Shout out to Jim Stroud for sparking this bit of creativity.
The conversation was about finding women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) and we had a room full of people tossing out ideas. (It was during the first SourceConATL meetup.)
Some of the ideas were using Boolean search with words like “her” OR “she” because when people write recommendations, that would be a couple of words that would be used. Another was to search the top sororities. One was looking at the list of popular female baby names from the general years of someone and go back a few decades and use that as a starting point. One was to run the search as an x-ray search and then go to Google Images to find females that matched the profile. Another great one was to find conference or meetup or groups for women who code. There were others as well, all good suggestions. But the one that Stroud pointed out was also great, and one that I hadn’t thought of.
Stroud brought up the story of Isis Wenger.
Wenger was a 22-year-old software engineer that appeared in an ad for her company OneLogin. The advertisement caused quite a bit of controversy. People thought she was a fake. A model that the company had hired just for the ad. The sad part is that some people even said her smile was too ‘sexy.’ An engineer can’t have a beautiful smile or be a physically attractive female. Crazy right?
Sadly, this is a common issue that women have faced in many careers, not just as engineers. Even in fandom, women are accused of being “fake gamer girls” or “fake geeks” just out for the attention and not fans.
Well, new flash buckos, people of all shapes, sizes, ethnicity, and yes, even sex can be whatever they want.
A bit of good news that came out of this story was how people banded together to support Wenger. Ladies from all over started posting pictures of themselves with the hashtag “#ILookLikeAnEngineer.” People rushed to Twitter and Instagram to show support and show the world that you can look like an engineer even if you don’t fit a stereotype.
Article Continues Below
This movement exploded and is on Google+, Flicker, Instagram, and yes, even LinkedIn.
And you thought the network side of Big Blue was dying. In searching for that hashtag and many others thanks to Stroud pulling in Hashtagify, I was able to find conversations happening.
The cool thing about looking for people that care about these things is they are easy to find. If you’re passionate about making diversity an important part of your recruiting strategy, you’ll have common ground to join the conversation.
There are many other examples of people trying to break the stereotypical molds that society has set for us. There are several other hashtags that you can use to find people that are trying to help us push past the boundaries of our ignorance. Look for them and share them with us. I’d love to know what else you’re doing to lead the diversity efforts in your organization.
affirmative action? Flaming waste of time….. Hire the best person… thats all….
Diversity is about inclusion, not exclusion. It’s not just something to do to check a box.
I don’t care what color a cat is as long as it catches the rat….
Funny how so many of the people who say that keep getting the white male cats over and over again…They think that it’s a perfectly level playing field out there: an idealized, color/gender/sexual orientation, etc.-blind meritocracy where talent will out, Maybe in my 20 year-old daughter’s lifetime, but I doubt I’ll see it in mine, and I sure as **** don’t see it now….
certain religious people won’t hire me due to me practicing astrology…. Everyone faces some discrimination… humans are naturally insecure… Who cares… Get in where you fit in… every person who can’t get a job, should make their own in today’s world… that is what I had to do…. I have come from personal poverty, not through privilege, but through dedication to an ideal beyond money….some stereotypes also apply, so that is hard to overcome when past experience has told you to be careful of certain cultural attributes…
“…certain religious people won’t hire me *due to me practicing astrology” ”
If that’s what they said, it’s clearly religious discrimination like the big Bentonville, Arkansas company that makes people work on Sundays (or as suggested, use their vacation days) even though it’s against their Christian religious practices (https://staging.eremedia.com/tlnt/using-a-vacation-day-is-not-discipline/).
Glad you got “yours” all through your own efforts- not everybody can get “theirs” like that, however qualified they may be.
“Fitting in” usually means: “being like others,” and it is clear that the best person for the role is not always just like you, in fact they may be very different in from you in many ways,
*How did the subject of your practice come up in a job interview?
