Tech Is Broken, It Is Time to Unbreak Tech! Let's talk..

Back in May 2021, I promised to write an article in support of an initiative created by WhiteP4nth3r. UnbreakTech is an initiative to prove that we are male allies to be proactive in speaking out against the inequalities women in tech experience daily. I'm ashamed to say that I kept putting this article on the shelf or further down my to-do list because, at the back of my head, I'd feel there was something else of a higher priority in my life I'd need to do. This delayed action is where I realise how I am a part of the problem. By not speaking out sooner and taking ten months to write this article, I have delayed adding my name to a fantastic and essential initiative that all men should be involved in.

A few years ago, I spoke to an at-the-time colleague, expressing her anger and disappointment at how she still suffers inequality and encounters even after many years in the tech industry. These experiences are from men who would not see her as an equal even today. Or even as someone who had been in the industry for far longer than some of them. This ex-colleague is set on believing that although she recognises things have improved over the years, she'll never feel comfortable or equal in tech in her lifetime.

WhiteP4nth3r has also been targetted by men many times by disgusting and misogynistic comments, including during live coding on her Twitch stream.

I'm also an avid gamer involved in various gaming communities. However, there is also clearly a visible difference in the number of men over the number of women in these communities. It's clear that generally, the "lads" culture is allowed to go unanswered, women are hounded, and very few men speak out against it. If we as men in our privileged position don't speak out against this, it will never change!

I have two daughters; one is eight, the other is four. I would love for a time for them not to experience the misogynistic attitudes of men as they grow up. I would also love for them to have a presence on the internet, in an office, in person, anywhere and not be subjected to unwarranted attempts to flirt, unwarranted, unsolicited pictures, just to be allowed to be themselves or to be professional and treated as such! But the only way we can do this is to fight it now. Make those uncomfortable conversations, speak out against your friends when they're in the wrong. Make them see the harm their attitude towards women affects women.

I would like to thank whitep4nth3r for the unbreak.tech initiative and her patience in waiting for me to realise I'm wrong in my delayed action finally. This initiative is a significant one. If you're a man, add your voice and write a post speaking out against the inequality women find in the tech industry.

The more of us that act in every way possible, the quicker we can reach that goal of making women feel comfortable and equal in tech and the world! Thank you for reading this, and I hope I inspired you to write in support of this initiative too.