Conference turris::womannotes-v3

728.0. "Digital Culture: Views from the Women Inside" by WMOIS::B_REINKE (bread and roses) Thu Mar 14 1991 13:25

This was sent to me after many forwardings that I have deleted.

Bonnie J

_________________________________________________________________


From:	OBSESS::REID         "LINDA REID 225-6305 HLO2-3/P7"  7-MAR-1991 11:08:15.00
To:	REID
CC:	
Subj:	waw seminar

On February 19th, l991, women of SCIT and USS/USSM participated in a
panel discussion called "The Digital Culture:  Views from Women on the
Inside".  About 160 people attended the session.  Comments and
evaluations after the session were very positive, and there were requests
for the moderator's opening remarks to be forwarded over the system.

What follows are the introductory remarks and the poem that Rianna
Merrill-Stone put together from the biographical and cultural comments
sent to her from the panelists prior to the panel discussion. The panelists
have given her permission to do this.  A videotape of the seminar is available
for viewing through the Hudson Information Center. 
                    

The panelists were: 
            from SCIT:
                     Evelyn Balch
                     Irene Wong
            from USS/USSM:
                     Cathy Welsh
                     Arlene Banks
                     Mercedes Sanchez
        with Rianna Merrill-Stone (USS/USSM) as moderator



          Introductory Comments. . . .           


               My job is basically to introduce the panel and to moderate
   
          the discussion.  My plan is to allow each woman to tell her own 

          story, but I would like to share some of the themes I heard as I 

          read their responses to our questions about their experience with 

          the Digital culture.  

               First I want to let you know what's here, in terms of the

          richness and diversity of their experience.  As a group, these 

          women have worked in most major functions of the corporation.

          Today, they represent Engineering, Finance, Manufacturing, and 

          Personnel. They hold a variety of educational degrees:  assorted 

          Bachelors' degrees, a couple of MBAs, and one J.D.  Everyone is a 

          manager in her function today, although they've held a variety of 

          exempt and non-exempt positions since joining Digital.  They are 

          culturally diverse as a group in terms of ethnicity, race, and 

          sexual orientation.  At least some of them are mothers as well as

          daughters; at least one of them has suffered the death of her

          child.

               As a group, they have worked in a variety of roles, sites,

          and organizations around the Digital/U.S., with a total of 65 

          years collective experience among them.  Therefore, they have 

          many lenses through which to view the Digital culture.  Let me

          share with you some of their insights. . . .






          WHAT DIGITAL CULTURE IS LIKE. . . .


          It's open, interactive

          Like family

          Political -- who you know

          Boundaries are blurred

          Bonds are strong.

          It values aggressiveness

          Technical versus business expertise

          Decision by committee.

          In the "Old DEC"

          The door was open

          The hierarchy wasn't too

          We were entrepeneurs

          We did the right thing.

          In our current state

          Traditional values have eroded

          We're white male dominated (even the white men)

          We're rigid, risk-averse, territorial

          Everyone's in pain.

          The new paradigm is the rainbow culture

          Its heartcenter women, and people of color 

          Flexibility, multidimensionality, collaboration.

          Now, paradox reigns.  More black and white than grey.

          Many talk the talk; few walk the walk.

          Most try.






          BEING SUPPORTED BY THE CULTURE. . . .


          It has given me a wealth of opportunities for self-development
          and success.

          It encourages me to build and maintain a good network.

          It has virtually paid for my undergraduate and graduate training.

          Asking for help and investing others in my own well-being is
          doing the right thing.

          It allows me to integrate my work self with my total self, to be
          fully present as a woman and as a lesbian.

          I've learned how to reframe situations in my mind, when I'm
          feeling blocked by the System.

          It has recognized my hard work and provided me with 
          opportunities for growth, promotion, and increased 
          responsibility.

          It has allowed me to discover new ways to work and to manage, to
          learn continuously, to be creative, to contribute, to have fun,
          and to feel valued.






          HOW THE CULTURE HAS GOTTEN IN THE WAY. . . .


          My mentors and role models have been men -- this helps me be
          accepted by them, but I've lost a lot of who I am as a woman.

          Hearing mixed messages, having no common direction as a company,
          the gap between SSMI and MEM -- these made me want to hide.

          I've been confronted with various types and degrees of prejudice
          just because I am what I am.

          There are additional hurdles for women.

          I believed I could take risks and be safe . . . and I got burned.
          There are limits to our openness and acceptance of difference.

          It feeds my workaholism.

          The system can be brutal.






          BELIEFS ABOUT THE CULTURE. . . .

   
          People and organizations are more alike than different; they
          see themselves as more different than alike.

          Opportunity is what you make it -- we are each the authors of
          our own experience.

          People will do the right thing if given complete information
          and support.  

          People are basically honest, hardworking, self-governing.

          Truth and quality come from multiple viewpoints.

          Meaningful work is a fundamental human need.

          Survival depends on how responsive you can be to change.