Thanks. A variation on what you did:
Top 100 Indian Female First names
priya
Tanya
Priyanka
divya
tanvi
Ishita
vani
Anjali
Shreya
riya
Sneha
Aishwarya
Gayatri
varsha
Ira
sanjana
Niharika
Nikita
natasha
Neha
shivangi
ramya
Isha
ananya
shivani
Sakshi
Aswini
Suhani
leah
Pavithra
seema
Anusha
simran
nishi
Anushri
Ayushi
Radhika
tanu
krithika
Anisha
Akansha
Sadaf
Nishita
diya
Siya
Abigail
Kalyani
Rishita
Aastha
Mary
sara
prachi
indhumathi
shrinidhi
Papuii colney
rhea
Katherine
Rutuja
arti
debbie
Crowny
manisha
Mahima
Aditi
Aashna
Tisha
moii chhangte
Sam
swati
dia
ria
anu
Neelam
N.Priyanka
NISHA
Chandralekha
Mitali
Dawn
Dilmini
kamalika
Khushi
Anjana
Arya
deepa
juvina
Angel
anamika
Lavanya
ishika
Lily
Archita
Rashi
sarah
sasashy
vaishnavi
diksha
Arusha
Niti
vidhya
kavya
MOST POPULAR GIVEN NAMES FOR TAIWANESE FEMALES, BORN 1976–1994
HANZI PINYIN LIKELY SPELLING
慧君 Huìjūn Hui-chun
惠如 Huìrú Hui-ju
惠婷 Huìtíng Hui-ting
惠雯 Huìwén Hui-wen
佳樺 Jiāhuà Chia-hua
佳慧 Jiāhuì Chia-hui
佳玲 Jiālíng Chia-ling
嘉玲 Jiālíng Chia-ling
佳蓉 Jiāróng Chia-jung
佳穎 Jiāyǐng Chia-ying
家瑜 Jiāyú Chia-yu
靜宜 Jìngyí Ching-yi
靜怡 Jìngyí Ching-yi
美玲 Měilíng Mei-ling
佩君 Pèijūn Pei-chun
佩珊 Pèishān Pei-shan
詩涵 Shīhán Shih-han
詩婷 Shītíng Shih-ting
淑芬 Shūfēn Shu-fen
淑華 Shūhuá Shu-hua
淑惠 Shūhuì Shu-hui
淑慧 Shūhuì Shu-hui
淑娟 Shūjuān Shu-chuan
淑玲 Shūlíng Shu-ling
淑貞 Shūzhēn Shu-chen
思穎 Sīyǐng Ssu-ying
婷婷 Tíngtíng Ting-ting
庭瑋 Tíngwěi Ting-wei
婉婷 Wǎntíng Wan-ting
琬婷 Wǎntíng Wan-ting
瑋婷 Wěitíng Wei-ting
筱涵 Xiǎohán Hsiao-han
心怡 Xīnyí Hsin-yi
欣怡 Xīnyí Hsin-yi
馨儀 Xīnyí Hsin-yi
雅芳 Yǎfāng Ya-fang
雅涵 Yǎhán Ya-han
雅惠 Yǎhuì Ya-hui
雅慧 Yǎhuì Ya-hui
雅玲 Yǎlíng Ya-ling
雅萍 Yǎpíng Ya-ping
雅琪 Yǎqí Ya-chi
雅婷 Yǎtíng Ya-ting
雅文 Yǎwén Ya-wen
雅雯 Yǎwén Ya-wen
雅筑 Yǎzhù Ya-chu
怡安 Yí’ān Yi-an
宜君 Yíjūn Yi-chun
怡君 Yíjūn Yi-chun
怡伶 Yílíng Yi-ling
怡如 Yírú Yi-ju
宜庭 Yítíng Yi-ting
怡婷 Yítíng Yi-ting
依婷 Yītíng Yi-ting
怡萱 Yíxuān Yi-hsuan
郁婷 Yùtíng Yu-ting
鈺婷 Yùtíng Yu-ting
郁雯 Yùwén Yu-wen
……………………………..
Chinese Female Names
Ai (爱)
Japanese name meaning love
Baozhai（宝钗）
Chinese name meaning precious hairpin
Biyu（碧玉）
Chinese name meaning “jasper,” the semi-precious stone.
