The barrier to entry was knowing the set of codes, knowing how to communicate nonverbally. Knowing how to tell someone 'I belong in your group' in the way that you speak, the way you dress, the way you move. It's very difficult for people 'on the inside' to appreciate how difficult this can be.

Also, to clarify my earlier point, I would never suggest that the concept of privilege is exclusive to straight white males, and I agree that social and economic class are the basis for discrimination and exclusion. I was just trying to say:

1) Technology industries in the United States are dominated by straight white males, often with some form of class and economic privilege. By this I do not mean that there are no exceptions.

2) The posting and discussion of this blogpost on this website is reflective of (I hope) a certain self awareness surrounding race, gender, money and privilege, and the importance of considering it--not dismissing it as an irrelevance.