The idea of Riot Not Quiet started as a Masters Thesis project during Christa’s time as a graduate student in the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Critical and Creative Thinking program. While writing a “literature review” (a fancy way of saying a research paper) about the lack of Women in Technology, the research showed that women are initially interested in technology but do not sustain their interest enough to enter and remain in the field. Non-inclusive work cultures, gender stereotypes… and – perhaps most important – the lack of female role models and mentors all contribute in complex ways to driving women away from the industry.
During the research Christa found a quote that resonated deeply with her:
“One of the things that rings in my ears is if you can’t see it, you can’t be it.” – Sherry Coutu
There are male technology role models that are household names, such as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. In contrast, there are no women technology professionals that have deeply penetrated our popular culture. Most Americans could not name a single prominent woman in the technology industry. Only 4% of 1000 people in one survey could name a prominent female in technology and about a quarter of those people answered Siri or Alexa. The lack of cultural representation is telling of the lack of visibility of women in technology. And that is why, through interviews and interactions Riot Not Quiet places a spotlight on the badass women of technology.
The video above explains the research’s methodology and findings. And if want to go deeper, you can read Christa’s paper “Women Technology Role Models and Mentors in the Digital Age” on ResearchGate.