He said, She said
Following the BlogHer conference a few weekends ago, there has been some interesting discussion regarding gender and blogging. Susan Getgood smartly presented it to a younger group of PR folks by posting about it at Marcom Blog. Unfortunately, I think this is that quiet spell between semesters for the students … but I am, like Susan, really intrigued to capture a younger perspective on this issue. From Susan’s post at Marcom:
Anyway, following BlogHer last month in San Jose, Neville Hobson raised the question of whether gender matters when reading a blog. He said no, he picks blogs based on content, not gender. Conversation ensued on his blog, and then I took it over to mine, mostly because the comment had grown to “post-size.” I won’t recap the whole thing here, because there are A LOT of comments on both posts, but I think it would be very interesting to hear the perspective of the “younger set” on this topic.
So yeah — I’m with Susan. What do we think?
I personally agree with Neville. I choose who/what I read solely based on content. Certainly, in my experience, I haven’t found that I’m attracted to read one gender’s blog more than the other or that one seems to be “better” at blogging. Susan makes an interesting point that we may all make conscious reading choices based on content, but how did we find that base selection from which to choose? Perhaps therein lies the problem — perhaps our choices are limited to begin with, based entirely on our particular starting point.
But I have another thought I’d like to look at, as well. Do you think there is a generational component involved? I know I was raised with an outstanding sense that I could do anything I set my mind to … regardless of the fact that I was a “girl.” But it’s not stretching so far to make me necessarily defiant in that regard or make me feel like I had something to prove. So is gender — and how we perceive the significance of gender — relative to age/generation?
That thought comes from a conversation I had with my mother, actually. I was explaining an issue to her that came up not too long ago — about that general sense that women are somewhat under-represented in the blogosphere and the “why” associated with that. Is it because blogging is a tech medium, and more men than women are typically interested in tech? Maybe a time issue: women are usually juggling work, family, household responsibilities, etc. Whatever the reason, I was more perplexed by how much other women in the blogosphere had put more thought into these issues. I certainly didn’t shrug it off as insignificant, but I could tell that it just wasn’t an issue that was in the forefront of my mind. And I can say that when it comes down to it, personally, I’m “a blogger.” Not a “woman blogger.” I do have pride associated with being a woman, just like I have pride in my Southern roots — those are big parts of who I am as a person. So I posed the question to my mom, “Why isn’t this more important to me?” And SHE actually suggested that the gender issue just might not be as significant to my generation.
So … my generation … am I just weird? Is this still really prominent to you? Or has society truly made progress and we don’t think about it as much??
I’m not sure it’s a generation thing, just a personal one. I know many women of our generation who’d go mental if I told them about the under representation of women in the fastest growing media of all time.
I think it’s more to do with the nature of blogging. It is, by its nature, partly about self promotion, something that I think men are much more comfortable with than women.
Comment by Sam Oakley — August 11, 2006 @ 8:41 am
Hmm, maybe it is a personal thing.
Very interesting point about men being more comfortable with self promotion than women. Although perhaps we just “self promote” in different ways, as in women do it with more subtlety.
Comment by Erin Caldwell — August 11, 2006 @ 8:52 am
Actually Erin I think it is a generational thing. I am 26 and I agree with you - it doesn’t matter to me either. I think it’s because I have never felt remotely held back by the fact that I am a woman; in fact, I have done better in my career and personal pursuits than many of my male peers from high school and college. And I think the key point for me is that, okay, maybe women are under-represented in the blogosphere currently. But that will change the minute we decide that more of us want to blog. The only thing stopping us is ourselves: all you need to blog is a username, password, dedication, and something to say. And we should only blog if we have all four - that goes for men AND women.
I do not consider myself a feminist but I am a big believer in equal rights for all. I love that feminism has advanced women’s rights to be on an equal footing with men. Where my beliefs diverge from those of feminism is where feminism believes that women should do everything that men do, to prove a point. What is important to me is that women have the OPTION to do whatever we want to do, whether it be a traditionally male role or a traditionally female one. If we choose the typical route and don’t venture out on our own (into blogging, say), that’s fine, just as long as that option is there if we ever change our minds. And it is.
Comment by Laura — August 11, 2006 @ 12:26 pm
Great comments … I’m proud to read that younger PR pros aren’t put off by concerns about inequality, etc. While there may be obstacles ahead of you, it’s not impossible to overcome them.
I’ve worked for many women who have ascended into top positions in the corporate/agency worlds, so I know it’s possible. And many of my clients now are women in key positions of responsibilities within their organizations.
I’m not sure I understand why there aren’t more women PR bloggers. I think the fact that blogging is still considered a “tech” thing is part of it; consider that there simply aren’t many PR bloggers outside of the tech field of either gender.
Comment by John Wagner — August 12, 2006 @ 8:39 am
Bravo, Laura! I really like how you articulated how your thinking is different from the feminist point of view — I have to say I agree with you there.
