gender ambivalence
the author considers her own gender in relation to recent volunteering, and to her blazing speed with a keyboard.
So I’ve gotten involved with this new (not-yet-)nonprofit, “Free Geek”:http://fgoly.org — and it’s cool. I’ve been interested in the Free Geek since WebVision ‘03, and it was a nice bit of luck to run into this one starting up.
Here’s the thing, though: I’ve mostly just been going to the organizational meetings, since most of the recycling work happens during the week. And I’ve been bringing the laptop, and I type absurdly fast…so I end up taking notes.
Which when I’m either the only woman, or one of two women, in the room, makes me a little uncomfortable. Not that I mind taking notes: I’m proud of my ability to take notes, at least when I’m typing. (Don’t ask me to take notes longhand.) But I feel like I’m falling into some sort of gender role that I don’t necessarily want to reinforce.
So I’m trying to make up for it in 2 ways:
# still being active in the meeting. this can be tricky, as it’s hard to talk and type about what you’re saying simultaneously. so far, though, I think I’m doing all right.
# soon, getting into the more meaty technical stuff. not software, and *not* web design, but stuff like hardware testing.
Maybe I’m making too much of it, or overcompensating. ::shrug:: It gives me something to chew on, mentally, I suppose.
