WIRED's cover problem

Since 1993, WIRED published 70 covers featuring men but only four celebrating women's professional accomplishments. The magazine reinforced a narrative that tech geniuses were almost exclusively male.

“WIRED had published 70 covers featuring at least one man. In that same span, the magazine published four covers, yes, four, that celebrate women”

Sexism in the workplace

An editor asked where her legs went when she wore pants. A boss said she seemed too cold to be a parent. Another joked she'd lock her baby in a closet. These moments accumulated across a 17-year career.

“where'd the legs go?”

Doubting her own success

Constant reminders of sexism left her wondering if she got jobs for professional reasons or to fill a quota. She second-guessed decisions, apologized endlessly, and dressed unprofessionally to avoid attention.

Changing who she is

To command respect at work, she felt pressured to act like a stereotypical man: meaner, louder, less empathetic. She hated it, but felt it was necessary to be taken seriously.

It's worse for other women

A white, straight woman in media and tech faces significant sexism. Women of color, gay women, and transgender women experience even more barriers and discrimination in these industries.

Why WIRED Women matters

A 2026 issue dedicated to women might seem unnecessary, but it's urgent: tech executives in power are virtually all men, and some openly dismiss feminine qualities as weakness.

The stakes for the next generation

Her daughter deserves to be less furious at 40 than she is now. Women deserve better colleagues, and the world deserves better heroes than those dismissing gender as irrelevant.