‼️trigger warning: This article contains images of sexist assaults.

I was sexually assaulted by trolls on the Taiwain's Internet. Since I am a self-taught web developer and woman.

Hi everyone my name is Rhaenyra, and I'm from Taiwan. Today I want to share a story about gender discrimination and how we can move forward to bring positivity to the tech industry. By sharing my experience, I aim to empower every woman in the tech industry with a simple yet powerful message:

" I will always support you!"

I'm a self-taught web developer who jumped into job hunting three months after I started learning. My first gig was as a software developer intern, and within another seven months, I scored my second job offer as a front-end developer and another internship.

I decided to share my career switch story and some free resources on YouTube because, when I was looking to switch careers, all my Google searches (in Chinese) results pretty much told me it was a no-go, especially for someone diving into self-study. But when I search in English, I find loads of resources, solid advice, and encouraging words. So, I want to bring this inclusive culture into my living environment. I dropped my first YouTube video to spill the beans on my journey, aiming to boost up anyone out there thinking about leaping.

Since, my video got shared on a forum, and that's when things took a bit of a turn. Some folks started dropping comments on the forum and, unfortunately, left some sexually assaulted messages under my videos. The one that got the most attention was this one comment saying that, as a woman, I supposedly got my job based on my looks and figure. Like the text in the screenshot below, these are just some of the comments.

Seeing that comment for the first time really threw me for a loop. I was a mix of frustrated and ticked off. I'm never bragging about how epic I am or flashing job offers from big names. I've just used a well-known company in my video banner as a smart marketing move, but hey, I never claimed to have snagged an offer from FAANG or anything.

My whole point is to encourage folks who are feeling a bit scared or unsure about following their dreams.

And yet, here I am, getting heat simply because I'm a woman... and because I am self-taught... I almost let it get to me. But then, it hit me: why should anyone's opinion sway me just because of my gender, something I was born with? A few days later, I saw some uplifting comments and noticed a bunch of folks in the foreign communities that are outside the Chinese-speaking community rallying for gender equality. It was like a shot of energy. I realized I wasn't alone, so I picked myself up and told myself to keep pushing and learning.

I reminded myself to stay strong, like Ada Lovelace, the first programmer, and like those encouraging voices in the comments and community. Being strong means you can share your story to help others, letting them know they're not in this alone. The most crucial part? To keep moving forward. That's how we make our voices heard in the tech world and take a stand against discrimination.

Finally, I want to say to everyone, especially those who are going through tough times. I've been there too, and I totally get where you're coming from. Just remember, even when it feels like you're all on your own, there are people out there ready to have your back. Count me in as one of them. I'm here for you, always.