Imagine what it's like being the intended target and not just "collateral damage". It's not a problem that men are nervous to be candid but it's a problem that women are feeling the secondary effects of that?
Btw, I still have not met a female VC: after 22 years in SV.
Not the dozens of other posts throughout this thread of people making unequivocal statements about how A) one cannot speak to women or minorities anymore without being accused of discrimination, B) how "every" (or some variation of that summary) minority/woman are hurting their cause with constant insistence of discrimination?
Dang, just because someone is civil, does not mean they are logical. Just because they are logical, doesn't mean they are correct.
There are folks all throughout this thread right now that are making broad general summaries of misogynistic and racist talking points, but you are not warning ANY of htem.