Comments on: My sisters in science, my competitors http://www.shessuchageek.com/2007/01/22/my-sisters-in-science-my-competitors/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:59:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Billie Sumner http://www.shessuchageek.com/2007/01/22/my-sisters-in-science-my-competitors/#comment-22313 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:13 +0000 http://www.shessuchageek.com/2007/01/22/my-sisters-in-science-my-competitors/#comment-22313 I have a degree in Biology and education. And instead of using my science background I have been peddling theater seating off my website. My marketing partner used to be a Physics professor and is selling seating with me know. We both left the science teaching field because of the difficulty of supporting a family on a teacher's salary. I have a degree in Biology and education. And instead of using my science background I have been peddling theater seating off my website. My marketing partner used to be a Physics professor and is selling seating with me know.

We both left the science teaching field because of the difficulty of supporting a family on a teacher’s salary.

]]> by: Anne Miller http://www.shessuchageek.com/2007/01/22/my-sisters-in-science-my-competitors/#comment-1116 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:35:47 +0000 http://www.shessuchageek.com/2007/01/22/my-sisters-in-science-my-competitors/#comment-1116 It's really fun to see this topic in print. I've told innumerable stories in my role as woman-geek and enjoyed seeing this. The website listed is that of my company. I would be happy to assist in any fall-out you get from these essays -- like talking with girls/women about pursuing a science-related profession. It’s really fun to see this topic in print. I’ve told innumerable stories in my role as woman-geek and enjoyed seeing this.

The website listed is that of my company. I would be happy to assist in any fall-out you get from these essays — like talking with girls/women about pursuing a science-related profession.

]]> by: Kristin A. http://www.shessuchageek.com/2007/01/22/my-sisters-in-science-my-competitors/#comment-1077 Tue, 23 Jan 2007 06:19:27 +0000 http://www.shessuchageek.com/2007/01/22/my-sisters-in-science-my-competitors/#comment-1077 Jackie, thank you for sharing. Actually, I know that Big Personality was quite insecure, and I did sympathized with that. I just think we reacted to our insecurity in different ways. It made her more outgoing, and it made me more of an introvert. And as a survival strategy, outgoing works better in our culture. I just wanted to put out there that it's competitive out there, and you have to find your friends where you can, and they may not necessarily be the women in your classes. But each case is different. You can't help being who you are. Some people will like you for it and some people won't. Big Personality found the people who she resonated with. I found my friends and allies and my own niche. I wished I could be like Big Personality in some ways, but I couldn't. We had different styles, but we both got our degrees in the end. Have you talked to the other women in the computer science classes? Have they said anything hostile? If you come across as warm and genuine to them, I should think they would be happy to know you. Meeting new people is very scary, and extroverts are doubly scary to introverts who may have been ostracized in junior high or high school who are traumatized by memories of queen bees and alpha girls. When you first talk to the other CS women, try turning the personality dial down a little to let them know that you can play at their quieter volume too. Before long, after they get to know you, you might find that they'll be happy to get the real you with the volume all the way up at 11! Jackie, thank you for sharing. Actually, I know that Big Personality was quite insecure, and I did sympathized with that. I just think we reacted to our insecurity in different ways. It made her more outgoing, and it made me more of an introvert. And as a survival strategy, outgoing works better in our culture.

I just wanted to put out there that it’s competitive out there, and you have to find your friends where you can, and they may not necessarily be the women in your classes. But each case is different.

You can’t help being who you are. Some people will like you for it and some people won’t. Big Personality found the people who she resonated with. I found my friends and allies and my own niche. I wished I could be like Big Personality in some ways, but I couldn’t. We had different styles, but we both got our degrees in the end.

Have you talked to the other women in the computer science classes? Have they said anything hostile? If you come across as warm and genuine to them, I should think they would be happy to know you. Meeting new people is very scary, and extroverts are doubly scary to introverts who may have been ostracized in junior high or high school who are traumatized by memories of queen bees and alpha girls. When you first talk to the other CS women, try turning the personality dial down a little to let them know that you can play at their quieter volume too. Before long, after they get to know you, you might find that they’ll be happy to get the real you with the volume all the way up at 11!

]]> by: jackie http://www.shessuchageek.com/2007/01/22/my-sisters-in-science-my-competitors/#comment-1076 Tue, 23 Jan 2007 05:08:15 +0000 http://www.shessuchageek.com/2007/01/22/my-sisters-in-science-my-competitors/#comment-1076 I think I come off as the "Big Personality" type in my mostly-male Computer Science classes. I do my hair, I like to talk, and I do theater--I just happened upon the field of Computer Science when I discovered web design when I was 13. I definitely feel like I don't know as much as...almost everyone else in my classes, and as a result I will go for help, work with some guys in the class, and ask questions to try to grasp any sort of understanding of the material. I definitely didn't come with the same background as other people, who have experience working with many programming languages, while I took the Intro to Java course last semester, and that's about all I've got. But, I take a sort of pride in being a part of this field and being...different? While I may seem to be the norm among my theater cohorts, I'm also their geek, their go-to-gal when they're having any issues with their computers, and the first person they think of when "science" comes to mind. Obviously, I'm over-simplifying things, but the fact of the matter is, I think I was just as happy as the next "girl-geek" to find this book and to laugh and be able to sympathize with the essays. We go through similar things, and I hate thinking of how I come-off to the...three...other girls in my COSI class as someone who has no idea. I feel SO much more challenged by the GIRLS in my class than the guys, and I feel like they don't want me there and like I'm invading in their territory. I'm not exactly sure in my purpose of this response, but I kind of just wanted to give a look from the other side. I think I come off as the “Big Personality” type in my mostly-male Computer Science classes. I do my hair, I like to talk, and I do theater–I just happened upon the field of Computer Science when I discovered web design when I was 13. I definitely feel like I don’t know as much as…almost everyone else in my classes, and as a result I will go for help, work with some guys in the class, and ask questions to try to grasp any sort of understanding of the material. I definitely didn’t come with the same background as other people, who have experience working with many programming languages, while I took the Intro to Java course last semester, and that’s about all I’ve got. But, I take a sort of pride in being a part of this field and being…different? While I may seem to be the norm among my theater cohorts, I’m also their geek, their go-to-gal when they’re having any issues with their computers, and the first person they think of when “science” comes to mind. Obviously, I’m over-simplifying things, but the fact of the matter is, I think I was just as happy as the next “girl-geek” to find this book and to laugh and be able to sympathize with the essays. We go through similar things, and I hate thinking of how I come-off to the…three…other girls in my COSI class as someone who has no idea. I feel SO much more challenged by the GIRLS in my class than the guys, and I feel like they don’t want me there and like I’m invading in their territory. I’m not exactly sure in my purpose of this response, but I kind of just wanted to give a look from the other side.

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