BlogHer - Business & Career - Comments

I've been a tech guru, a

Jan Kabili — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:18:59 -0500

I've been a tech guru, a lawyer, and a journalist, and unfortunately I've seen barriers to success for women in all those fields. But for me the answer has always been to just do it. Be excellent, be seen, and do what you love. And try to work for a business in which women already play lead roles.

Jan Kabili
Photoshop Author and Trainer
http://www.lynda.com

Society's attitudes

JaneMyLife — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:34:34 -0500

When I was at school, (yes, I know it is a long time ago now!), I was the only girl in the class taking Electronics and Computing. Initially there was a second pupil but she quit after a couple of weeks.

The reason? Her parents believed it was not a suitable subject for a girl! She changed to do a social science I think and later became a civil servant.

I didn't mind being the only girl and, although I believe I suffered (and still do) from the confidence issue girls have with technology, I still enjoyed the subject.

Young girls now may be a bit more tech savvy in terms of knowing how to use their mobile phone, facebook etc. but they are just using social tools designed to make the technology easier. How many would actually understand, or care, how they worked?

I believe education is key but it needs to utilise the areas girls are interested in to promote the technology aspects. Also there needs to be greater encouragement from parents both to bolster girls confidence, but also to not fall into the traditional trap of believing its a man's world. Difficult I know when there are lots of parents out there who don't know anything about computers and would only ever use a mobile phone for calls!

Jane

Cheeky

gretnagreene — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:30:34 -0500

I think if it had been me I'd have blown my top. I wrote a book once, a long time ago, and it is so incredibly difficult to try & promote it and to try & get even small independent book stores to take it.

Trying to sell your own book on your own website is so obviously what anyone is going to do, the people who complain don't live in the real World - if they'd ever tried to do anything, to run a business, create a product, or write a book they'd know how incredibly difficult it is and would be more understanding.

I'm afraid the World seems full of people like this at times, people who want to just compalin and knock other people, you just have to ignore them and get on with it.

Current uni student

Aisha — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:44:56 -0500

I'm an Ohioan, waiting to see what happens with our state budget, as our Governor butts heads with the State representatives and senators who are refusing to pass the budget as it stands currently. They are fighting over gambling, but that's not the point.

They have cut a scholarship that I was awarded at my high school graduation last year - $2200 gone, just like that, with little to no comment by anyone. When I contacted my financial aid office to ask if there were any other alternative grants or scholarships I could get to replace the lost money, they told me to get my parents to co-sign a loan. The state is now looking at cutting a grant program that puts out almost $2500 worth of my state school education. I haven't bothered to contact my school yet, because they will most likely tell me that it's a game of wait-and-see, which it is. (the $4700 total covers over half of my yearly tuition, which is most likely going to be made up with in the form of government loans, which, while more generous than what I could get at Chase or elsewhere (interest rate wise), is still a debt I was hoping to keep low without having to hold 2 or 3 jobs to pull off.)

The state is headed into its third year of tuition freeze, which has not had much affect on my pursuit of my degrees, because the university keeps finding other places where a fee would be 'necessary.'

So I'm not sympathetic to professors who are complaining about pay cuts. i have had professors flat out state that they don't give written exams because too many students failed them in the past; instead of pushing us to excel, they are accepting mediocrity as the norm. How many other professors do this? To argue that they will have to give less exams or fewer papers seems ridiculous to me, having experienced this in the vast majority of classes I have taken, even before the budget cuts began to roll out.

I'm already feeling the budget cuts, I shouldn't have to feel them from my professors as well.

I know what I would do

FabGrandma — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:14:50 -0500

because it happened to me. I was 46 when I was laid off from a place I had worked for 20 years. At first, I was sad about it, then I though, "this is the best thing that ever happened to me." My husband and I sold our house, bought a travel trailer, and started traveling around, working at campgrounds and resorts. We did that for 7 years, then last year, I landed my dream job as a park ranger for the National Park Service. I love my job, it is seasonal, so I am off for 6 months out of the year and free to travel. We budget and pinch pennies all year in order to do this, but there is so much less stress in our lives it doesn't matter.

Read the latest at http://fabgrandma.blogspot.com/

its a subject I often wonder about

mashadutoit — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:51:25 -0500

I used to make my first year students fill in a questionnaire asking them to rate their own computer skills in various applications. It was an attempt to get students into groups with equivalent skills so that I did not have half the class bored while the other half is lagging behind. I asked questions like:

How would you rate your ability in using Photoshop?

never used it
I am a beginner
I can do what I need to
I am an expert

I was always struck that the girls were far more likely to answer with "I am a beginner" or "I can do what I need to" even if they were really experienced. Almost without exception, only boys would choose "I am an expert". (I shouldn't call them boys and girls, they were first year students)

I no longer separate students like this and have tried to find other ways to deal with their different levels of experience.

My greatest challenge with girls is usually to get them to stop apologising for asking questions. But even though I am hyper aware of these gender issues, and try to encourage all my students as much as I can, Ive also noticed this:

I notice, and remember the male students far easier. I remember their names. They come and chat to me. I can tell them apart. And often the girls sort of...melt into the background. Its important to give them individual attention away from the group otherwise they sometimes get completely left out.

