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Female Founders Conference

by nRike on 1/21/14, 6:49 PM with 102 comments

• by tomasien on 1/21/14, 10:54 PM

  This thread made me want to cry..... this thread..... oh my god you guys this thread is so awful!

  Does anyone have ideas about what could be done to educate against the constant same old "If it's just for women, it's sexism, same as if we said something was just for men" crap? I mean this is basically internet discussion canon at this point.

  As a side note, we COULD have a conference just for men if it was aimed (as this is) to close the gender gap in society, tech, etc. That conference would be about treating women better, how to see your own biases and avoid them, things you think are ok but aren't, etc. Nobody would go, but that would be analogous event, not an event aimed at helping male only founders found companies.

  Edit: I decided to write up a quick blog for public discussion outside of this thread

  Blog: http://istommydrunk.svbtle.com/the-maleonly-version-of-the-f...

  Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7099636

  If anyone wants to find it on the front page, it's there. Expecting/getting trolls.

• by dkhenry on 1/21/14, 8:02 PM

  Cool I am going to host the "Male Founders Conference" And no girls are allowed.

  What are you implicitly stating here? Women aren't good enough to stand toe to toe with male founders so the only way they will ever be able to succeed is if they are given special treatment. Why can't I go to this event and learn from female founders do they have nothing of value to convey to me as a male ?

• by iandanforth on 1/21/14, 7:27 PM

  Questions for the women of HN. Do you see gender specific events as something that will fade away with time? Are they something you are comfortable with being part of society for the foreseeable future?

• by eevilspock on 1/21/14, 8:43 PM

  The larger discussion is happening here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7097254

• by yetanotherphd on 1/21/14, 11:50 PM

  I think that women are often put off by the nasty, aggressive vibe in tech. No one wants to go into an industry where they will get sworn at, or have snide remarks made at them. Here are some examples just from this thread:

  >you're pretty fucking ignorant and stubborn and just dickish on the whole.

  >no need to get your panties in a bunch over this.

  >Could you kindly s tfu please?

• by sdegutis on 1/22/14, 4:07 AM

  I can't comment about this because I'm a white male and therefore cannot relate to anyone who is oppressed, since I've experienced nothing but privilege my whole life. So the only thing I can do is be silent so that the silenced can be heard.

• by mhurron on 1/21/14, 10:44 PM

  Isn't this kind of short notice ... oh wait, my mistake, everyone who is important is already in Southern California.

• by kartikkumar on 1/21/14, 11:15 PM

  Interestingly, although the event description clearly asks: "Are you a woman interested in starting a startup?", if you click through to the application, it actually asks you for your gender. Is that because YC would still like to know now many men want to be present at the event? Is it because men are allowed, but they're not advertising it? Or will they simply inform all men that applied that regretfully their applications have been denied?

• by znowi on 1/22/14, 7:52 AM

  This escalated quickly. From a creative interpretation of the interview, to a lengthy plea from pg defending his honor, and now a whole conference for women. I myself have nothing against such a forum, but the way it came about to be is ridiculous and insincere. It's a result of an overreaction and over-attempt to save a reputation. It's not really about female founders, it's about pg and allegations of sexism.

• by therogerwilco on 1/22/14, 2:10 PM

  This is like feminism. Once I had a feminist say it was about equality for women AND men.

  I said, "would you like to join an organization called 'maleism'? It's for the equal treatment of men AND women."