My point is, at that company, I would often go to engineering meetings (with five to seven other people) where I was the only man in attendance. And I can tell you without a doubt that it was hard to get my opinion heard and I felt isolated.

So, I completely agree with your argument. You don't know what it's like until you've been there.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#17

Post by aston »

fallentimes wrote: post #14
aston wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just curious whether you'd be willing to share some of those eye-opening insights with us.

Wouldn't really call them insights, but sure. HHI 60k, Black, 2.1 GPA, similar EC, no record, ACT Score 16 - Accepted. HHI 50k, White, 3.2 GPA, similar EC, no record, ACT Score 22 - Rejected. Most were variations of that. That is, less qualified applicants in similar economic situations were admitted solely because of race. Obviously I knew these practices existed (oh hai Division 1 athletics), I was just surprised h…

Oh. Not that surprising, really. Affirmative action exists. Even (especially?) in the best schools in the nation. It's not just for race, though. Women get it at tech schools, men get it at some state schools, and poor people get it anywhere where most students are wealthy.

For the record, I'm an adamant supporter of AA. And not entirely because it helped me out personally.

edit: I go through all this work to say something to get an argument, and all I do is get a downvote? C'mon guys...

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#18

Post by aston »

mhartl wrote: post #8
halo wrote: post #4

I apologise in advance as this is probably quite a controversial rant, but this sort of thing has always really frustrated me. I guess it comes down to this: I don't see how sex matters when you're a business person, when you're programming, when you're building things. The sex of the person rightfully shouldn't come into it - it's their skills that matter. The interpreter, afterall, doesn't spit out a different resu…

Though clearly well-intentioned, these sorts of things have always rubbed me the wrong way, too. It seems they are only acceptable for categories outside the "dominant" set {white, male}. "Women in Engineering" is fine, as is "African Americans in Medicine". And unlike, say, a Gay Men's Chorus, I'd bet they're not particularly accepting of people who don't fit the profile. As a white male, I'm sure I enjoy all sorts…

Is your opposition with the fact that minorities are forming groups or that they might be exclusive in nature? If it's the latter, most of them actually aren't--feel free to join your local National Society of Black Engineers chapter.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#19

Post by nostrademons »

sanj wrote: post #13
halo wrote: post #4

I apologise in advance as this is probably quite a controversial rant, but this sort of thing has always really frustrated me. I guess it comes down to this: I don't see how sex matters when you're a business person, when you're programming, when you're building things. The sex of the person rightfully shouldn't come into it - it's their skills that matter. The interpreter, afterall, doesn't spit out a different resu…

Might I suggest that you consider taking part in a class dominated by women? Perhaps something discussing the proto-feminist leanings of Woolf? I'm not kidding. I think you'll find that you're lonely. That you gravitate towards talking to other men in the group. That you feel like your voice isn't heard. That you sense resentment towards you. That your opinion isn't valid. Now imagine going through that every day in…

I took a course at Mt. Holyoke in college (I'm male, Mt. Holyoke is an all-women's college). I also spent quite a while in the Harry Potter fandom, which is literally 99% female.

In neither situation did I ever feel marginalized, or excluded, or ignored. Occasionally I felt like I was an object of curiosity, but I can deal with that.

It is a bit of a culture shock, and in both situations I was careful to observe first and talk later. I saw some guys who entered fandom, immediately started acting like...men, and had a rather unwelcome reception as a result. But that's social skills 101: being aware of existing culture and norms of a group.

That said, I don't have any problem with a group like this. It's not really a sex issue: it's connecting experienced entrepreneurs with like-minded people, which is kinda the point of mentoring. Arguably, PG started YCombinator because he wanted to mentor people like himself; I don't see any reason why a group of women should not be able to do the same thing.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#20

Post by fallentimes »

aston wrote: post #17
fallentimes wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't really call them insights, but sure. HHI 60k, Black, 2.1 GPA, similar EC, no record, ACT Score 16 - Accepted. HHI 50k, White, 3.2 GPA, similar EC, no record, ACT Score 22 - Rejected. Most were variations of that. That is, less qualified applicants in similar economic situations were admitted solely because of race. Obviously I knew these practices existed (oh hai Division 1 athletics), I was just surprised h…

Oh. Not that surprising, really. Affirmative action exists. Even (especially?) in the best schools in the nation. It's not just for race, though. Women get it at tech schools, men get it at some state schools, and poor people get it anywhere where most students are wealthy. For the record, I'm an adamant supporter of AA. And not entirely because it helped me out personally. edit: I go through all this work to say som…

Which is why I never called it an insight - you did :). It was eye opening for me personally. Like I said, I was more surprised how it carried over towards the poorer end of the spectrum. I definitely didn't go to a top tier university (for the record: University of Dayton in Ohio). I went to a University that wanted to improve it's diversity rankings in US News.

As a middle class white kid, I actually got bit by affirmative action, but I'm 100% for what I perceive as the idea behind it (give everyone a damn chance!) and hold no grudges at all. The execution, in my mind has just been bad because it leads to reverse discrimination. Unfortunately, I'm not well read enough in the subject to propose a plan to fix it. I'm working on it.

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