Did you know that electric cars existed back in the early 20th century but were discarded because it was a woman’s vehicle? They weren’t manly enough. Katrine Kielos-Marçal argues that *gender bias* has pushed women out of economic sectors into lower status and paying jobs.
Up until the mid 1960s, computer programming was a woman’s industry. Then, it became men’s reign. And, along with them, came higher salaries and status. It seems as if money and status keep following men around in the economy. Why is that?
The problem is that our definition of innovation and technology largely follows our definition of masculinity. So, how can we change that? Katrine Kielos-Marçal is a bestselling author on women and innovation.
Her first book Who Cooked Adam Smith's Dinner? has been translated into more than 20 languages. Margaret Atwood called it "a smart, funny and readable book on women, economics and money". It was named one of The Guardian's books of the year in 2015. BBC also named Katrine one of its 100 Women in 2015.
Katrine's second book Mother Of Invention: How Good Ideas Get Ignored In An Economy Built For Men was shortlisted for Business Book of the Year in Germany and for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction in the US.
Katrine is the global economic commentator for Dagens Nyheter, Sweden’s largest broadsheet newspaper.
She is based outside of London. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx