--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This story is not at all an uncommon one…" description: "\"“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must be engaging in somethi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/bailey-poland-41130_technology_this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one_552.jpg" --- # This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles… ![“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must be engaging in something underhanded to do so, because tech is a white man’s world (even as they will then describe it as a meritocracy of the best kind). Any successful…” quote by Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/bailey-poland-41130_technology_this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one_552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/bailey-poland-41130_technology_this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one_552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/bailey-poland-41130_technology_this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one_552.jpg) > ““This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must be engaging in something underhanded to do so, because tech is a white man’s world (even as they will then describe it as a meritocracy of the best kind). Any successful woman can expect to be accused of sleeping her way to the top.”” [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women’s achievements in male‑dominated tech fields are often dismissed as illegitimate, reinforcing gender bias. **In simple terms:** Success of women is unfairly questioned. Key Takeaway Expose and challenge bias. Themes gender bias tech culture meritocracy myth harassment accusations Mood frustrated determined Type critical advocacy When to use this quote - diversity training - HR policy review - career mentorship Key Concepts systemic sexism stereotype threat Practical Applications - bias‑audit tools - inclusive hiring practices Questions to Reflect On - How does the narrative of 'meritocracy' mask structural inequities? - What concrete steps can reduce suspicion toward women's success? A Different Perspective Some argue that meritocracy still applies if standards are truly neutral. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Meritocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meritocracy/) [Successful Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-woman/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Underhanded Tech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underhanded-tech-237894/) [Women Ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-ahead-237892/) [World Meritocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-meritocracy-237893/) ## Related quotes > [The world is not a meritocracy, as much as we may like to pretend that it is. And we have a long way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-world-is-not-a-meritocracy-as-much-as-we-may-like-to-pretend-that/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [The modern world is a meritocracy where you earn your own luck, old school ties count for nothing, and inherited privilege can even lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-reardon/the-modern-world-is-a-meritocracy-where-you-earn-your-own-luck-old/) [Kate Reardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-reardon/) > [A SUCCESSFUL MAN IS ONE WHO MAKES MORE MONEY THAN HIS WIFE CAN SPEND. A SUCCESSFUL WOMAN IS ONE WHO FINDS SUCH A MAN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-turner/a-successful-man-is-one-who-makes-more-money-than-his-wife-can-spend/) [Lana Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-turner/) > [You know, women are burdened with all this other crap all the time, like looking good. You need to be really superhuman to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-mcfarlane/you-know-women-are-burdened-with-all-this-other-crap-all-the-time/) [Bonnie McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-mcfarlane/) > [It's hard for a man to live with a successful woman - they seem to resent you so much. Very few men are generous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-bassey/it-s-hard-for-a-man-to-live-with-a-successful-woman-they-seem-to/) [Shirley Bassey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-bassey/) > [It is really a sad state of affairs if I am still the only commercially successful woman director. We need a lot more commercially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-khan/it-is-really-a-sad-state-of-affairs-if-i-am-still-the-only/) [Farah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-khan/) > [“Behind every successful woman are several confused men who give her something to make fun of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-miller/behind-every-successful-woman-are-several-confused-men-who-give-her/) [Sarah Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-miller/) > [Traditionally, women have a lot of different roles in society. It is very difficult to balance all these roles and at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalia-grybauskaite/traditionally-women-have-a-lot-of-different-roles-in-society-it-is/) [Dalia Grybauskaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalia-grybauskaite/) > [In all successful relationships, the man respects the woman - and it takes a special guy to handle a successful woman. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/in-all-successful-relationships-the-man-respects-the-woman-and-it/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [To be successful, a woman has to be much better at her job than a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golda-meir/to-be-successful-a-woman-has-to-be-much-better-at-her-job-than-a-man/) [Golda Meir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golda-meir/) > [“In reality, the only true model of a successful woman was the Divine Sarah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabih-alameddine/in-reality-the-only-true-model-of-a-successful-woman-was-the-divine/) [Rabih Alameddine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabih-alameddine/) > [A successful woman preacher was once asked what special obstacles have you met as a woman in the ministry? Not one, she answered, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-garlin-spencer/a-successful-woman-preacher-was-once-asked-what-special-obstacles/) [Anna Garlin Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-garlin-spencer/) > [There's no one better to imitate than Carly Fiorina when it comes to a successful woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/there-s-no-one-better-to-imitate-than-carly-fiorina-when-it-comes-to/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Feminists don't honor successful women. You never hear them talking about Margaret Thatcher. Take Condoleezza Rice. She's a remarkable, successful woman. You don't hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-schlafly/feminists-don-t-honor-successful-women-you-never-hear-them-talking/) [Phyllis Schlafly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-schlafly/) > [My favorite jewelry designer is Suzanne Belperron, a great Parisian jeweler who was known for her bold and creative use of stones. I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-ross/my-favorite-jewelry-designer-is-suzanne-belperron-a-great-parisian/) [Kara Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-ross/) ## More by Bailey Poland > [“The public forum argument simultaneously insists that women be receptive, welcoming, and passive in the face of harassing comments while it excuses harassing behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/the-public-forum-argument-simultaneously-insists-that-women-be/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [“Cernovich, Yiannopoulos, and Sommers all found a marketing opportunity in Gamergate: a constantly active audience willing to buy whatever it was they felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/cernovich-yiannopoulos-and-sommers-all-found-a-marketing-opportunity/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [“Online threats of violence seem to have a very simple purpose: they are intended to act as a reminder to women that men are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/online-threats-of-violence-seem-to-have-a-very-simple-purpose-they/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [“Calling the Internet a public forum is done to invoke a conceptualization of the Internet in which all expression is seen as valid and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/calling-the-internet-a-public-forum-is-done-to-invoke-a/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [“What “don’t feed the trolls” misses is that, for these online cybersexist abusers, it doesn’t matter whether or not a woman responds to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/what-don-t-feed-the-trolls-misses-is-that-for-these-online/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [“Actually, it’s about ethics in games journalism” became the immediate and fervent reply to anyone discussing Gamergate’s harassment of Quinn. As she fled her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/actually-it-s-about-ethics-in-games-journalism-became-the-immediate/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [“One of the most common experiences a woman has when discussing online abuse is either receiving advice about how to handle it or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/one-of-the-most-common-experiences-a-woman-has-when-discussing-online/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [“Sexism is a combination of prejudice against persons based on their gender, combined with the privilege and power required to cause harm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/sexism-is-a-combination-of-prejudice-against-persons-based-on-their/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [“Everyone involved, from the figurehead to each individual harasser, is able to diffuse responsibility for the abuse among the group, claiming abuse was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/everyone-involved-from-the-figurehead-to-each-individual-harasser-is/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) [Explore all 10 Bailey Poland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) ## More Feminism quotes > [“But benevolent patriarchy is still patriarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/but-benevolent-patriarchy-is-still-patriarchy/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [Without meaning to sound anti-men, ghastly women are the closest you get to a male role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/without-meaning-to-sound-anti-men-ghastly-women-are-the-closest-you/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) [Joseph Joffre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joffre/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [“Bármilyen idiótának, aki azt kérdezi: „Feminista vagy? Akkor elégeted a melltartóidat, mi? HE? Melltartókat égetsz, te feminista?” – szép nyugodtan így kell válaszolni: „Ostoba.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/b-rmilyen-idi-t-nak-aki-azt-k-rdezi-feminista-vagy-akkor-el-geted-a/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Women know things that men will never know. We keep the best secrets. We tell the best stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/women-know-things-that-men-will-never-know-we-keep-the-best-secrets/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) [Yoram Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoram-wind/) > [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) [Browse all 15,705 Feminism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must be engaging in something underhanded to do so, because tech is a white man’s world (even as they will then describe it as a meritocracy of the best kind). 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