Sharp Skirts Offline

Hi, Wayne. What a fantastic question you propose about all males vs all female groups. I have often thought about this topic in regards to race...as in there are all black colleges but an all white college would cause quite the stir. Even though, I know all black colleges must accept other races, it still makes you think.

In my spare time, I lead a monthly intellectual discussion and dinner group, and I would love to explore this topic. Maybe I can organize it and invite you to attend, so you could help me dive into this issue. Whether sex, or race, or religious beliefs, etc.

I don't have an answer to justify protests against all male organizations. I suspect fear causes protest...which I think is the same cause for justification of an all-female organization.

I have meet Carla. She's fantastic and very passionate about Sharp Skirts. Her passion focuses on women, so naturally she has set up her organization as such.

Crazy enough, I also lead a group called the Be Feminine Project. This group has never excluded men, but naturally, men rarely attend. I suspect that if Carla were to open up the group to men, the same thing would happen. Men and women process information differently, so it would be my (uneducated and researched) guess that men would find more value in organizations that support their way of learning and assimilating information.

Carla-Thanks for posting this thread on Twitter. I think you're doing a wonderful job to support women entrepreneurs. I praise your work and support you in your decisions regarding this group.

Wayne- Fantastic questions and inquiries. Let's chat about exploring this quandary in a fun, thought-provoking environment.

Matt- I agree with you whole-heartedly.

Jane- Interesting perspective. I would love to hear more. Maybe you would join a discussion that I would love to involve Wayne in.

Jackie- I don't understand how Wayne's question is insulting. I would love to better understand your perspective, as well.

FASCINATING GUYS! ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING.

Misty Funk, Simple City Life

Hi Wayne,

I'm new to door64, but I heard about this debate and wanted to tackle your questions.

1. I've been working for almost 18 years as a staff member at UT Austin, as well as now freelancing in the tech field. In my time at UT I have most definitely experienced sexism in the workplace on a number of occasions, including just this past month. Although it's not ubiquitous, it definitely exists, particularly from some male administrators who treat female staff with less regard and respect than they treat our male counterparts. I've also noticed a few occasions where women I know have been skipped over for professional advancement or perks in favor of their male colleagues, despite having more experience and education.

2. Sharp Skirts is relatively new, but from meeting Carla and others in the organization, I get the distinct impression that mentoring is going to be a high priority for the group. Indeed, as someone who has a new business, at our last meeting I felt incredibly supported and encouraged by the other women in the group, and left feeling inspired and empowered. Right now the focus is on helping fellow members, but I can definitely see it becoming a group that provides education and mentoring opportunities to young women who are not yet entrepreneurs themselves.

3. With all due respect, this question is insulting and demeaning, because you ask it only because Carly is female. It does, however, highlight the continuing need for groups such as Sharp Skirts.

4. All-male organizations exist to maintain the status quo: to provide opportunities and networking for men who already have access to the greatest resources and seats of power. All-female organizations such as Sharp Skirts offer mentoring and support for women who want to challenge societal norms and expectations and break into what have traditionally been all-male domains. They also offer nurturing and safe spaces for women with opportunities at all levels of the organization without invisible ceilings or restrictions. I can speak from experience, as I attended an all-female high school (not a boarding school) and witnessed first-hand the empowerment and opportunities that such an experience afforded me that would not have existed at the same level in a coed school.

Believe it or not, even in this day and age some men are threatened by successful and confident women, and even more so by the idea that a group of these women might have something to talk about when men aren't around.

5. See #3.

Jackie Dana
Getting Dirty Designs