Changchang（畅畅）
Chinese name meaning flourishing
Changying（长英）
Chinese name meaning flourishing and lustrous
Chenguang（晨光）
Chinese name meaning morning light
Chunhua（春华）
Chinese name meaning spring flower or spring flourishing
Chuntao（春桃）
Chinese name meaning spring peach
Cuifen（翠菲）
Chinese name meaning emerald fragrance
Daiyu（黛玉）
Chinese name meaning black jade
Dandan（耽耽）
Chinese name meaning cinnabar (red)
Dongmei（冬梅）
DONGMEI: Chinese name meaning winter plum
Ehuang（鹅黄）
Chinese myth name of the twin sister of Nuying, meaning beauty August
Fang（芳）
Vocabulary word meaning pointed tooth of an animal
Fenfang（芬芳）
Chinese name meaning fragrant
hong（洪）
Hualing（华菱）
Chinese name meaning flourishing fu-ling (the herb)
Huan（焕）
Chinese unisex name meaning happiness
Huian（惠安）
Chinese name meaning kind peace
Huidai（慧黛）
Chinese name meaning wise dai (eyebrow blackener)
Huifang（慧芳）
Chinese name meaning kind and fragrant
Huifen（惠芬）
Chinese name meaning wise and fragrant
Huilang（慧琅）
Chinese name meaning wise jade tinkling
Huiliang（慧靓）
Chinese name meaning kind and good
Huiqing（蕙卿）
Chinese name meaning kind and affectionate
Huizhong（慧中）
Chinese name meaning wise and loyal
Jia（嘉）
Chinese name meaning beautiful
Jiao（娇）
Chinese name meaning dainty or lovely
Jiayi（嘉怡）
Chinese name meaning household fitting
Jiaying（嘉颖）
Chinese name meaning household flourishing
Jie（洁）
Chinese name meaning cleanliness
Jing（晶）
Chinese unisex name meaning “stillness” or “luxuriance” for girls and “capital (city)” for boys.
Jingfei（晶菲）
Chinese name meaning still fragrance
Jinghua（菁华）
Chinese name meaning situation splendid
Ju（菊）
Chinese name meaning chrysanthemum
juan（娟）
Lan（兰）
Chinese name meaning orchid
Lanfen（兰芬）
Chinese name meaning orchid fragrance
Lanying（兰英）
Chinese name meaning indigo lustrousness
Li（立）
Chinese unisex name meaning upright
Lifen（莉芬）
Chinese name meaning beautiful fragrance
Lihua（丽华）
Chinese name meaning beautiful and flourishing
Lijuan（丽娟）
Chinese name meaning beautiful and graceful
Liling（丽玲）
Chinese name meaning beautiful jade tinkle
Lin（琳）
Chinese name meaning beautiful jade
Ling（灵）
Chinese unisex name meaning compassion; understanding
Liqin（丽琴）
Chinese name meaning beautiful zither
Liqiu（丽秋）
Chinese name meaning beautiful autumn
Liu（流）
Chinese unisex name meaning flowing
Luli（露莉）
Chinese name meaning dewy jasmine
Mei（梅）
Chinese name meaning plum
Meifen（梅芬）
Chinese name meaning plum fragrance
Meifeng（美风）
Chinese name meaning beautiful wind
Meihui（美惠）
Chinese name meaning beautiful wisdom
Meili（美丽）
Chinese name meaning beautiful
Meilin（美琳）
Chinese name meaning plum jade
Meirong（美容）
Chinese name meaning beautiful countenance
Meixiang（梅香）
Chinese name meaning plum fragrance
Meixiu（美秀）
Chinese name meaning beautiful grace
Mingxia（明霞）
Chinese name meaning “bright glow” through the clouds at dawn.
Mingyu（明玉）
Chinese name meaning bright jade
Mingzhu（明珠）
Chinese name meaning bright pearl
Ning（宁）
Chinese name meaning tranquility
Ninghong（宁虹）
Chinese name meaning tranquil red
Niu（妞）
Chinese name meaning girl
Nuo（诺）
Chinese name meaning graceful
Nuying（女英）
Chinese name meaning girl flower
Peijing（佩晶）
Chinese name meaning admiring luxuriance
Peizhi（裴智）
Chinese name meaning admiring iris
Qi（琪）
Chinese unisex name meaning “enlightenment; wondrous” for boys and “fine jade” for girls.
Qiang（蔷）
Chinese unisex name meaning “strong” for boys and “rose” for girls.
