Ok ladies. If I hear one more woman say Google+ is too 'tech' or too 'hard' to learn I'm going to scream. Thanks to these lovely women in this article for perpetuating the stereotype that women (and girls) can't deal with technology. If you don't find value in Google+ – either LEAVE or take the time to LEARN. It is NOT the "Field of Dreams". Just by gracing us with your profile doesn't mean the community here will automatically love you and share you. Get over yourself, please. You get out of the platform what you put into the platform. Make an effort. It takes time. Just because you are 'oh-so-popular' someplace else after years of working at it does NOT mean you will achieve (or deserve) instant success in Google+. Seriously, get over yourself, woman or man.
Google+ isn't clunky. It is not harder or more difficult to use or learn than Facebook or Pinterest. If they changed the buttons from blue to pink would these women be happy? Add some frilly lace? Make it so we can only share photos or text? Is that simple enough for you?
+Margaret Wallace & +Jess Lee quoted in attached article, make no public posts or any visable effort to participate in Google+. #FAIL . Do journalists specifically look for haters/lazy people to interview for articles?
By the way, I was at a family conference this past weekend where I was bombarded by women and teens looking to jump into Google+. Even though they weren't in the community yet, they were excited and wanted to jump right in.
Reshared post from +Paul Colligan
+Lynette Young is apparently "All Dude" – http://www.wired.com/business/2012/07/google-plus-women
Embedded Link
Women Explain Why Google+ is All Dudes | Wired Business | Wired.com
Women tell Google its social network is too clunky and nerdy.
Google+: Reshared 11 times
Google+: View post on Google+
::checks self:: Yep, I'm a woman. I've been having a great time on G+. Of course, I did silly things like fill out a profile, upload an image (no blue head for me), and interact with people.
i agree
You are such a dude.
Well said
Wish there was a way for me to share your comments along with the article.
If this is too difficult for them to grasp, maybe we don't want their posts anyways :
But, intelligence and tech knowledge has nothing to do with gender. So… I don't see the relevance.
The interesting people are here on G+.
+Kyle Jensen EXACTLY (intelligence and tech knowledge has nothing to do with gender). I am sick to DEATH of articles like this that keep people (and particularly women) out of the platform because (acts faint and holds handkerchief to cheek) it's hard…
+Lynette Young You forgot to clutch your pearls.
The article does make a good point about the seed of g+, but the comment on the UI is absolutely idiotic (it's not like G+ is the craigslist of social networking sites…)
+Kyle Jensen I totally agree that intelligence has nothing to do w/ gender, but unfortunately what I've notice is that "perceived intelligence" * and tech knowledge do because it's not "cool" for girls to be smart or be knowledgeable in technology (or anything beyond fashion/pop things :/)
+Lynette Young I share your frustration completely. I heard my roommates say that G+ is confusing and I almost lost it. I asked "how", and he had nothing to say other than "idk, ya know, it's just how do I post/find my friends?" and my only response was "…just like facebook, the only difference is you can pick groups of friends to share w/ rather than shouting at everyone". sigh
(* what I mean by perceived intelligence is how smart someone acts. Girls, especially younger ones, tend to dumb themselves down way too often because "nobody likes a smart girl" or something stupid like that :/ )
Too tech…and too hard? Look, I realize I'm male (last I checked), and yes, I work in the tech world, but SERIOUSLY?! You click, you type, you push the big green button marked POST…end of frakking story.
Yes, G+ isn't as flashy or ad-happy as, say Facebook, and that's what I like about it: it cuts out the BS and lets me do what I want to do on a socially interactive website: INTERACT SOCIALLY!
The only real reason I still use Facebook is because of my family and my girlfriend. It's a great communications medium for those kinds of interactions. But for talking with the folks I've come to know and admire in the 'New Media' world, make mine G+.
I really appreciate your response here. Regardless of sex, I'm getting of hearing it's "clunky" or hard to learn. But, mainly, I like this statement of yours, "…either LEAVE or take the time to LEARN."
I've met people who think Facebook IS the Internet (just as I'm sure they thought AOL was back in the day). Brainwashed. I try not to let a few luddites ruin it for me, but the epic level of ignorance astounds me.
i too do,i care for none,i live for self not for any1 or to please as such..it's fun for me but if i use my talent work it does not mean i wanna be 'famous' as such,just share my perception……..i m 100 per myself add me or minus me,i don't care……….i shall go on with my Job i.e to enjoy
Or you can ask. Do a search and find a public post on something that interests you. Ask that person for help.
+Lynette Young i suppose we need to put some colour
Good grief. Even my mom has G+ figured out, and I didn't have to walk her through how to sign up and post (as I have on some sites). There are plenty of wonderful women here, and I'm getting MORE social engagement than I ever did on thatothersite.
+Lynette Young people are attaracted to outer cover of book!u see
I spent long time ago in FB but I really enjoy being here now
This article, or my rant about it, has nothing to do with Google+ vs. any other platform and it sure has nothing to do with women vs. men. If Google+ didn't work out for these two women, fine, whatever. But they have NO RIGHT to go around making assumptions or creating opinions about every other woman's lack of use.
I'm under the impression that if you don't want to change, then don't change. But making it a "gender" issue is lame.
