Are Women Interested in Lasers

[Eidetic]

Are there ANY female members of this forum? Are there ANY female members of the ILDA?

[Jem]

Hi Bob

Yes, there are a few female members here. Probably the most notable is 'Heroic', although I haven't seen her post much lately. Pity, as she's an incredibly talented and knowledgeable individual.

Cheers

Jem

[gottaluvlasers]

Obviously not as much as men. But there are quite a few women here. Damn smart ones also!

I dont remember many of the sn's off the top of my head. "Cat" i remember as one. She is another members mother and has become quite intrigued and involved also.

-Marc

[sugeek]

Are there ANY female members of this forum? Are there ANY female members of the ILDA?

In short the answer is YES, and they are closer to you than you think... Heroic, although not so active recently on the board due to work is not a male. She happens to be in San Francisco, also so maybe you will run into her sometime if there ever is a mid-california LEM.

-Adam

[Eidetic]

A few out of 1158? What's that, 0.5%? I propose in the LPF that interest in lasers is essentially a Star Wars light saber fantasy of men, after they asked "what use is there for handheld lasers". No offense intended, enjoy the fantasy.

Personally, however, it's the devices themselves that interest me much more than the beam. But I love the beam too, though seeing them move does nothing to enhance my appreciation of them. Am
I alone in this?

[ElektroFreak]

It does seem like there aren't too many women involved with lasers compared to men.. or maybe many of the ones that are out there don't like forums.

[mixedgas]

It does seem like there aren't too many women involved with lasers compared to men.. or maybe many of the ones that are out there don't like forums.

One of the biggest problems I had with working with grad students is to convince female students to "play around" in the lab and try new things. They tended to want to read the lit, calculate things, and hand off the reactions to someone with more lab skills. It seems to be a cultural thing, girls are are taught to socialize and prepare for child rearing.. The old model of society has not caught up with the both parents working workplace.. And that is worldwide...

Once they get the idea that its ok to waste some materials in R&D and blow up a few things, they quickly come up to a par (and in many cases exceeding) with the males, in lab work dedication. But they then have a 10 year disadvantage of being behind the guys in materials theory , who have had a screwdriver in their hands since age 10... So now they had to learn all the intuitive models of mechanics.. This resulted in the ladies going home to cook dinner, then coming back into the lab late to play catch up.. The males tended to just work til 6 and call it a day... And often the 2-3 year old kids were with them, in violation of standing orders.... But the office admin types called it a day at 5:15 pm and they got away with it...

And God help a female who was assigned a female prof and had no lab skills... Those ladies would be there very late at night their first year... playing catchup...

Also go to a crafts store, see what is targeted toward women's hobbies. yes, you can buy a computer driven sewing machine,and these plotter/cutter things. But the rest of the stuff is 1890s technology...

Fathers, get your daughters into the shop and the ballfield.. At least teach them something like plumbing and basic house fixit and woodcraft... And find them a husband who can cook his own dinner once in a while..

OK, I may be flamed to death now.

But its a societal thing. If lasers were more art and less technology driven.... Also look at what you have to do to get your hands on a laser... Discretionary income for women is smaller,


Steve

[Stuka]

Frau Stuka digs the beams (provided the Fire Department doesn't show up at the house again...),
but she's not much on the geek speak.

In fact, she has ZERO interest in "how" it all works!

She and and several other "significant others" were at this past SELEM, but I think most participated only so they could see the shows....
which might be a GOOD thing, considering how $$$ this is!!!!

[Laserman532]

obviously...women are smarter than men, they realize that lasers are a waste of time, money and energy

[sugeek]

obviously...women are smarter than men, they realize that lasers are a waste of time, money and energy

Ouch... I guess that is why mrs. sugeek has a real harp; I am still working on laser harp that still won't sound as nice.

-Adam