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Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

christine.net

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Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#81

Post by pinkgarage »

opal wrote: post #79
meredydd wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We need more women in startups (seriously, have you been to the meat market parties after tech events?!) ... Moreover, it'll give lonely male hackers more choice Although you probably didn't mean it, this attitude is most definitely Part Of The Problem. It's a pain because you're right - in an ideal, evenly-divided environment, there would be a lot of within-group dating, and everyone would be fine with that. The pro…

Just to add, the guys have it far worse in this situation.

Not really; women are trying to get a place at the table when they do tech work, not find dates.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#82

Post by blurry »

As a female/startup co-founder, I find it rather unfortunate that Christine chose to close with:

Let's work constructively to get more bright young women to apply.

Why young? Are women over 30 over-represented among start-up founders? Does she feel that we are ticking time bombs waiting to run off to have babies? Is she simply uncomfortable mentoring someone slightly older? What is it?

I don't question the intentions. But I do question the quality of a mentoring group where the mentors themselves carry outdated self-defeating stereotypes. Reminds me of an otherwise intelligent Indian friend of mine who is completely hung up about having darker skin.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#83

Post by xiaoma »

scott_s wrote: post #77
asdflkj wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

PG's actions imply that it's okay to discriminate on the basis of intelligence and ability. Here we probably all agree. This woman's actions imply that it's okay to discriminate on the basis of gender. If you don't have a problem with it, then would you also not have a problem with a society that excludes women?

In order to correct for a demographic imbalance, you have to put extra attention on minority recruitment and retention in the group. She is clearly discriminating based on gender, but she's doing it because of an observed gender imbalance.

Why do you consider a 50-50 gender balance "correct"? Few extend this idea of "correctness" to apply to homeless rates or prison populations.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#84

Post by webwright »

Is it ever okay to suggest that a demographic balance is just fine?

There is a lack of european-descent long-distance runners in the top tiers. Not too many woman play football. Very few men do much knitting. Do we need outreach and mentoring to change make sure that all groups are a mirror of the world's demographic makeup?

Women and men are different, and perhaps the reason that software startups are male-dominated speaks to that difference rather than a social issue. In other words, perhaps our society is that way because of how we are rather than how we are being driven by our society.

All that being said, I met Christine at Demo Day was was very impressed-- if she's offering to mentor you, you should take her up on it. If you couldn't/wouldn't have the guts to dive in and kick ass without this mentorship/support group, I'd suggest that you probably aren't temperamentally suited to be an entrepreneur.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#85

Post by scott_s »

xiaoma wrote: post #83
scott_s wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In order to correct for a demographic imbalance, you have to put extra attention on minority recruitment and retention in the group. She is clearly discriminating based on gender, but she's doing it because of an observed gender imbalance.

Why do you consider a 50-50 gender balance "correct"? Few extend this idea of "correctness" to apply to homeless rates or prison populations.

I said no such thing.

I recognize there may be a biological reason why the gender split in our field is the way it is, but I feel it is probably mostly cultural. I'm using lots of qualifying words because I just don't know. It may be a combination of biological and cultural. But since I think there is a cultural component to the disparity, I'm sympathetic to people who make attempts to address it.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#87

Post by fallentimes »

jimbokun wrote: post #71
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…

I've seen reports that Asian Americans have now replaced Jewish Americans' historic role as having an upper limit quota for how many to admit. Does that fit with your experience? I think that the University of California system has higher percentages of Asian Americans than other academically comparable institutions since California banned affirmative action.

Not at all, but I'm just one data point. The University of Dayton is primarily composed of wealthy white kids who had private school backgrounds (as a middle class white kid who went to public schools, I was only able to attend due to some scholarships).

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#88

Post by pinkgarage »

anamax wrote: post #78
maurycy wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Diversity is good because when members have different experiences, and thus point of views. "Point of view is worth 80 IQ points"

> Diversity is good because when members have different experiences, and thus point of views. Wrong. Diversity that brings in useful points of view is good. Diversity that brings in other points of view is bad. > "Point of view is worth 80 IQ points" My cat has a different point of view but I'm pretty sure that she doesn't have anything useful to say about Google App Engine.

If I thought you meant to equate women's point of view with your cat's in any way I would be highly amused--at what you reveal about your own perspectives.

Re: Y Combinator Mentoring for Women

#90

Post by mhartl »

jimbokun wrote: post #68
mhartl wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

"And unlike, say, a Gay Men's Chorus" Did you see the episode of Will and Grace, where Matt Damon pretends to be gay because that is the only way he can get accepted into the men's chorus group?

I haven't seen that episode, but it sounds funny. For what it's worth, I have been invited to join a Gay Men's Chorus, despite not being gay. Though maybe it was just because, like all choruses, they were desperately short of tenors. :-)
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