Women Wired In

Posted by digitalsista on December 1st, 2008 in Community Technology, Computing, Digital Divide/Inclusion, Diversity, Economics, Feminism, Social Media, Tech Industry, Tech and Telcom Policies, Technology, Women in Tech, eGovernment, politics, poverty, race

The other night I was offered a box ticket seat to see Tina Turner Live at the Verizon Center. I turned them down although it was presented to me by a distinguished and attractive African American man. I only wished I had a friend I could call that could make the ten minute curtain call.

I sat in the restaurant across the street, were I am a regular, I noticed the diverse people sitting at the bar eating and drinking before going to the concert. It was a night that I mistakenly thought would be a slow night. It is usually busy when there is an event at the Verizon or the Convention Center.

They mix of couples that arrived included two Afrian American women who could pass for sisters, an older African American couple, well dressed and could be husband and wife, a white older couple, husband and wife, the young hip African American couple, a middle aged white couple, and three gay mixed race men. As I looked around and spoke to some of them I realized they were all going to the concert. Tina’s age, singing, music genre brought out a wide range of cultures, race, classes and sexual orientations. They all arrived at the same restaurant just to go to the concert next door and listen to Tina Turner. I knew this was true when the restaurant became vacant at 7:00 pm, show time.

I thought, as I was talking to a friend about politics and watching CNN discussing President Elect Obama’s choices for his economic team, on the heels of Hilary Clinton accepting the Secretary of State position. Will Obama be able to be the same kind of equalizer during his administration? He ran a campaign that included diversity of class, race, sexual orientation and gender, would he be able to continue the momentum during his administration as President?

It is still too early to tell, he has started his selection process sooner than most President Elects have in the past. He has chosen a range of diverse experts, but has also chosen some members like Larry Summers, some believing out of personal loyalties to the Clintons. We have some time to decide but knowing politics like I do there is more to come. Should we sit and wait or should we urge Obama to pay close attention to certain people? It is really up to you to decide, it is after all your future that depends on his choices.

I for one would like to urge President Elect Barack Obama, please choose a women as your Chief Technology Officer (CTO), not just because of gender but there are more women qualified for this job as a tech officer who can manage political environments. Most overly technical professionals miss the connections to the people in decisions about technology implementation and practice. A woman, even Carly Fiorina, would be the best candidate for the job. I would of course prefer a woman of color.