Calling London dads! Free "learn to build a rocket" workshop inc food/drink

TopQuark

I can't believe this is a Dad's only event, or indeed that there are mum's only events; no doubt something to do with cooking or other domestic chores that are seen as women's work.

I love science and innovation; I have a PhD in chemistry so know a thing or two about rockets and I work for the biggest science experiment in the world. Yet I cannot join this because I'm female? I spend such efforts on encouraging young women into science and yet we have krap like this still promoting the idea that only men and dads can be any good at it. Suppose I ought to give up the day job and get behind the kitchen sink, eh?

I despair, I really do

With a bit of luck, the next new director general of my lab will be female and that will help to dispel these myths. We'll find out before Christmas!

[Deleted User]

The entire idea is that in *most* (not all, ok) households the dad is the one who ends up having to go on work trips, work overtime and have little time with his kids. Apparently, there has been a watering down/loss of some skills in fathers.

This is not about encouraging children into science - this is about helping dads be better dads. Are men not allowed to anything on their own anymore?

I'd almost say that these skills are on the decline because of society's desire to declare all masculine activities as a negative thing.

(The first rule of Rocket Workshop is that YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT ROCKET WORKSHOP!)

TopQuark

Masculine activities like what? Rocket building? Why is that a masculine activity? It's not... it's just that society says so. Why must we have gender-based activities like science stuff for men and (for e.g.) cooking stuff for women? Its all bollox. Dads can be better Dads and Mums better Mums without needing to resort to outdated ideas about the roles of men and women in society.

j.e.j.

TopQuark have you actually clicked on the link? It's about encouraging dads to spend time with their children. The activity is not the point, it's the dads wanting to and getting to spend time with their kids, which surely can only be a good thing.

The only reason you cannot go is because you're not a dad.

Imp

ringo_24601 wrote: »

(The first rule of Rocket Workshop is that YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT ROCKET WORKSHOP!)

I don't care, I want a full debrief.

Imp

TopQuark wrote: »

I can't believe this is a Dad's only event, or indeed that there are mum's only events; no doubt something to do with cooking or other domestic chores that are seen as women's work.

I love science and innovation; I have a PhD in chemistry so know a thing or two about rockets and I work for the biggest science experiment in the world. Yet I cannot join this because I'm female? I spend such efforts on encouraging young women into science and yet we have krap like this still promoting the idea that only men and dads can be any good at it. Suppose I ought to give up the day job and get behind the kitchen sink, eh?

I despair, I really do

With a bit of luck, the next new director general of my lab will be female and that will help to dispel these myths. We'll find out before Christmas!

TopQuark, if you want to build rockets, then there are many clubs around the country you can join. http://www.ukra.org.uk/clubs

I am genuinely interested in how you get on.

Savingdad

To all those moaning that its male only please apply to the famous race for life as a man, last time I tried I was refused as its women only and I could do the bobby Moore race instead.
Please let us dads have some time with our kids that is just for fun.

Savingdad

TopQuark wrote: »

I can't believe this is a Dad's only event, or indeed that there are mum's only events; no doubt something to do with cooking or other domestic chores that are seen as women's work.

I love science and innovation; I have a PhD in chemistry so know a thing or two about rockets and I work for the biggest science experiment in the world. Yet I cannot join this because I'm female? I spend such efforts on encouraging young women into science and yet we have krap like this still promoting the idea that only men and dads can be any good at it. Suppose I ought to give up the day job and get behind the kitchen sink, eh?

I despair, I really do

With a bit of luck, the next new director general of my lab will be female and that will help to dispel these myths. We'll find out before Christmas!

Today when we dropped our son to nursery they asked my wife if she would go in and do some baking with the kids, the strange thing is I am in the process of applying to be the nursery kitchen manager having been a chef for 20 years, stereotyping still works both ways.

[Deleted User]

Imp wrote: »

TopQuark, if you want to build rockets, then there are many clubs around the country you can join. http://www.ukra.org.uk/clubs

I am genuinely interested in how you get on.

I'm hoping that it's not going to be just baking soda and vinegar in 2L bottles.. I'll take my camera

At some point men should be left alone to be men. Let us have that time

picklekin

savingdad wrote: »

To all those moaning that its male only please apply to the famous race for life as a man, last time I tried I was refused as its women only and I could do the bobby Moore race instead.
Please let us dads have some time with our kids that is just for fun.

This is probably one of the few charities allowed to exclude by law then, unless THIS event is a charity, which I think it isn't then women CAN go if they choose.

I think its wrong to exclude by sex, if this event is aimed at secondary carers then that's fine, but I think events like this just encourage the background level casual sexism we are told we have to learn to live with. I used to get mad every time I saw the Iceland advert so it does go both ways.

Why do men need time to "be men"? Do you talk about your penises? Or do you talk about science, football and having a beer etc, all activities other women could happily join in on!

*climbs off soapbox*