I ? Google+! 🙂
I think it also has more to do with the community itself rather than actually the medium. Yes, there are interesting things and people on Google+ who talk about issues, topics, or anything with substance, but I have yet to actually use Google+ as a medium to keep in touch with friends, or see what my group of friends are currently doing. The userbase for both Facebook and Google+ just have different values of using the medium. Pinterest was established by a lot of women who liked the arts and crafts, food, clothes, etc. Facebook was established as a medium to connect with friends. And the first people who adopted Google+ were probably more tech savvy than the average human being.
+Jennifer Taylor me too 😉
I'm a woman who is not in the tech sector (in fact, one could argue that social work is the polar opposite) and I find great value in the people and content here. Sorry those women didn't get involved enough to see the possibilities here.
I really enjoyed your post. You really spoke the truth here!
I think anytime things require a bit of work a lot of people get put off. Google+ isn't exactly a place where you would post about the dinner you had or the awesome flowers your bf bought you – it's about substance.
+Nazima Ali I actually see tons of posts about people's dinner and flowers given to them by significant others. The idea that "one group" of people is here and not "those average folk" is another lie fed us by the media. It's all completely dependent on who you follow and what they like to share. Most of my circles consist of average folk – writers and foodies doing their every day thing.
+Amy Knepper So glad I don't follow those posters;) I tend to follow writers, photogs and a mix of friends and tech. I like the blend I have as I tend to come across really great posts/articles.
+Nazima Ali Yep, the great thing is that there is room for everyone and all their various interests. No one has to see things that don't interest them. 🙂
In fact, +Amy Fee Garner, your background as a social worker could even be an advantage on Google+ as it was for me as a former pro coach in sports (p.s.: and you can't find someone less geek/tech than me around).
Bravo for your post Lynette.
(Btw, if you're a new user on G+, have a look here: goo.gl/DfdgO)
Yep, I get tired of seeing articles and posts about how it's all about the men. I just don't see it.
Gender notwithstanding, let 'em go. I have no problem with a club whose entrance criteria is the slightest modicum of effort.
Rocket science it ain't.
I see Jess Lee works at Polyvore. She has a vested interest in defending her patch by gunning for G+.
LETS DO IT
jejeje…
Well there ARE a lot of guys here, but I see that as a good thing. 🙂
I wonder if not understanding how to Tech gives one the vapours.
Great post, +Lynette Young , I think you summed up my feelings pretty well. Honestly, I think I have as many active females in my stream as I do males. Maybe I've just managed my circles well, but my perception is that g+ is fairly equal in gender numbers.
Are any of you savvy and technically oriented women ever afraid that you're in the minority of your gender? I'm not meaning to be provocative, but I expect my question will be.
+Lynette Young I think there are some issues here on plus which were discussed here between some of us regarding specific instances of harassment. This could be scaring some women away from plus. I agree the article overall is bunk, and another one in the ghost town series. There are several women, like yourself, who have seen a great deal of success on the network. I am not the social networking type myself, but I have been using the site as essentially a blogging platform for the past year.
https://plus.google.com/114753028665775786510/posts/5S7W6v7Wy6L
+Allen Hildebrandt tech savvy woman afraid of being in the minority? No no and no. There are, gasp, MEN who are not tech savvy. I wouldn't define myself as tech savvy, but I blog, and I learn as I go.
In the early 90's I was by far in the gender-minority in tech. I didn't really care, so long as I got what I wanted out of my career, learned and grew, and didn't take any garbage from anyone that thought the fact I was a woman (in my early 20s at that) wasn't fit for the career. I know plenty of men that are techo-phobes. So what, they are intelligent in other areas. Instead of focusing on what a person (or group of people classified out by gender, race, lifestyle – whatever) cannot do – I would rather focus on showcasing and mentoring those that can or want to learn. Reaffirming negative stereotypes just hurst everyone.
Well, that just made me angry. I have to admit, I thought G+ was too much for me to handle, but after hearing +Lynette Young talk about it, and actually making myself sit down and use it, I have to say it's pretty easy. If a "tech" female blogger is afraid of being a minority, then there has to be a mental issue there. They're already a minority! I guarantee, all these woman who don't even want to try, will jump on the bandwagon as soon as their best friend Sally or Patricia decides to start using G+ and scheduling hangouts. I'm just excited that I'm ahead of the game for once.
+Diana Studer I by no means meant to insinuate that there weren't men who lacked tech savvy. Quite a few, actually. I tend to despair when anyone of any gender gives up on something because it is too hard to figure out, but then I've always enjoyed tinkering with things.
I don't think it's as confusing as it is they don't know where it fits into their existing set of tools / needs. That would go for males or females.
+Chris Pirillo I think there is a subset of human beings who aren't interface explorers or whom minimally interact with tool useage, but you are essentially correct.
I just wish I had more time to give to Google+. There is so much out there and from so many, many interesting people like +Lynette Young from whom I am learning lots. Keep up your enthusiam.
People just don't get it do they? Facebook is for people that you know in your life and can bump into every day. Family, close friends, neighbours etc. That's why the banter and discussions on there tend to be so light.
Google + is not the same thing. Its about making friends with other users who you will never meet in your local, or meet up with in your life, but you do have similar interests. You might live on the opposite side of the globe from most of your G+ 'acquaintances' and would therefore ordinarily never converse with each other or have discussions about anything.
For myself, I find G+ easier to navigate, easier to set up and its nothing to do with the UI (although I confess that I did prefer it when the 'discussion' area was wider.) Don't agree with lot's of wasted white space on any site. Right from the word go, there have been plenty of women on here, we are not brain dead! And as for Pinterest, I find it irritating myself, as if someone has designed something specifically aimed at women, which irks me.