Akward Situation...

VestanPance

FBaby wrote: »

I certainly never implied that anyone should be forced to study subjects that don't make then happy but why is there such a different ratio of girls to boys interested in such fields of IT or science? But surely if mothers have issues with the whole discimination of roles, shouldn't they encourage their daughters to take on such subjects if they enjoy them? Or are we saying that males are born with a disposition to enjoying these subjects more than females?

IT has an image problem that I think puts off young women from going down that route. The geek image isn't something a lot of them want particularly when they are that awkard yeenage phase.

It's a shame really as from what I've read girls are out performing boys in science and maths exams these days and those are the types of subjects that show great apptitude for many IT disciplines.

FBaby

But the example was used to explain why the idea that women are somehow to blame for not chosing industries with a higher salary expectation, is false.

It's not a question of blame or punishment, it's just the way it is. Of course if you hate these subjects, you shouldn't take them, and that doesn't mean that your chance of good career is over, but a number of my DD's friends seemed to enjoy their IT lessons and did well in them, yet didn't choose it as a gcse subject which surprised me.

FBaby

IT has an image problem that I think puts off young women from going down that route. The geek image isn't something a lot of them want particularly when they are that awkard yeenage phase

That's interesting. I never saw it that way, but it makes sense. Who is at fault then for this stereotype? Surely parents have the main responsibility for teaching their children that this is just a misconception, especially if you happen to be a mother who have views like quidsy's!

I'm still confused why a woman who strongly believed in the sharing of housework (and equality of women's rights etc...) would choose to marry someone who had different views on the matter!

onomatopoeia99

BunnieJ wrote: »

(I'll wait for more stories of men doing the chores to disprove me)

You won't get them from me! I live alone, the chores get done when my mess tolerance threshold is exceeded.

It appears that I have a very high mess tolerance threshold. I don't know why, my parents' home is always spotless so it's not like I came from an untidy background. I really have to make myself look to determine if the floors need vacuuming, for example, and as for dusting, that's simply incomprehensible. How does anyone ever notice if a shelf is dusty?

Mojisola

FBaby wrote: »

I'm still confused why a woman who strongly believed in the sharing of housework (and equality of women's rights etc...) would choose to marry someone who had different views on the matter!

Me too!..........

VestanPance

FBaby wrote: »

That's interesting. I never saw it that way, but it makes sense. Who is at fault then for this stereotype? Surely parents have the main responsibility for teaching their children that this is just a misconception, especially if you happen to be a mother who have views like quidsy's!

I work in this sector and to be honest some of the stetotypes are true. You will find a percentage of grown men with that are geeky and often introverts.

Now not everyone is like that and certianly in greater influx of young women selecting this as a career path would help. The sterotype has some truth to it, but while every film/tv show tends to link IT types as the ugly geek with no social skills but is an elite hacker that can break into anything in 5 seconds I think you're fighting a losing battle to get girls interested.

Although I think you'd find a sizeable amount of boys selecting computing at school or university do so thinking they'll become games programmers/designers. Very few will and in truth it's a very volatile industry with little job security that tends to be badly paid. Most lads aren't selecting IT courses thinking they'll be a Database Admin at a large bank!

FBaby

DD at the moment isn't interested in a career in computer science but has her heart set on the medical field. She however knows that computer science has a significant role within medicine. She really enjoyed the lessons and did very well so it made sense to pick it as an option.

Her teacher does look a bit like a geek now you mentioned it

PenguinJim

quidsy wrote: »

I haven't denied anything, just pointed out that yes, some men are doing more but there is still an inbalance & the issues around why, that need to be addressed.

So you accept that if you know three married (two-gender) couples, the chances are in one of them the man is doing the same or more housework than the woman?

And if you know six married (two-gender) couples, the chances are in one of them the man is a house-husband?

The old "Mad Men" (as another poster tastefully put it earlier) discrimination simply isn't the paradigm in the UK any more.

quidsy wrote: »

And you know this how? But irregardless, the point I think Fbaby was attempting to make was the career choice should be a factor on whether or not women earn enough to be on par with men.

That is wrong, it isn't about earning more than men in high paid industries, it is about being treated equally & fairly irregardless of the industry chosen.

You know a lot of people just had to take two shots because of your post, right? :beer: :beer:

quidsy

FBaby wrote: »

That's interesting. I never saw it that way, but it makes sense. Who is at fault then for this stereotype? Surely parents have the main responsibility for teaching their children that this is just a misconception, especially if you happen to be a mother who have views like quidsy's!

I have yet to comment on my childrearing so wonder why you would assume I somehow allow gender misconceptions in my home? strange assumption. I have a son, he cooks, he helps clean, he enjoys computors, action figures & movies, his current favorite is tangled. I wont let him watch drivel like frozen as the characters are too one dimensional, princesses getting saved by princes & as in frozen, the odd, "damaged" sister ending up alone at the end, smiling at her prettier, cuter, more compliant sibling getting the man. urgh


I'm still confused why a woman who strongly believed in the sharing of housework (and equality of women's rights etc...) would choose to marry someone who had different views on the matter!

I assume this is aimed at me. I have repeatedly noted that my husband does his fair share & more on occasion. Yet I am still able to understand the issues surrounding inequality & acknoledge that there is work still to be done.

Georgiegirl256: In case you hadn't realised, I AM a woman. Whilst I realise the balance regarding household chores still swings in favour of the man, I'm also more willing to accept that the variant is not that great anymore, and men do muck in and do their fair share....something you seem unable to acknowledge. Have you actually read any of the examples listed by numerous posters on here?

Not at all, there goes the reading comprehension again. I have & continue to state that yes, many men are changing the stereotype but am also pointing out that the issue is still an issue. Failing to talk about it openly & acknoledge the fact, people like you are doing women in general a disservice.

I know respect has got to be earned, but I feel you are doing a disservice to not only your own man, but men in general by not giving them the credit they deserve.

Why do they need credit for doing what women do without credit? See the problem, you are giving them special attention for just doing what they should.

And my man has my respect & his ability to weild a hoover has nothing to do with it. He is more than the sum of his ability to clean a bog but I am still able to admit that he has some way to go in his ideas about gender roles. it doesn't discredit his other more important aspects but it is one aspect of a whole person.

quidsy

You know a lot of people just had to take two shots because of your post, right?

if it makes you feel you have some horse in this race then go right ahead