Thanks to Peter Kim for putting out his great survey of Social Media Predictions 2009. One unintended learning from the survey, at least for me, was this list, and what it means for social media:
- David Armano
- Rohit Bhargava
- Pete Blackshaw
- Chris Brogan
- Todd Defren
- Jason Falls
- Ann Handley
- Joseph Jaffe
- Charlene Li
- Ben McConennell
- Scott Monty
- Jeremiah Owyang
- Andy Sernovitz
- Greg Verdino
Fifteen big names in social media – including Peter Kim -, and only two of them women.
I can understand women being underrepresented in older, more traditional fields such as engineering, or government, but social media? This feels like deja vu. I noticed a similar trend in the field of green and sustainability, prompting me to ask the question, ‘Where are the Women in the Green Stratosphere?’
Men appear to be especially good at appropriating spaces, even ones they don’t particularly care for as a whole. Again the cooking analogy applies. While women represents the majority of the home cooks, and do most of the daily cooking, cooking celebrities, the chefs with five star restaurants, big cooking shows and books galore, tend to be men. Same with social media. From 2008 Rapleaf study:
When it comes to social media, women are at the forefront. At Rapleaf we conducted a study of 13.2 million people and how they’re using social media. While the trends indicate both sexes are using social media in huge numbers, our findings show that women far outpace the men.
Not surprising, given that women are inherently inclined to being more social than men. It’s part of our DNA, and a well documented fact. Women will continue to thrive in both online and physical social networks. I just wish we took a more deliberate role in the shaping of social media. Women have things to say, that are different from men, and that can contribute to a richer picture.
This post is the first in a series I will be writing on social media. My humble attempt at adding another feminine voice to the social media chorus . . .
La Marguerite 