These problems are widely acknowledged by others. There are many organizations dedicated to supporting women in technology, such as Women 2.0, Change the Ratio, Astria, Girls in Tech, the Forum for Women’s Entrepreneurs and Executives, and the National Center for Women and Information Technology. And there has been a flurry of attention paid to egregious sexist incidents at technology conferences and among nerd subcultures. But complex problems have complex solutions. Unfortunately, the persistent idea that the technology industry is a meritocracy undermines these efforts, because it implies—incorrectly—that those who do not rise to the top are less capable than those who do.

Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, loc. 711