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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Is it less socially acceptable for women to be geeky?

87 replies

mumwithdice · 19/10/2011 09:25

The reason I ask is because I am both a geek and a SAHM and I have yet to meet any mums like me.

I suspect that there are some, but they are not as open about it as I am. This makes me wonder if there is a certain amount of societal pressure for women not to be seen in that fashion.

So, I suppose the real question is, if this is the case, why? Thoughts?

OP posts:
SolidGoldVampireBat · 19/10/2011 23:16

It's just I tend to think of 'geeky' as first and foremost 'computers/gadgets/Star Wars' Grin

allveryodd · 19/10/2011 23:27

I think of Star Wars as decidedly "mainstream" tbh! Gadgets similarly.

To me a geek is what is often politely termed an "enthusiast".

Original poster
mumwithdice · 20/10/2011 09:35

Actually, there's a computer game called Baldur's Gate where women are dressed in full armour. I had +3 full plate at one point. And the useful thing in RPGs is imagination. All my PCs made fun of anyone not wearing armour over their midriff.

SGVB love the term 'mundanes.' May I borrow it?

OP posts:
BedatHogwarts · 20/10/2011 09:56

Loving SGVB's hobby list!! Grin

I've noticed everyone is concentrating on more modern types of 'geekiness' - RPGs, sci-fi, computer games etc.

Do any of you engage in the more traditional geeky pursuits...
Trainspotting?
Stamp Collecting?
Trainset in the loft?
Pigeon fancying?

Original poster
mumwithdice · 20/10/2011 10:39

I like trains-but trainspotting? Not when there are so few steam trains to spot.

Does airplane spotting count? I love the Duxford and Hendon air museums and have been to an airshow at Margate. I teared up when the Lancaster and Spitfires flew by.

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 20/10/2011 10:44

My trainset isn't in the loft, it's small enough to tuck neatly away in a sort of sideboard/chest thing. But that's because it's tiny little Z-guage trains. Grin

No trainspotting, but an interest in preserved steam railways.

I don't think sci-fi is all that modern really, not the stuff I'm reading at the momet anyway....

Original poster
mumwithdice · 20/10/2011 11:06

Wells, Verne, Huxley, which one?

OP posts:
slug · 20/10/2011 11:43

I'm a geek. I work in IT and a self confessed data junkie. It's still a fairly male area, I was one of 3 women on my computing MSC and pissed the guys off when I found it easier than them and walked off with the academic prizes

You may find a spiritual home here

AMumInScotland · 20/10/2011 12:51

A Kurt Vonnegut one at the moment, so its only 60s rather than properly old. Asimov, Robert Silverberg, that kind of era.

Original poster
mumwithdice · 20/10/2011 13:31

Asimov is wonderful.

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 20/10/2011 13:33

Yeah that reminds me I haven't dug out my Foundation books for ages, I'll have to remember that next time I can get into that cupboard....

Ephiny · 20/10/2011 13:40

I find that older sci-fi a bit problematic from a feminist point of view actually. Even when there's not anything actually offensive, it just feels very...dated, and a sense that the author thinks of women as a separate category, rather than as people IYSWIM. I know you have to take these things as a product of their time, it just grates a bit sometimes.

I have to admit though I've only read one Asimov, and got annoyed that there was only one female character IIRC and a contrived plot to get her walking around topless in low-gravity Hmm.

Original poster
mumwithdice · 20/10/2011 14:52

I know what you mean. i think Philip K. Dick is especially notorious for this.

The Asimov I liked was "I, Robot" cos it is a bunch of short stories.

OP posts:
DoubleNegativePanda · 20/10/2011 15:15

I am a total geek, but it's not immediately obvious when you first meet me, and I think the same could be said for a lot of other mums out there! I do have acceptable social skills, personal hygiene and grooming. Although I did shave my head from March to August of this year, which is quite strange for a woman around these parts.

I am a sci-fi/fantasy freak.
I am a gamer. At the moment playing Fable 2.
I love gadgets and just got an iPhone 4S which I named Glad0S, and my wallpaper says "The cake is a lie". I wish I could change the Siri voice to the Glad0S voice.
When my boss really pisses me off I answer him in Klingon.
I would rather watch Mythbusters or Dark Matters than most "regular" shows.
I like Top Gear although I hate Jeremy clarkson. I had hysterics when he crashed a scooter.
I am very computer literate, my friends all call me for tech support.
My wardrobe consists mainly of jeans and t-shirts, because I hate shopping and really don't give a toss!

Geeks rule, the rest of the word is just oblivious to it.

DoubleNegativePanda · 20/10/2011 15:22

That's one thing I like about the Fable games, my character is a woman and wears full armor and carries some serious weapons Grin

SinicalSal · 20/10/2011 15:50

I use geek in the enthusiast sense too. Geeks with social skills are the best kind of people, they're interested in something beyond themselves, usually intelligent but know when to shut up.

Far far better than listening to women bang on about celebrity diets and men witter on about football. Engage with something else, ffs.

(My workplace has only two conversations ongoing at any time, am losing patience)

MrsChemist · 20/10/2011 15:52

I was sorely disappointed with Fable 3. I loved loved loved Fable 2, and Fable 3 just didn't live up to it's amazing-ness.

Ahem.

Original poster
mumwithdice · 20/10/2011 15:59

DoubleNegativePanda, we once had a party wherein we all ended up singing "Still Alive" and the song used to soothe DD when she was a newborn.

I don't know Fable. Is it a computer game and is it 3D? Because unfortunately 3D games make me nauseous.

SinicalSal, oh dear.

OP posts:
messyisthenewtidy · 20/10/2011 19:55

You all make it sound so cool I want to be a geek now!!

I was loving all the talk of polyhedral dice cos I love a bit of Maths but am such a gaming virgin that I had to look up what "RPG" meant and I do have a secret penchant for chickflicks.

Is there hope for me and if so, what do I have to do as my first step on the road to geekness??

Original poster
mumwithdice · 21/10/2011 08:47

Chickflicks and geekiness aren't mutually exclusive. And if you like polyhedral dice, you have taken your first step.

If you're interested in RPGs and like chickflicks, try this

OP posts:
TeiTetua · 21/10/2011 13:56

Here's another aspect of gender and technology--do we want our machines to have male or female personalities?

www.cnn.com/2011/10/21/tech/innovation/female-computer-voices/

Teetik · 21/10/2011 14:00

I'm geeky in my own way (defo not roleplaying though, can't bear it) and I do find that while other women seem fine with it, men don't. I suppose it makes me unattractive in some way? I don't know - and care less.

messyisthenewtidy · 21/10/2011 21:10

Thanks mwd, will take a look - in meantime have ordered SIMS - hope that is good start!

DoubleNegativePanda · 22/10/2011 04:05

Fable is a series of games for X-Box. I wasn't impressed with Fable 3 either, that's why I started over on 2! I love how you can play a completely different game the second time around.

Foxinsocks · 22/10/2011 05:27

I go along to meetings called Women In Technology - I think it's arranged by a head hunting/executive recruitment organisation but it brings together C level (in companies) women who are involved in IT/telecoms/technology.

It's absolutely fantastic to see how many of us there are out there when we're all in one place :-).

I recently went to a conference and there were a couple hundred men and about 30 women and I'd estimate half were marketing folk rather than actual attendees!

I also can't play 3D games grr and action games having started making me motion sick fgs! I'll be stuck just being able to do the puzzle pages soon!