Comments on: Unlocking the clubhouse: cultural resistance and learning communities http://www.chesnok.com/daily/2010/02/08/unlocking-the-clubhouse-cultural-resistance-and-learning-communitiesand/ selena marie deckelmann's blog Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:34:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: selena http://www.chesnok.com/daily/2010/02/08/unlocking-the-clubhouse-cultural-resistance-and-learning-communitiesand/comment-page-1/#comment-4791 selena Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:02:20 +0000 http://www.chesnok.com/daily/?p=1448#comment-4791 Yeah, there's a lot in there about barriers that crop up early, and continue on throughout women's lives. BUT -- there's a case study in practical changes that teachers and professors can make *now* that have impacts in as little time as a year! This is truly important information for anyone who is an advocate in this space. We *do* *not* have to wait for an entirely new generation of math/comp sci savvy youth to change computing (and specifically open source) culture. Yeah, there’s a lot in there about barriers that crop up early, and continue on throughout women’s lives. BUT — there’s a case study in practical changes that teachers and professors can make *now* that have impacts in as little time as a year! This is truly important information for anyone who is an advocate in this space. We *do* *not* have to wait for an entirely new generation of math/comp sci savvy youth to change computing (and specifically open source) culture.

]]> By: Frances http://www.chesnok.com/daily/2010/02/08/unlocking-the-clubhouse-cultural-resistance-and-learning-communitiesand/comment-page-1/#comment-4783 Frances Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:11:15 +0000 http://www.chesnok.com/daily/?p=1448#comment-4783 I hadn't come across the "unlocking the clubhouse" book until you mentioned it. I'll grab a copy. If the synopsis on amazon is anything to go by, I'm guessing they suggest that many girls are put off the technical fields long before they hit the workplace. I've somewhat been of that opinion myself for a while (I'm a female developer who was very nearly put off all through school but managed to persevere through the stereotyping). I must admit, I have a bit of disdain for women-only groups (adults, in industry - I just can't get over the segregation), but maybe I could be convinced of their benefit if they're making a specific effort to get *young* women, pre-career, maybe even still in middle-school, involved with activities and groups that consist of their peers and successful women AND men already in industry. I hadn’t come across the “unlocking the clubhouse” book until you mentioned it. I’ll grab a copy.

If the synopsis on amazon is anything to go by, I’m guessing they suggest that many girls are put off the technical fields long before they hit the workplace. I’ve somewhat been of that opinion myself for a while (I’m a female developer who was very nearly put off all through school but managed to persevere through the stereotyping).

I must admit, I have a bit of disdain for women-only groups (adults, in industry – I just can’t get over the segregation), but maybe I could be convinced of their benefit if they’re making a specific effort to get *young* women, pre-career, maybe even still in middle-school, involved with activities and groups that consist of their peers and successful women AND men already in industry.

]]> By: Deb Nicholson http://www.chesnok.com/daily/2010/02/08/unlocking-the-clubhouse-cultural-resistance-and-learning-communitiesand/comment-page-1/#comment-4762 Deb Nicholson Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:37:15 +0000 http://www.chesnok.com/daily/?p=1448#comment-4762 Oh! I didn't take it that way. Probably just sounded like the emphasis was on "do" in my post. Oh! I didn’t take it that way. Probably just sounded like the emphasis was on “do” in my post.

]]> By: selena http://www.chesnok.com/daily/2010/02/08/unlocking-the-clubhouse-cultural-resistance-and-learning-communitiesand/comment-page-1/#comment-4760 selena Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:30:19 +0000 http://www.chesnok.com/daily/?p=1448#comment-4760 Hey Deb, Thanks for the comment! I was definitely *not* meaning to say that men do not mentor each other, or that men do not mentor women! They do! I am a happy recipient of much wonderful mentoring from men. My point about women-focused groups is more that having them is a good in-and-of itself. The experience of creating and maintaining them is a learning opportunity for everyone - observers and participants alike. Perhaps I should clarify that in a future post. -selena Hey Deb,

Thanks for the comment!

I was definitely *not* meaning to say that men do not mentor each other, or that men do not mentor women! They do! I am a happy recipient of much wonderful mentoring from men.

My point about women-focused groups is more that having them is a good in-and-of itself. The experience of creating and maintaining them is a learning opportunity for everyone – observers and participants alike.

Perhaps I should clarify that in a future post.

-selena

]]> By: Deb Nicholson http://www.chesnok.com/daily/2010/02/08/unlocking-the-clubhouse-cultural-resistance-and-learning-communitiesand/comment-page-1/#comment-4759 Deb Nicholson Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:26:29 +0000 http://www.chesnok.com/daily/?p=1448#comment-4759 I think men do mentor each other, but it can often feel like a tough love approach. (aside: I read something a few months ago that told me that techy women should nix the word "feel" from their professional/semi-professional vocabulary -- which I think is crap.) Anyway, I agree that peer-to-peer mentoring amongst women is going to be most effective when it serves that particular community's needs rather than emulating the existing community. I think men do mentor each other, but it can often feel like a tough love approach. (aside: I read something a few months ago that told me that techy women should nix the word “feel” from their professional/semi-professional vocabulary — which I think is crap.) Anyway, I agree that peer-to-peer mentoring amongst women is going to be most effective when it serves that particular community’s needs rather than emulating the existing community.

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