ambition and me

[mrsbrown]

I read this article - http://www.afrboss.com.au/magarticle.asp?doc_id=23483&rgid=2&listed_months=0 at lunchtime today.

I have heard it before, women are retiring, define themselves in terms of what they give to other people etc.

But I haven't thought about them a lot lately. Maybe I just need to be reminded regularly - I might be happier.

I particularly identified with the comment that women don't get recognition and that leads them to thinking they are not as capable as men. I'm often surprised, when I get the opportunity, to find that I'm just as capable/fast as the men I work with.

I think what I'd really like would be to work in an all female engineering company. Somewhere I can work in a way I feel comfortable with, but doing the keen stuff I get to do. I hate feeling like a wierdo all the time.

Comments

[damned-colonial.livejournal.com]

Gah. This article makes me want to become a separatist.

When I was a kid I wanted to be an astronaut. How about we run away to Mars and start a women-only colony?

[monstah.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, I hardly ever read stuff like this but am now beginning to think that I should have. Its only been a recent revelation that I am, in fact a woman in a work place, and thankfully, now it doesn't seem to matter as much. I am a sessional lecturer. I used to be a chef and thats where all the inequality was rampant. I just failed to realize it and moved on instead, thus throwing my entire life into chaos. I am now living the life of a 25 year old and am about to turn 36, which in most instances is just plain ace ...ecxept for the having a family bit. I have to face the same decisions about my career as a woman 10 years younger but without the extra 10 years of breeding time!!! Could this all have stemmed from in equality I failed to deal with years ago? Also I'm a bit confused about the definitions of 'success' something I always struggle with! I hate how we are programmed to require a predetermined idea of what is achievement. Probably why I'm the least competitive person I know. For me, it's all about survival.

[tooticky.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the article- it's a good reminder. When I was twenty, I studied this sort of thing and felt righteously angry but also as though it didn't really apply to me. Now I look at myself at 32 and think "oh yes it fucking does". Who do I want to be? Who will I let myself be? Biggest argument I can see for not having children is how they're yet another group of people to put first before yourself- how the hell do mothers get anything done? Actually, that's a good question- does anyone reading Mrsbrown's post know any mothers who also work? and what do they do? The only ones I know at the moment are new to it all and mostly either in baby heaven or starting to thinka bout tupperware.

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

lessee...
Bro's girlfriend works part time. Much of that in his business doing the account, which is certainly not her vocation, does some work in her chosen profession.

The kids are a couple of years younger than mrsbrown's.

Another family we know: she was an ebay wiz for a while, now she's cleaning up furniture and selling it as well. So she does stuff she can do at home and plan around other her other activities.

My Mum studied when we were kids. From high school through to MA, and started in the paid workforce when I was in Grade 6. Compared to what I hear and see around me these days, I grew up in a very egalitarian household, helped somewhat by the fact that Dad could take us to work with him if we were sick or whatever...he had a very family friendly workplace.

[sjkasabi.livejournal.com]

I think what I'd really like would be to work in an all female engineering company.

Huzzah!

That sounds like quite an achievable five year plan for your career to me.

Bet there's other women engineers out there who feel like that too.

Now you've got something to work towards!

[monstah.livejournal.com]

Ooooh now there’s an idea, if you need an illustrator or designer or someone to cook your morning t muffins.... let me know. This could be the beginning of some crazy communal living experiment with architecturally designed houses and correct typography (and muffins).

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

They can work on the proposal...