Geekdom is Cool
Walski69’s comment on my last post deserves a separate mention. He said :
- Being a geek is cool
In the last few years geek boys have suddenly shot to stardom. They are a looked upon as being so geeky that they are now all of a sudden “cool”! Its starting to be obvious that they are getting the girls. Geek boys pay attention to detail, in their work, and in relationships. Thanks to the likes of Peter Jackson and his making of the JRR Tolkien trilogy, its now super cool to read fantasy books, to watch science fiction.
I once mentioned to some guy that I loved BSG. The response, “oh wow, thats unsual for a girl!” That was the end of that chat-up!
Tlonista’s article about geek girls really hits the nail on its head :
- Geek girls like me and my friends aren’t even on the radar — despite how much of this is written by women! Somehow it never occurs to them to advise those nerd boys to look for someone who shares their passions in the first place.
So to be repesented as Screen Goddesses in a calendar, I think is just wrong. While the calendar meant well, and only had the best interest of IT girls at heart, I think the calendar just did not represent IT girls as they should be represented.
We need to be recognised as who we are.
In the same way as geek boys, us geek girls are “cool” too, if not more so.
dek replied:
How would you like IT girls to be represented?
re geeksmakemehot: Aren’t we heavily dealing with stereotypes here? Apart from the fact that they have a wealth of knowledge about computers, what sets them apart from the rest of the male human species?
Tlonista’s article was confusing I thought. And brings me right back to my original question… :s
December 7, 2006 at 2:28 pm. Permalink.
Tlönista replied:
Yeah, I find it hard to follow as well, though I’m sure it made sense at the time.
As I’m sure you’re aware, photos of conventionally attractive women in conventional poses can be found in many places in the tubes of the Intarweb. The Screen Goddesses calendar is so tame, and more importantly, it doesn’t stand out.
I’d like to see IT girls represented as cool and attractive specifically because they’re geeky, not because they fit the beauty standard. It’d be nice to see women portrayed as showing off brains and technical expertise — sexy because they’re powerful.
Or just posing with dorky glasses and strategically placed computer paraphernalia, whatever. Rome’s regressive gender roles weren’t deconstructed in a day.
December 9, 2006 at 4:24 am. Permalink.
Sonja Bernhardt replied:
While the calendar purpose is to promote IT study and careers for girls and women, has it sabotaged its own aims by merely pandering to and encouraging a view that women are just sex objects, not talented people who should be judged on their achievements and judged for who they are?
Categorically I, Sonja Bernhardt the screen goddess innovator say no it has not.
Every women in the calendar is an intelligent thinking person who is accomplished and made their own decision to participate based on their confidence and comfort levels combined with passion and pride for supporting ICT careers.
Remember the bottom line of this initiative is to raise much needed funds to run more intervention projects and programs to have a sustained impact on attracting retaining and promoting women into technology careers.
Movies and media are constantly focussing on actresses and models who are attractive and scantily dressed, and magazines for teenage girls devote pages to makeup and attracting boys. The “beautiful people” are, like it or not, seen as role models and women to admire. And it is not the media setting public taste – it is the interests of the public driving the media. And if that is what people want, is it better that the role models they see are limited to actresses and models – or should they see that a career in technology does not mean being a frumpy geek who can’t get a boyfriend, but can be interesting, challenging, exciting and glamorous?
Is there anything wrong with admiring beauty? It is people’s minds that drive achievement, but we are not disembodied brains, we are integrated beings of mind and body. It is part of human nature to admire beauty in other people, it is human nature to be sexual beings, it is human nature to enjoy sensuality, it is human nature to seek and esteem the best people can be in all things. And we do not despise human nature, we celebrate it.
We heavily went for a diversity theme to show that geeks of all shapes, sizes and races exist but the one thing the same is their LOVE of technology and what they do. Ethnicity includes african, asian, sri lankan, european, finnish, and white Australian. Ages range from early 20’s through to 60’s. Roles range from database administration, programming, networking though to project management, sales, educators and to executive management and entrepreneurs. Diversity of movies selected include, Hollywood, Bollywood and Disney movies.
Your support in purchasing the calendar appreciated – if you buy and in the comment field say – “Sonja’s blog comment” you will recevie a xmas special edition in addition at no extra charge:-)
December 15, 2006 at 4:54 am. Permalink.