Cheiron

Well, it seems to me that routinely in media of all sorts, smart intelligent women who go into "geeky" sectors of work, ie computers, math, engineering, etc. Are routinely portrayed as being unattractive, or having some sort of personality disorder.

Now, I'm simply curious as to the female populations opinion of how women view other women in these professions.



On a side note, the Smart Intelligent label to me implies smart as capable of common sense, and intelligent as being able to use learnt information well.

Born Free

I think they're cool honestly, all power to them if they have the brainpower. An old boyfriend's sister was not only stunningly beautiful she had amazing intelligence and was an engineer of some type or other. She was so talented and I saw her as a great role model for other females. She had her own house long before she was 25 and I mean a beauty of a house too, she was soooo independent.

Monkeybot

I don't think I perceive them too differently from the way I perceive men in the same field.

Maybe I'm just desensitized because my father's worked as a computer programmer for years, and he's always had a fair number of female coworkers... some were normal, some had their quirks, etc. Just like his male coworkers, really.

To be fair, I don't think men who work in math, computers or engineering get particularly glowing portrayals in the media either, except perhaps for successful entrepreneurs. So it doesn't surprise me that women in the field get a similar rap. Although I do think it's true that women who are openly intelligent definitely risk being labeled a "bitch," or being passed over by certain insecure men as "too intimidating."

Anyway, my sister's pretty heavily into video games (I don't know exactly what qualifies one as a 'gamer,' but I suspect she could qualify as one!) and her dream job is to work for something like Playstation magazine. She's awesome, although I might be guilty of a bit of bias!

Lastly, I'm a bit of a nerd myself, so I'm hardly one to criticize other women for being the same way!

Evangelion

I wear glasses.

*runs and hides*

RevDahlia

I'm gonna be cynical and guess that the "geeky", unattractive label exists because a lot of people are intimidated by intelligent women. If a female is smart, she must also be unattractive, because smart AND attractive is too threatening.

I have an old friend, a former model, now a neurosurgeon/neurobiologist and, at only 32, going for a third doctorate in neurology. She is ravishing and brilliant, and takes incredible amounts of shit from both threatened men and competitive women.

Me, I love geeks with all my heart, and hot geeks are beyond awesome. Anyone who defies stereotype and does it with a smile has all my respect.

Claudia

To go in science and engineering field of work is "the norm" in my family, boys or girls alike!

Shake

Well, my photo is on this thread, or you can find it at the Rogues Gallery. I went to a predominantly engineering school (RPI), got myself a BS in Mathematics, and I can tell you that the women there ran the range from the stereotype that you've mentioned, to the absolutely, drop-dead gorgeous! The latter ones, if they weren't already attached, typically acquired boyfriends in approximately 723ms after arriving. I was lucky enough to be friends with several of the more attractive women there. A fellow math student was a beautiful blonde, a friend's roommate was an amazing brunette engineering student, and I could go on.

The media also seems to think that if you put Sandra Bullock in glasses and a labcoat with her hair pulled back, that we can't tell that she's still really hot! (easy movie reference, for fans of Sandy) Another reason that it's not so implausible that Denise Richards was supposed to be some sort of physicist in that Bond flick (except for her looking a bit young).

godfry n. glad

Yeah....?

Well, I consider glasses (spectacles, that is) to be the equivalent of lingerie for the face.

C'mon out and flounce the latest from Victoria's Spectacles...

godfry

godfry n. glad

I _resemble_ that remark.

godfry

Ab_Normal

Same here!

I am the nerd chick with the glasses and the hair pulled back and the personality disorders and the *glavin*. Though Mr. Ab seems to think that I'm acceptable.