Hello folks, we’re back again this week with guest Jena Young and a whole new plate of awesomeness. Also, we’re back up on iTunes again, this time as “Apropos of Nothing Podcast!” so you’ll have to resubscribe, sorry.
Anyway, this week fortifies by enchiladas and Colorado Bulldogs we cover 4th wave feminism, getting mail the old-fashioned way, a fun new time wasting website, insomnia and studying. It’s been a week, that much is sure.
On the feminism topic. There’s been talk on some of the skeptics’ blogs and podcasts about the smaller number of women in science careers. Women should feel comfortable to pursue whatever field they want, but being skeptical, how much of a “problem” is it? If there is active discrimination that’s certainly wrong, but if they are just following a cultural trend is it that bad?
How has the cultural trend come about? “Just following a cultural trend” is sheep/cattle like, which has its own grossness attached to it, but not inherently sexist. However, if the trend is born out of and continues to promote sexist ideals then there might be some ingrained sexism that needs to be addressed.
A trend or cultural expectation can be harder to overcome than one individual being a sexist jerk. But I don’t think shoving women through scientific doors who would rather be bakers, or downplaying the role of female homemakers is the right answer either.
I think it really comes down to individual women being strong enough to go against expectation when the trend is against her desires. Which sucks, and isn’t fair. It’s HARD. but if you do it, it makes the way easier for others.
How has the cultural trend come about? “Just following a cultural trend” is sheep/cattle like, which has its own grossness attached to it, but not inherently sexist. However, if the trend is born out of and continues to promote sexist ideals then there might be some ingrained sexism that needs to be addressed.
A trend or cultural expectation can be harder to overcome than one individual being a sexist jerk. But I don’t think shoving women through scientific doors who would rather be bakers, or downplaying the role of female homemakers is the right answer either.
I think it really comes down to individual women being strong enough to go against expectation when the trend is against her desires. Which sucks, and isn’t fair. It’s HARD. but if you do it, it makes the way easier for others.
It’s a little like Matt’s comment that we should eventually be beyond caring about such things. (colorblind/genderblind) I agree with the things I have read, women should be comfortable going into any field, and we’re getting there if slowly, hell it’s only in the last 40-50 years that women have really made inroads into the full time workplace out side of things like teachers, librarians and secretaries.
I agree that downplaying the role of female homemakers isn’t the right either, if a couple decides their division of labor is for her to stay home, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. Heck women have functional breasts, until men can provide milk women will always tend to be the child caregivers…
I think my bottom line is we need to be sure women are comfortable with entering hard science careers if they have the desire, but some of the comments I think I’ve heard almost seem to be a something akin to affirmative action, and I’m not as comfortable with that.