Great to hear from you as well, John. It’s interesting that you use the word “obstacles.” And I suppose that that is, in a way, my point — that I don’t see gender-specific obstacles. Or at least not near as prominently as other generations. Of course, this MIGHT be due to the fact that I haven’t been in the profession long. Perhaps one day I’ll be passed over for a promotion for a male co-worker and that will make me change my tune (if obviously the promotion was rooted in reasons of gender). Who knows. But as it stands now, the only obstacles ahead are for me the ones that all young professionals encounter.
Comment by Erin Caldwell — August 12, 2006 @ 4:36 pm
I totally agree with Laura too. I think there is definitely a generational component to it. I’m 22 and I have never felt held back because I’m a woman - in school, university or work. And when I look at PR in particular there’s only 1 male in my final year PR class (and I think it’s similar ratios at other Australian universities). So if the PR blogosphere is going to continue into the future then us girls better get blogging.
I also think there is a personal element. I really like reading the PR blogs written by young women because they are at a similar life stage to me - finishing study and entering the workforce - and the challenges they face and the successes they have I can relate to. But I think it’s more an age/lifestage thing than gender. I enjoy reading about what all the young PRs are doing/thinking - male or female.
Comment by Prue Robson — August 13, 2006 @ 1:38 am
Well, great! I have to say, I do think that gender inequalities (or “imbalances” perhaps) exist. But I hope that the fact that our generation doesn’t sense these difference as much is a sign that we’re moving in the right direction.
Comment by Erin Caldwell — August 13, 2006 @ 9:03 pm
I’ve been a feminist all my adult life. At some points, I was very active in the women’s rights movement, and at others, far less so. I don’t necessarily think it is generational. But I do think there is an age effect here. And by that I mean that in my academic career and early professional career, I too did not perceive the glass ceiling. In my early 30s, however, I hit it hard when I was passed over for a promotion. More than passed over — moved out of my office so the new hire (not another internal person) could have it.
I moved on, got a better job, and the man who was hired was such a boob he was fired in 6 months.
I also had some tremendous successes in my career. Bosses - men and women - that recognized competence and promoted me accordingly. And I’ve had others — mostly men I am afraid — who had real difficulty having women executives. For whatever reason, they were just more comfortable with other men, and promoted accordingly.
What’s the point? It is entirely possible for women to have very successful careers in their chosen profession. They can rise to the top, no question. However, it is also possible that they will face sexism at varying degrees, particularly as they rise up the ladder and the competition for positions becomes more fierce. Remember, it is a triangle. Lots of room and positions at the bottom. As the triangle gets the point, there are fewer positions, and it does get harder.
Comment by Susan Getgood — August 14, 2006 @ 6:49 am
That’s really interesting to hear, Susan. As I said, it’s certainly on my mind as to if I’ll start to encounter more gender-related obstacles in the years to come. Perhaps this will become an ongoing project of mine … to see how that aspect of my professional life progresses over the course of my career. The great thing about a blog is that it allows me to document my current thinking, get feedback from others, and eventually see how my own experiences align with others’ on down the road. Haha … maybe one day I’ll write a book entitled “Susan was Right.”
I’m certainly encouraged by the successes you and other women have had (in PR and other professions). There is already a “can do” attitude that’s been established, and I have no doubt we’ll continue to push ahead in that direction.
Comment by Erin Caldwell — August 14, 2006 @ 9:03 am
Kami Huyse has also written an article for the PRSA’s The Strategist that looks specifically at women in the PR blogosphere. I think she’s done an outstanding job looking at a lot of different elements relating to this issue and bringing together several perspectives. (Disclaimer: I’m quoted in the article)
Also, follow the comments to her post here.
Comment by Erin Caldwell — August 14, 2006 @ 2:35 pm
Hi, it’s Ashley crawling out of the black hole I have been in for the past month and a half.
Anyway, Erin. I think I agree a bit with the generation thing but also with Prue’s comments about her classes in PR. Can you remember your class when yo ufirst started blogging at Auburn? Well if it was anything like mine it consisted of around 15 girls and two boys. So when that is our environment that we start blogging in, I think that plays a big factor into why we are worried about the future of women PR professionals in the blogoshpere.
I also think there is a bit of the generation thing in there, and also a bit of the “not being out there” thing that Susan talks about.
Generationally, atleast for me if I were to be working with other 21-year-old guys, I feel like many of those boys were raised right by women and men who had experienced the obstacles themselves, and therefore have instilled the “can do” attitude in us. Guys our age I think allow themselves to be impressed by girls who are competent instead of being threatened by them…. I think at least.
I think the glass ceiling is on it’s way to being weeded out and if not in ours, then I have hope for it happening at least in the next generation.
Comment by Ashley Imsand — August 16, 2006 @ 6:13 pm