Fantastic

Amy In Ohio — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:52:13 -0500

www.amyinohio.wordpress.com

I was lucky enough to attend her session last year and she is terrific.

ROI - zip, zilch, nada.....so far

TheBroomryder — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:26:47 -0500

After seeing an advertisement on HGTV for a home staging course I threw caution to the wind, yet again, and enrolled. I are now A Stager but have yet to see that first $client$. I've sent mailers (I designed a pretty nifty flyer), sent emails to realtors and FSBOs and distributed door hangers. I'm presently working on trying to find out where the local small business group has their rumored meeting. It doesn't help that I'm new to the area and not yet "connected". It also doesn't help that I'm one of those introverts. Sooner or later I know this is going to click. I guess right now I just needed a little whine. :)

Kathy

Have you found any Gen Yers reading Cherry Ames

Elana Centor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:54:27 -0500

While I never introduced my daughter to Cherry Ames, I did encourage her to read Nancy Drew. She would have none of it. I think I would really enjoy finding an old Cherry Ames and re-reading it.

A couple of years ago my book club did an entire series of reading our favorite books from our youth. My choice was Madame Bovary.I found her as a teen a very sympathetic character.I really identified with her. What a difference 35 years can make. What was I thinking? My view of Madame was very different reading it from an adults perspectiveand was actually quite shocked that I had such kind feelings towards her.

elana
Blogher Contributing Editor,Business&CareersFunnyBusiness

Oh, and actual answer...

ewillse — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:02:51 -0500

In terms of an actual answer... first of all, I think the point you make about Cherry and Nancy and Trixie teaching you to be a better journalist by focusing on story and detail, is right on. "On most days, journalism allows you to be a sleuth without endangering your life." Absolutely!

You could also add that those early reading experiences, and a general love of books, primed you, as a budding journalist, to be attuned to people's stories, and how the pieces fit together. I feel the same way, actually. Though I know that my dad, a career newspaperman, also influenced my move towards freelance journalism.

In terms of ever seeing myself in characters I read about- nope, not really. It's a vicarious thrill, especially the mystery novels I love. I love science, ideally forensic anthropology, to be a part of my mystery experience.

If I were confronted with actual crime scenes and autopsies, or even the mild sorts of innocent nursing Cherry Ames gets to do?

I would absolutely pass out. Or possibly throw up.

Much more fun as a reading choice than as a career choice!

- E

Cherry Ames! WOOHOO!

ewillse — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:52:44 -0500

You have made me sing out a big joyous cheer of recognition!

Cherry Ames is one of my obscure, but devotedly felt passions. I started reading them when I was a kid, scrounging garage sales for them, at the suggestion of my mom's best friend. I always thought Nancy Drew, jobless and tooling around in her roadster was boring.

I've been blogging, intermittently, about the reissued Cherry Ames books from Springer publications. SUCH fun!

- E

elizabethwillse.wordpress.com

Freelance Book Reviewer

That was an interesting

suzyjenkins — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:23:59 -0500

That was an interesting read. I also find it interesting that Halliburton announced they were moving to Dubai about 2 years ago. I wonder if they were duped? They are also in the process of building the worlds tallest building? i wonder if they will ever finish it?

Change and Transition

JChandler — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:57:51 -0500

It was good to read the depth to which you explored your choices and the thoughtful way you examined what may be happening to others after losing their job.

Every change involves a transition and people go through a process that is triggered by the event or decision. If it is voluntary, like you previously experienced, the transition may be easier due to those safety nets and pre-planning you spoke about. If it was beyond your control, as it is for many right now, the process can move through many stages that are not unlike the stages of grief.

You said it well in that "some job losses are blessing in disguise." I have seen that many times in the years I have worked with clients in career counseling. Finding support and good resources to make that change/transition work for you is the key. (that and good friends)

Thank you for exploring this topic. I believe it always helpful for people to know they are not alone in their job loss and the feelings/questions that surround it.
Good post!

I recently lost my job

AmberS — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:48:46 -0500

I did recently lose my job. It's not nearly as bad as it could be because I'm Canadian and I'm on maternity leave right now which doesn't end until August. I will continue to receive my maternity benefits until my return to work date. Then I will be laid off, but I will be collecting severance. I worked for the company for over 9 years, so I have a fair safety net.

I'm hoping this will be a blessing in disguise. I'm planning to change careers and re-jig my life. I'm not happy that I was laid off, but I am hoping to make the best of it and maybe I will be able to look back on it later and say it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

It is a kick in the pants, though, getting that phone call. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

~ Amber

www.strocel.com

Safety net

Erin White — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:05:34 -0500

Fortunately, I am at the point where I have have no debt except for my mortgage, and I've been able to save a "safety net" of my own. That plus severance would allow me a considerable time before things became ugly. I've actually considered taking the time to get a masters and re-entering the job market doing something else entirely.

Of course, ideally it won't happen, but if it does, I can honestly say that I am prepared to make the best of it.

Erin

The Single Rider - about being single

My Mobile Adventures *~*~* - mobile/photo blogging