8 karma · joined October 5, 2010
My issue growing up and being a huge science/math/history geek wasn't that I didn't have access to these things as a girl, but that the clubs and groups didn't seem that open to girls and the boys in them certainly weren't.
I organize tech groups and barcamps in Milwaukee and, being the only female organizer, I'm frequently asked what I do to promote more activity and involvement from women. It's interesting to me because the community puts it on the minority to make the minority comfortable when it's the exact opposite that needs to happen. Women/girls aren't attending events or clubs because they aren't populated with other women, but because they feel they are singled out for being women instead of being science geeks like everyone else there.
It really helped me to find people that were passionate about the same things I was. I found user groups and not only went to them, became an active member and organizer. People come to me to talk more often than I go to them to talk now. It's great and feeling useful helps carry me through everything else in my life that seems difficult and overwhelming.
This whole argument goes back to the beginning of the feminist movement and people not being willing to hire women because they should be making some man sandwiches and popping out babies.
The trend is leaning towards more women having fewer children, if they are having them at all (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8...).
I use the latest beta of Chrome.
Moving: I find I do a lot of research online first. I look at the areas of the city that tend to be younger and vegan friendly. I try to find tech meetups/groups as a way to meet new people, get friends, and make business contacts. I explore a lot. Try new restaurants and businesses regularly, go out of my way to meet new people.