Microsoft should apologise to men

Just what did Microsoft think it was playing at when it apologised for the Meter Maids at Tech.Ed last week?

Making matters worse, I feel Microsoft apologised to the wrong group.

Rather than saying meter maids are demeaning or degrading to women, such a spectacle was instead more degrading to men!

As if our purchasing decisions will be influenced by the appearance of some scantily-clad bimbos rather than what is best for your employer.

It's as if Microsoft is saying men's minds are ruled by their, ahem, you know where!

Of course, there remains much sexism in technology, but not the sexism you might think of.

Earlier this year, former Telecom NZ CEO Theresa Gattung used the feminist card to explain away some of the criticism she received during her reign at what was New Zealand's largest corporate.

She ruled the roost during a "golden age" for women leaders in New Zealand, particularly in the telco space. If anything, being a woman was an advantage.

Yet, despite tech having many other female leaders, we still have organisations like Women In Technology.

In the tech media at both sides of the Tasman, we have many women editors too! Indeed, I answer to three of them!

It is high time we moved on and realised that we have pretty much achieved equality in the tech sector and any kowtowing to feminism is actually patronising. The women I know in tech can give as good as they get and are not such sensitive little flowers as to be upset over a few meter maids.