I’m a member of several online SEO communities. Some are for everyone; some are for womxn only.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏" title="Applaus-Zeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Applaus-Zeichen"> In https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏" title="Applaus-Zeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Applaus-Zeichen"> my https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏" title="Applaus-Zeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Applaus-Zeichen"> experience https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏" title="Applaus-Zeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Applaus-Zeichen">…

The womxn-only groups are:

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋" title="Waving hand" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand"> More welcoming
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😎" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit Sonnenbrille" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit Sonnenbrille"> Friendlier
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤗" title="Umarmendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Umarmendes Gesicht"> More open
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💪" title="Angespannter Bizeps" aria-label="Emoji: Angespannter Bizeps"> More supportive
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏" title="Folded hands" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands"> More helpful

Why is this? A thread: https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧵" title="Thread" aria-label="Emoji: Thread">

Are women innately more welcoming, friendly, open, supportive, and helpful? Maybe -but not always (in my experience.) I’ve worked with and encountered both women and men who embody these characteristics and their antitheses.

I think it’s because women in SEO (and tech / tech-adjacent fields) tend to share common experiences, such as:

-Being told misogyny doesn’t exist in their field of work, even though they’ve experienced it personally

-Being told anecdotal evidence of misogyny isn’t good enough, even though they’ve experienced it personally

-Being interrupted and talked down to (more than their male coworkers and / or by their male coworkers)

-Being told “but the men worked really hard to get where they are” when they mention disproportionate male representation in (conference lineups, publications, etc.)

-Being told to “contribute to the solution instead of complaining” when they surface these issues

At least two things happen when these problems exist: 1) Some /many of us seek support in womxn-only groups and 2) We share an ~occasionally~ unspoken (but often spoken) commonality with everyone else in the group (i.e., the problems listed above).

Which creates an *immediate* sense of community and safeness, which is not a luxury we have in other groups.

So THAT is why groups like @techseowomen and Sisters in SEO (Facebook Group, courtesy of @KarileeD and team) are necessary, and also why they are successful (not to mention the hard work and support provided by the facilitators these groups and others like them!)

If you are a woman and not connected with a group like the ones I mention, I encourage you to find one! They are GREAT!

And if you are a man and wondering why boys aren’t allowed, this is why – and your “but where is my men’s-only SEO / digital marketing support group?!” rhetoric isn’t as cute as you think it is.