Help, it’s broken and I don’t want to fix it

Done!
Photo owned by Sailor Coruscant (cc)

I’ve been mulling a lot recently about the conversation over the  Dublin Girl Geek Dinner many months ago.  Quite possibly because of my Galas post.

The theme of the discussion was ‘Owning Your Career’. It’s not the subject, rather the frustrated voices that stay with me. The women at dinner were educated, edgy, witty, and smart; exceptional women working in technology or geekier still, integrating tech into their pastimes and home lives. Yet some of their voices still echoed frustrations of the Women’s Lib movement of the 1970′s. For the bones of a half an hour or more that night we were all spat out of a TARDIS and into 1974.

Discrimination in the workplace still exists. Talk of glass ceilings and unfair treatment is still a reality. It’s not something I’ve experienced to date, but Man discriminates. The disappointing takeaway I took home was that the world really hasn’t changed for a lot of women. Not because of the  implacable Glass Ceiling but because they were unaware of how to change their situation or were risk averse. Something that doesn’t have risk, probably isn’t worth it in the end.

There are things that each and everyone hates about their job. Parts we’d like to change or improve. When it comes to the point where we feel smothered by the situation or stifled in metaphorical ropes, it’s decision time. Fight or flight. Sitting on one’s ass and bemoaning the situation does nothing to further their situation. (A reminder to me too). Bitching doesn’t progress an agenda. Despite a lot of Girl Pwr talk, it seems that some enjoy the ritual of shaking their shoulders and pointing their fingers at Bad Men.

This ailment isn’t gender specific and I won’t be one to discriminate. I’m sure you know someone that l like that. A person that centres their time and energy on griping about what life and work has doled out to them, without confronting why. Perhaps they are used to getting things handed on a plate to them. Is there anything more frustrating that listening to someone complain about a situation they find themselves in, but are unwilling to start to do something about it? Or could it be that they are afraid of looking deeper into the reason why. The talk fell to old feminist rhetoric in places, too.

Where to go? It’s the eternal question. Positive role models for kids of every gender is needed. Support and challenge in equal parts. Play is vital. Letting kids break things from the word go and helping them to understand how to fix them at first, before standing behind and offering encouragement. Fun is always part of function.

January 22nd, 2009 at 1:43 pm • Filed in Brainstrobing, Geekery



Comments

4 Comments to “Help, it’s broken and I don’t want to fix it”

  1. Nick McGivney Says:
    January 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 am

    Not to be flip, but unction is a greater part of function sometimes. Sometimes people are inspired by example alone to go out and have a lash at it. This is certainly true for me, and it has oiled the wheels enough for me to think that I can take my destiny in my hands. Ok, so I’m a man, but I don’t know from your post if that really comes across to me as the most salient part of the discussion.

    Falling back to the sexism default might be the most natural thing for some, but I see too many others who are just getting inspired and doing it. I think that it will ever be thus. Like the pareto principle, the predictabilities of the group remain a broad mathematical tenet. You have freedom as an individual to go do whatever the hell you like, but will you? Or do you have to have a mind-altering cataclysm happen in the place where you live before you do it? Or do you remain the grumbling fucker down the dole office who honestly believes that this is the order of things and s/he is being victimised at €204 per week?

    Choice is the defining c word here, I think.



  2. Adrian Says:
    January 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    From my experience, those with either:

    – the hardest neck
    – the toughest temperament
    – the best work ethic
    – very strong energy levels

    Are the ones who generally get ahead, whether they’re male or female.

    Ideas and creativity are also important, but too too often the lack of energy or a crippling degree of sensitivity can kill a creative person’s drive to succeed.

    There’s no doubt that women do still suffer from stereotypes in the workplace. I see it all the time in the sector I deal with.



  3. Grannymar Says:
    January 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    Sometimes the walls are there to teach us how much we want something!



  4. luncheonroll Says:
    January 24th, 2009 at 12:39 am

    Funny how equality breeds prejudice. What we have these days is the right to move freely and recognising wrong in obstruction. Chauvinist opinions are no longer the public consensus…Nick and Adrian both got it right: eventually action on the individual’s part proves to be the greatest justification, in terms of skill, tenacity and energy.

    Really anyone with stereotypical views can only be pitied, for they’re outmoded and in the minority, even if it may seem as though the whole world’s bigoted sometimes. A racist might not be a misogynist or vice versa.

    Fair play for not taking equality for granted like the multitudes of women in this country!



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