anthropeeps

I'm in the same boat and have been teaching myself to code. Fortunately I don't find it too difficult. Tedious, yes, but try to think of it as any other subject. There are a few basics to memorize and then you are free to create your own vision from what you've learned.

In regards to languages, I've heard it really depends on you and what you are hoping to achieve and almost every programmer I've spoken to has a distinct preference. I'm under the impression this is something us newbie hackers will determine over time...? None of them have been able to recommend any particular book though so I just went to the library, checked out a TON of books and leafed through a few chapters to determine which ones I appreciated.

Which websites are you looking going to for tutorials on HTML and CSS? I have one that I really like but I'm trying to find other resources...

Thanks for posting this. I hadn't seen it, some interesting points!

I don't think it is so different for men and women in today's day and age. IVF and surrogacy have changed the game quite a bit. I'm 32 and don't plan on having kids for a few more years, but I also know I have options that didn't exist for my parents. Because of these options, I feel I've had the freedom to explore my education and career and I know so many women in their 30's who either don't want children or plan on waiting. This whole "women can have it all thing" is partially true in the sense that it comes in increments, but rarely all at once.

Thanks, Hitchhiker!

1)I'm not necessarily negating you, rottendoubt, but I'd be curious to know what the women who have applied to YC and those who have been accepted think of marriage and kids. There may be no correlation at all. I personally think a large part of the discrepancy is our culture and can easily be changed, especially in the minds of the kids who are currently growing up.

2) As for dynamics...yeah, I'll agree with you on that. Women can be catty. That doesn't mean we are catty, but we can be. Where does that leave us though? It actually appears that we have to prove ourselves above and beyond. "I won't be catty, I won't go after my co-founder and hopefully he won't come after me, and I'm sorry I'm not a dude so I can't create an all male cohort." Doesn't mean it will stop me but it does make it more difficult.

3) Call me biased because I'm an educator, but I think a big obstacle is our science education in this country. Or lack thereof. Tech information is geared towards males, not females and it is a poor show at that. If more females became involved at a younger age, I think YC would have a hard time keeping the women out. :)

Like Kellco I'm a female co-founder with no tech experience. Growing up I was encouraged to be creative and expressive. It wasn't until college that I was drawn in to the sciences and ultimately entered a male dominated field (as an adjunct professor in a lab oriented discipline). It works for me because I'm a people person but I love the creative impact of the scientific method, its structure, and how it opens the mind. When I began teaching myself to code and program for our company, I realized it isn't much different and I'm quickly growing to love the process. It's still a science after all. I think the hacker stereotype of the nerdy guy with no social skills needs to go the way of the dodo. :)

Even if the public articulates its wants, we have to depend on our oh-so-reliable elected officials to write, pass, and enact legislation.

But don't you think the mere fact they are out there and calling attention to something that is, quite frankly, pissing most Americans off, is in itself asking for something? The NY unions just added their full support and while that may be reactionary and not based on idealism, it prompted action and garnered more media attention. I agree with all your points but want to add one little nugget...the Credit Unions are pretty good and even though I'm no longer an educator, I still get an awesome rate for my savings account.