I appreciate the intention and downmodded you anyway. "Wow, I've heard of a woman programmer, too!" is stigmatizing, although I'm sure that wasn't intended.
I work in Japan, and am one of probably three white guys in my industry in the greater Nagoya area. (That is an exaggeration, but not much of one.) When I get introduced to someone in a professional context, almost without fail, I hear something to the effect of "Wow, you're American? I met an American once." God does that get old.
Yes, I'm an American, but I'm not here in the wow-an-American context, I am here in the valued-professional-employed-by-the-firm-you-are-in-business-with context. I suppose the appropriate remark would be "Oh, a Big Freaking Enterprise Web Apps Java programmer -- I've met one of you before!". (Now, of course, nobody will say that because it is stupid and insipid... but the original was, too, with an extra soupcon of unintentionally insulting added to the mix.)
I think that's a chip on your shoulder, not a reflection on the previous comment.
I work with plenty of women programmers, but whooptie-doo. I think the intention of the previous comment is clearly to point to Niniane as an inspiring programmer[1], who also happens to be female. On-topic for this story, and not stigmatizing, unless you feel simply discussing female under-representation is stigmatizing.
10 second version: Some Japanese people dislike foreigners. (Please see my comments above about people being Ruby objects, because that is relevant here, too.) I have good friends, a nice church, and a decent job at a company which is happy to overwork me insanely no matter my skin color.
I work in Japan, and am one of probably three white guys in my industry in the greater Nagoya area. (That is an exaggeration, but not much of one.) When I get introduced to someone in a professional context, almost without fail, I hear something to the effect of "Wow, you're American? I met an American once." God does that get old.
Yes, I'm an American, but I'm not here in the wow-an-American context, I am here in the valued-professional-employed-by-the-firm-you-are-in-business-with context. I suppose the appropriate remark would be "Oh, a Big Freaking Enterprise Web Apps Java programmer -- I've met one of you before!". (Now, of course, nobody will say that because it is stupid and insipid... but the original was, too, with an extra soupcon of unintentionally insulting added to the mix.)