Hmm, not enough background in the title to convince you there? I better justify myself a little.
It’s true that a number (probably a high proportion?) of girls, simply do not like playing with toys and gadgets, not many venture into engineering type careers (though that does appear to be changing). Personally, I find it incredibly difficult to imagine, being a nerdo geek myself, why anyone would not want to play with stuff, but then again I find it equally as hard to imagine why anyone would enjoy a more touchy feely type career, more traditionally represented by women, (I know I know I’m hit with a broad generalisation disease).
However, fact is that the majority of sound engineers (one of my themes) are in fact blokes. If you look at that Wikipedia link I entry I posted above you’ll see that “Studio Engineers of note” are listed, and out of around 55 there is 1 women listed, I make that (back of fag packet calculation) to be 2% – great representation eh?
This is a crude sample of data, indeed, yet if we spent time and energy into more thorough research I’m pretty sure that picture wouldn’t change much. I’ve worked as a sound engineer, and I’ve taught the subject in Universities and also in my own Audio School, and it’s always the same picture, 1 in 10 of a group are of my preferred gender preference.
So do tell me, if you claim to be a geek (or aspire to be one), why don’t you want to make records, huh? Bad career for women who desire families and babies, bad social life, what is it?
Oh and regarding the title, come to MediaCampLondon on July 5 and show some girls how cool it is to be a geek, It’s taking place at an audio college!
What all or many don’t seem to realise is that behind every production (I talk specifically about theatre here) with their male sound engineers, lighting techs and crews is the all powerful Stagemanager. Yes Stagemanagers are predominantly female. The silent geeks! and we have to have the knowledge / understanding to operate it all. Well we cue it anyway. A prompt desk is the ultimate control freek geek gadget! No one moves unless you flick a switch or give the command – GO! Sadly the art of stagemanagement is that the better you are the more invisible you become! Jedi geeks infused with stealth assassin skills.
Do I count as a geek? I’m certainly no girl!