Being a woman in geek culture

[Recidiva]

I'm not sure where I heard/read it, but it's my recollection that until the Amy Farrah Fowler character (Mayim Hoya Bialik) came into the cast, Penny (Kaley Cuoco) was the biggest real-life geek in the cast. According to Wikipedia, "She earned degrees in neuroscience, Hebrew and Jewish studies, and went on to the PhD program in neuroscience. She took a break from studies in 2005 to return to acting. Bialik completed her PhD in 2007. Her dissertation was an investigation of hypothalamic activity in patients with Prader–Willi syndrome."

It's a great show and made better by Mayim's character.

I have to admit I often catch them doing the geek things wrong. "That is not how you play Talisman, the board's set up improperly!"

But I'm thrilled when they get it right.

 

[midwestyankee]

It's a great show and made better by Mayim's character.

I have to admit I often catch them doing the geek things wrong. "That is not how you play Talisman, the board's set up improperly!"

But I'm thrilled when they get it right.

I fully enjoy the show and often find subtle moments of greatness even in the fourth or fifth viewing of an episode. I think that many folks who complain that the show "makes fun of us geeks" are missing the point. Geekiness is the standard world-view in The Big Bang Land and most of the humor actually stems from the personal sides of the characters and not from inherently geeky traits. That Howard was a wannabe pickup artist had next to nothing to do with his geekiness and everything to do with being a frustrated guy with a somewhat elevated interest in sex. He just played that role more inadequately than most guys. Most of the humor involving Raj's selective mutism around women is not, in itself, a product of being a geek. Same goes for all the gags and bits related to Leonard's early ill-fated attempts to woo Penny. The mistakes he made were universal to young men with modest levels of self-confidence. And that's true of virtually all of the personaltiy foibles that trigger much of the humor: their weaknesses are common among lots of young men who aren't geeks.

Here's where I think the show succeeds in its humor: all of them, including Sheldon, are fully aware of their weak points and often make themselves the butt of their own gags. We laugh when Sheldon praises himself for recognizing bits of sarcasm or other acts of empathy. We're laughing with him not at him because he's as amused by it as we are.

 

[Recidiva]

I fully enjoy the show and often find subtle moments of greatness even in the fourth or fifth viewing of an episode. I think that many folks who complain that the show "makes fun of us geeks" are missing the point. Geekiness is the standard world-view in The Big Bang Land and most of the humor actually stems from the personal sides of the characters and not from inherently geeky traits. That Howard was a wannabe pickup artist had next to nothing to do with his geekiness and everything to do with being a frustrated guy with a somewhat elevated interest in sex. He just played that role more inadequately than most guys. Most of the humor involving Raj's selective mutism around women is not, in itself, a product of being a geek. Same goes for all the gags and bits related to Leonard's early ill-fated attempts to woo Penny. The mistakes he made were universal to young men with modest levels of self-confidence. And that's true of virtually all of the personaltiy foibles that trigger much of the humor: their weaknesses are common among lots of young men who aren't geeks.

Here's where I think the show succeeds in its humor: all of them, including Sheldon, are fully aware of their weak points and often make themselves the butt of their own gags. We laugh when Sheldon praises himself for recognizing bits of sarcasm or other acts of empathy. We're laughing with him not at him because he's as amused by it as we are.

It does make fun of geeks, but geeks do that. It's a highly competitive cultural and wit-based world. The banter and the insults are part of the actual geek experience. Yeah, it's got a lot of stereotypes, but it also has a lot of stereotype-breaking moments. I love the inspirational speech Raj gives to the nerds on Valentines day, and then when a girl likes him, he leaves, calling them losers.

I'm the kinda person that gets bummed when the interrupt Sheldon from saying something interesting.

Bazinga!

 

[midwestyankee]

It does make fun of geeks, but geeks do that. It's a highly competitive cultural and wit-based world. The banter and the insults are part of the actual geek experience. Yeah, it's got a lot of stereotypes, but it also has a lot of stereotype-breaking moments. I love the inspirational speech Raj gives to the nerds on Valentines day, and then when a girl likes him, he leaves, calling them losers.

I'm the kinda person that gets bummed when the interrupt Sheldon from saying something interesting.

Bazinga!

Yes, agreed. Humor works far better when you make yourself the butt of the joke than when you demean others. We all through of Cary Grant as suave but most of the humor in his comedies came at his own expense, as when he would trip and tear his pants while wearing a tuxedo or when he was being baffled by his co-star (remember Katherine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby?) Since much of the geeik-based humor comes from within, it works.

 

[Recidiva]

Yes, agreed. Humor works far better when you make yourself the butt of the joke than when you demean others. We all through of Cary Grant as suave but most of the humor in his comedies came at his own expense, as when he would trip and tear his pants while wearing a tuxedo or when he was being baffled by his co-star (remember Katherine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby?) Since much of the geeik-based humor comes from within, it works.

Exactly. I used to get defensive when people would talk about geeks being socially awkward or all male or whatever...I know it's not true.

However, there's a rich world of stereotypical mining of material and defining and breaking of definitions out there in the world. The writers would be fools to ignore it, and they're not fools.

I take it as you do, tongue in cheek self-deprecating material. The reality that within this culture, there are different standards than in the wide world. Plus, my son has Asperger's, so Sheldon is my baby.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

YK and I almost fell out of our seats when we realized that Leslie Winkle (Sara Gilbert) was a long-time featured character (Darlene) on "Roseanne."

