"Time for Unrest": ME article by Nathalie Wright

Interesting the forum stats! Might I make a suggestion? Certainly when I was at secondary school back in the 60s not many girls went in for science. Things have gradually been improving, maybe from the 80s(?) but now seem to be un-improving again. :confused: So my guess would be that some women might be put off by the Science in the forum name. :cry: Many from my generation for sure. :arghh: Please don't shout at me! ;)
 
ladycatlover said:
Interesting the forum stats! Might I make a suggestion? Certainly when I was at secondary school back in the 60s not many girls went in for science. Things have gradually been improving, maybe from the 80s(?) but now seem to be un-improving again. :confused: So my guess would be that some women might be put off by the Science in the forum name. :cry: Many from my generation for sure. :arghh: Please don't shout at me! ;)
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I wondered that. Maybe the header strip should be pink? ;)
 
ladycatlover said:
Interesting the forum stats! Might I make a suggestion? Certainly when I was at secondary school back in the 60s not many girls went in for science. Things have gradually been improving, maybe from the 80s(?) but now seem to be un-improving again. :confused: So my guess would be that some women might be put off by the Science in the forum name. :cry: Many from my generation for sure. :arghh: Please don't shout at me! ;)
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Perhaps the women who might be put off by the name would be better off with other forums anyway? After all, we can't be all things to all people. And given how long it took to finally decide on the name, it's unlikely we will be revisiting it anytime soon. :)
 
Jonathan Edwards said:
I wondered that. Maybe the header strip should be pink? ;)
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Don't you dare, I hate pink ;)

No idea whether Science in the name would put off women more than men. My observation over the years as a teacher was that it was the physical sciences and engineering that were seen as 'boy' subjects with far fewer girls doing them.

The biological sciences were much more gender balanced. And now that stuff like psychology and sociology are referred to as 'social sciences' I suspect the word science has become much less off putting.

But you need to ask the non scientists - I grew up with a science teacher mother who was born in 1917, so I have a skewed view!
 
ladycatlover said:
So my guess would be that some women might be put off by the Science in the forum name.
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I doubt it ... not sure what the stats were on the other forum, but the most prolific posters were pretty evenly split between men and women. It might just be a difference in how people use the internet, or willingness of women to display their gender on the internet.

Jonathan Edwards said:
I wondered that. Maybe the header strip should be pink? ;)
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:expressionless: You first:
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Trish said:
My observation over the years as a teacher was that it was the physical sciences and engineering that were seen as 'boy' subjects with far fewer girls doing them.
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Hmm, I think maybe where you were made a difference. I started my secondary education at a brand new grammar school in Stanmore (now part of Greater London I think) with fantastic labs and enthusiastic science teachers. After 2 years there I was really keen on science. Then my parents moved to The Wirral (across the River from Liverpool), to West Kirby, a small seaside town on the banks of the River Dee. I went to the grammar school there.

The labs were at least 40 years out of date (as were the science staff). But my enthusiasm continued and after O-Levels I went into the Science VI Form to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Out of the whole of my year I think only 6 out of around 30 of us did Science, 2 went on to be doctors, one I think was part of the first intake of nursing degrees, one did business studies, not sure what the last person ended up studying. I failed Physics, so didn't go to Uni, but trained as a Med Lab Tech and eventually gained HNC in Clinical Chemistry (most of which I've forgotten now!) before heading off to art school shortly after getting married. :artist:

And I doubt there was much science at all in the local secondary modern school.

So very area or school dependent for girls back then, or I just hit a black spot! :(

Trish said:
But you need to ask the non scientists - I grew up with a science teacher mother who was born in 1917, so I have a skewed view!
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My Mum was born in 1917 too. I don't believe she stayed at school long enough to get her General Certificate even. She worked in the family baker and tea shop business as a waitress until she married my Dad. And then stayed at home and did housework and cooked and baked - a woman's place is in the home! ;)

Valentijn said:
not sure what the stats were on the other forum, but the most prolific posters were pretty evenly split between men and women.
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So similar then - despite supposed 4 to 1 women to men with the DD the posters are probably fairly evenly distributed so far as we can tell?
 
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