Qiao（巧）
Chinese name meaning skilful
Qiaohui（巧慧）
Chinese name meaning skilful and wise
Qiaolian（巧莲）
Chinese name meaning skilful always
Qing（青）
Chinese name meaning dark blue
Qingge（青阁）
Chinese name meaning clear pavilion
Qingling（清灵）
Chinese name meaning celebration of understanding
Qingzhao（清昭）
Chinese name meaning clear illumination/understanding
Qiu（秋）
Chinese unisex name meaning autumn
Qiuyue（秋月）
Chinese name meaning autumn moon
Renxiang（仁香）
Chinese name meaning benevolent fragrance
Rong（荣）
Chinese unisex name meaning martial
Rou（柔）
Chinese name meaning gentle; mild
Ruiling（锐灵）
Chinese name meaning auspicious jade tinkling
Ruolan（若兰）
Chinese name meaning like an orchid
Ruomei（若梅）
Chinese name meaning like a plum
Shan（珊）
Chinese unisex name meaning “mountain” for boys and “elegant bearing” for girls.
Shaoqing（少青）
Chinese name meaning young blue
Shihong（世宏）
Chinese name meaning the world is red
Shu（淑）
Chinese name meaning fair
Shuang（爽）
Chinese name meaning frank; open-hearted
Shuchun（淑纯）
Chinese name meaning fair purity
Shun（顺）
Chinese name meaning smooth
song（颂）
Suyin（苏音）
Chinese name meaning plain, unadorned sound
Ting（婷）
Chinese name meaning graceful
Weici（微慈）
Chinese name meaning preserving love
wen（雯）
Wenling（文玲）
Chinese name meaning refined jade tinkling
Wenqian（文茜）
Chinese name meaning refined madder (the herb)
Xia（霞）
Chinese name meaning rosy clouds
Xiang（翔）
Chinese unisex name meaning “fragrant” for girls and “circling in the air (like a bird)” for boys.
Xiaodan（晓淡）
Chinese unisex name meaning little dawn
Xiaofan（小凡）
Chinese name meaning dawn ordinary or little ordinary
Xiaohui（小慧）
Chinese name meaning little wisdom
Xiaojian（小健）
Chinese unisex name meaning little healthy
Xiaojing（小静）
Chinese name meaning morning luxuriance
Xiaoli（晓莉）
Chinese name meaning morning jasmine
Xiaolian（小莲）
Chinese name meaning little lotus
Xiaoling（小玲）
Chinese name meaning morning tinkle
Xiaoqing（小青）
Chinese name meaning little blue
Xiaosheng（小生）
Chinese unisex name meaning little birth
Xiaotong（晓彤）
Chinese name meaning morning redness
Xiaowen（小雯）
Chinese unisex name meaning “morning cloud coloring” for girls and “filial and civil” for boys.
Xiaozhi（小智）
Chinese name meaning little iris
Xifeng（晓凤）
Chinese name meaning western phoenix
Xingjuan（兴娟）
Chinese name meaning arising grace
Xiu（秀）
Chinese unisex name meaning “grace” for girls and “cultivated” for boys.
Xiulan（秀兰）
Chinese name meaning graceful orchid
Xiurong（秀容）
Chinese name meaning elegant countenance
Xiuying（秀英）
Chinese name meaning graceful flower
Xue（雪）
Chinese unisex name meaning “studious” for boys and “snow” for girls.
Xueman（雪漫）
Chinese name meaning snowy grace
Ya（雅）
Chinese name meaning grace
Yan（艳）
Bulgarian form of Greek Ioannes, meaning God is gracious
Yanlin（燕林）
Chinese unisex name meaning swallow forest or Beijing forest
Yanmei（燕梅）
Chinese name meaning swallow plum or Beijing plum
Yanyu（燕玉）
Chinese name meaning swallow jade or Beijing jade
Ying（英）
Chinese name meaning clever or eagle
Yingtai（英台）
Chinese name meaning flower terrace
Yu（玉）
Chinese name meaning jade or rain
Yuan（圆）
Chinese name meaning shining peace
Yubi（玉璧）
Chinese name meaning jade emerald
yue（月）
Yuming（玉明）
Chinese name meaning jade brightness
Yun（云）
Chinese name meaning cloud
Yunru（韵茹）
Chinese name meaning charming seeming
Yusheng（玉生）
Chinese unisex name meaning jade birth
Zhaohui（朝晖）
Chinese name meaning clear wisdom
Zhenzhen（贞贞）
Chinese name meaning precious
Zhilan（芝兰）
Chinese name meaning iris orchid
Zhu（竹）
Chinese name meaning bamboo
Zongying（综英）
Chinese name meaning taking heroes/flowers as a model