 

[Recidiva]

YK and I almost fell out of our seats when we realized that Leslie Winkle (Sara Gilbert) was a long-time featured character (Darlene) on "Roseanne."

Oh yeah! She's awesome.

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

YK and I almost fell out of our seats when we realized that Leslie Winkle (Sara Gilbert) was a long-time featured character (Darlene) on "Roseanne."

Sheldon's mom (Roseanne's sister) and Leonard (Darlene's boyfriend) were also major characters on Roseanne too.

 

[Keroin]

3am. I am just going to bed. I am GEEKING OUT!

 

[Recidiva]

3am. I am just going to bed. I am GEEKING OUT!

Wanna hear about it!

Also, I'm enjoying "Wool", thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Keroin]

Wanna hear about it!

Also, I'm enjoying "Wool", thanks for the recommendation!

Ditto on "City of Bones"!

I will have deets next week. When the hangover goes away.

 

[Recidiva]

Ditto on "City of Bones"!

I will have deets next week. When the hangover goes away.

Oh good! I'm glad you're enjoying yourself and I look forward to debriefing in less frantic/fun times

 

[Noor]

I am doing a con this weekend and sat in on a con etiquette panel where they were discussing/demoing dancing and what constitutes sexual assault.

It was quite interesting, people put up with a lot of behavior that I wouldn't tolerate, and when they don't they either try to not communicate by just backing away or being nice and polite.
I was pretty shocked, I don't think you need to be rude but I prefer no, back off, don't touch me works pretty well.
I was also surprised that they said if you were assaulted you should go to ops and bring a witness, preferably not a friend so it would be ore than she said he said. I think trying to break their hands a better solution
I have been at cons where someone was kicked out for being in the elevator too many times with one person, there were 1200 people and 2 working elevators and events on the lower floors and top floors, so needing to prove with an independent witness that you were assaulted seems a bit much.

 

[Keroin]

So far, everyone here has been really respectful. No creepers. Good balance of men/women. Even when the liquor's been flowing folks have behaved appropriately. I know all cons have a different vibe. Based on what I've seen here, I'd definitely attend more Worldcons.

 

[SimplyJosie]

So just in case anyone has missed the recent goings-on on the interbone about women in geek culture, I'm going to link a few articles/pages that will brush y'all up on what's happening lately.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/07/26/who-gets-to-be-a-geek-anyone-who-wants-to-be/

http://www.examiner.com/article/tim...-facts-women-are-and-have-long-been-geeks-too

http://www.dailyillini.com/opinion/columns/article_90391094-4347-11e2-8805-001a4bcf6878.html

http://www.doctornerdlove.com/2011/11/nerds-and-male-privilege/

As a woman who was introduced to geek culture while still wearing diapers, I feel frustrated that my "geek cred" has been questioned simply due to my gender. I feel frustrated that I cannot identify with many female characters due to their one-dimensional and heavily sexualized portrayals. I feel frustrated that when I speak about this, my concerns are outright dismissed as "hysterical", "irrational", or being told that the way women are portrayed in mainstream geek culture is "just part of the way it is and it's not going to change because mostly men are geeks".

What are your thoughts about this?

Have you experienced sexism in geek culture due to your gender?

How do YOU deal with it?

I am having difficulty taking you seriously with your cosmetics post underneath. No offense. But it just doesn't correlate.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I am having difficulty taking you seriously with your cosmetics post underneath. No offense. But it just doesn't correlate.

Are you *seriously* trying to suggest that a woman who wants to help other women enhance their appearance is not credible when she complains about being minimized as a person by some people?

 

[Recidiva]

Are you *seriously* trying to suggest that a woman who wants to help other women enhance their appearance is not credible when she complains about being minimized as a person by some people?

I didn't really understand the post to begin with.

If you could sort it out I'd appreciate it.

All I got was "why would I trust the words of someone who used makeup"

By the way, I do use makeup and I do find that I can talk and type and wear eye shadow at the same time.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I didn't really understand the post to begin with.

If you could sort it out I'd appreciate it.

All I got was "why would I trust the words of someone who used makeup"

By the way, I do use makeup and I do find that I can talk and type and wear eye shadow at the same time.

I think not. Lemme wipe off this mascara and I'll piggyback you.

 

[BrightlyGo]

I am having difficulty taking you seriously with your cosmetics post underneath. No offense. But it just doesn't correlate.

i know geeks who wear make-up.

 

[Recidiva]

I think not. Lemme wipe off this mascara and I'll piggyback you.

Whoah, mascara? You can wear mascara? That takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and fine motor control.

 

[Recidiva]

i know geeks who wear make-up.

Some of them are girls.

 

[BrightlyGo]

Some of them are girls.

3 out of 4, in this case. (and, no i'm not the fourth - I gave up on that look in my 20's...)

 

[Recidiva]

3 out of 4, in this case. (and, no i'm not the fourth - I gave up on that look in my 20's...)

I will sometimes wear no makeup and sometimes wear more.

I just watched a few seasons of "Drag U" by Ru Paul and occasionally I'm inspired to wear some makeup in solidarity with the dudes that do it and have to tape bits back to do what I can do every day without getting beat up.

Makes me appreciate it.

 

[KoPilot]

Some of them are girls.

And one of them is None of the Above!

 

[Recidiva]

And one of them is None of the Above!

Oh, at least one Some of them are all of the above!