For Men Only

[SuzanneR]

I would be an ADVANTAGE to have women entering the 'gadget' field. We need MORE to be interested in analog. . - David Lyga

Threads like this, however, don't help to make women feel more welcome. I'm just saying...

[shutterlight]

The deference toward women? Where do you see this "deference" in society? I am interested in hearing about this.

Women, I want you to become a part of us

Right there. That is sexist. You are extending a hand from from this "us" out to "women," whoever "women" are. What is this "us" you speak of?

[Vaughn]

since the age of chivalry has been assassinated by women's liberation

Oh my! I guess I'll put away my shiny armor now. And besides, it was getting a bit dull from being a stay-at-home dad to a set of triplets.

And as far as the real knights in shiny armor -- from what I understand, they were usually mercenaries and castles were designed so that they could not have direct access to the lords' part of the castle as they could not be trusted.

[David Lyga]

Honestly, shutterflight, you MUST admit that there are MEN out there who think that women should be treated with special deference. I am not talking about the (usual) physical disadvantage in that the men usually are stronger physically. But I am talking about men who think that women are more prone to being mentally hurt, more prone to depression, thus more worthy of being 'protected' by men. I find this nonsense. Some of the strongest examples of strength in the human race have been women who have overcome all obstacles. Some have not and needed men to carry the weight. But what I am driving at here is that inner strength is owned by NO PARTICULAR SEX OR RACE. PERIOD.

And, shutterflight, "I want women to become part of us" is not being sexist on my part because, truthfully, 'us' in this context is a predominantly male circuit of camera shows as well as the apug.org 'population'. I find that predominance to be unnecessarily one-sided. I wish that to change.

Suzanne, in my book you are certainly not in the least subordinate. But I advise you duly: don't fall into the trap of presuming that worthy men (I stress 'worthy') are necessarily putting you down. You should not NEED continuous affirmation to affirm what you intrinsically are, already. And, lots of times, seemingly noble male deference toward women can really be an indirect way of 'saying' that you are inferior. Watch for that. We all need compassion and consideration, both men and women, but not one sex more than the other. - David Lyga

[ann]

Since I was bored I opened this thread and read up to 8 pages and gave up. Must be because I am a woman.

I love gadgets, handling cameras , but standing around talking about them is not my cup of tea. I would rather be out shooting.

I have been doing darkroom work for over 65 years and in the old days, that world was very male; but time does change and more and more of my students are woman. With my serious photography students it is about 50/50.

You all need to go out and make images, use that equipment !

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Since I was bored I opened this thread and read up to 8 pages and gave up. Must be because I am a woman.

I love gadgets, handling cameras , but standing around talking about them is not my cup of tea. I would rather be out shooting.

I have been doing darkroom work for over 65 years and in the old days, that world was very male; but time does change and more and more of my students are woman. With my serious photography students it is about 50/50.

You all need to go out and make images, use that equipment !

Thank you.

[Vaughn]

...You all need to go out and make images, use that equipment !

Some breakfast, then I am on my way! Some rain and some wind out there, so I may not get anything, but a walk in the redwoods will be good for me with or without an image to show for it!

Vaughn

[brucemuir]

well luckily "they have a way to shut that whole thing down"

but

I digress

[Valerie]

Well now, I feel like I came late to the party. So many comments to make (apologies for the rambling nature..still on my first cup of coffee).....!

First of all, I do teach analog photography at a communtiy college. And a class of 17 may have only 3 males.
To the comment about women not wanted to learn the technical or "hard" stuff--bullsh!t!! My (female) students come in WANTING to learn fstops, shutter speeds, the darkroom processes, etc. They know it is what is going to make them better, but no one has expained it to them properly. And since I am such a kickass teacher the majority are able to grasp those fundamentals and run with it.

I, too, am a female (in case you hadn't figured that one out) who loves gadgets and tools (grew up in a hardware store--tools were playtoys to me, and Dad taught me how to use them properly). But I don't have time to dither away learning about new tools unless they directly pertain to the work currently in the making (mom to 4 kids+teacher at 2 instututions=not enough hours in the day). I am a longtime regular at Apug but don't participate much because densitometer readings, minute differences in chemical formulas, etc do not interest me. And there seems to be a plethora of such threads. If that is your cup of tea, then have at it! What I really look for here are answers to a specific situation I may be encountering and the threads that deal with the MAKING (not taking) of images. Those threads are few and far between, but pure gold IMO.

I don't do camera shows, but I do attend photo shows..... there are easily and equal number of women and men being shown and in attendance. And there is an equal and fascinating exchange of ideas. Perhaps you should hang out at these instead, "my dear"..... I am sure there are a vast number of women who would run circles around you and give you new perspectives to consider.

[JBrunner]

When true equality has been achieved nobody will note gender, race, gender preference, or any of the other things that we use to divide ourselves into in groups and out groups any more than one would note any passive trait like eye or hair color. The fact that there are discussions like these, however appropriate or in appropriate, indicates to me that homosapiens still have a ways to go.