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genuinegirly · 06-01-2011, 08:55 AM

I'm a science fiction junkie, and have been since before I could speak. If it's sci-fi, I'll read, listen, watch, and enjoy every second. I become attached to the stories, planets, characters, science, and technology. Whether geared for adults or children, I'm a fan. From classic Jules Verne to Starship Troopers, I can't get enough (Oh, and the steampunk movement has brought the genre to a whole new level of yay). Even though this is one of my passions, I've become aware that a large percentage of women in this world are indifferent - or even hostile - to the genre. Hearing perspectives in real life has made me curious about your interest.

A few questions to help guide the discussion... feel free to answer all, none, or simply share your thoughts as you see fit.

What do you think of when this genre is mentioned, do you have a positive or negative mental image?
Do you gravitate to this genre, or stay clear?
What is your favorite piece?
Do you have any treasured childhood memories on the topic?
How do you view the portrayal of women by the genre?
How do you respond when you meet a woman with interest in the topic?
List the first 5+ sci-fi works that come to your mind.

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What do you think of when this genre is mentioned, do you have a positive or negative mental image?
The first thing that I think of is classic Star Trek - cheezy sets, terrible acting, and unexpected adventures.
Do you gravitate to this genera, or stay clear?
You know the answer to that already.
What is your favorite piece
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Do you have any treasured childhood memories on the topic?
Yes. Too many for my own good. My siblings dressed me up like Princess Leia frequently. Oh, and one especially poignant memory is that of my brother reading excerpts from Hitchhiker's Guide at the dinner table, resulting in bouts of laughter.
How do you view the portrayal of women by the genre?
Mixed. I wasn't fond of Classical Star Trek's take on women, but I love how Princess Leia took control and basically rescued herself in A New Hope. In David Weber's Safehold series, the fate of the world is placed squarely on the capable shoulders of a young woman android who transforms herself into a man - seeing Merlin with a woman's set of emotions is really pretty entertaining. Then there's video games where nearly every woman seems to be under-dressed, curvy, and senselessly stupid - except, as more women show interest in gaming, this seems to be diminishing.
How do you respond when you meet a woman with interest on the topic?
As a child, if I met another girl who liked science fiction, we frequently became inseparable. It was always welcome to find someone with whom I could easily converse. There wasn't any shortage of topics to discuss. As an adult, sci-fi doesn't come up often in conversation. Most people have no clue that I'm such a geek. When among fellow scientists, little references to sci-fi are occasionally made, in which case it's nice to see their look as I respond appropriately (laughing or rattling off the following line). I had an office-mate that was equally versed on Star Wars as I was, and that made for some fun conversations. I do have a group of microscope nerds that I sit with at lunchtime and the discussion usually revolves around various sci-fi topics, but those are mainly men. The one other woman that usually joins us is younger and doesn't quite have the same depth of interest. Sci-fi trivia has shockingly come in handy at dinner parties and cocktail hours as an ice-breaker.
List the first 5+ sci-fi things that come to your mind.
Star Wars
Tabula Rasa
War of the Worlds
Earth 2
Perelandra

06-01-2011, 08:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Perspectives on Sci Fi I'm a science fiction junkie, and have been since before I could speak. If it's sci-fi, I'll read, listen, watch, and enjoy every second. I become attached to the stories, planets, characters, science, and technology. Whether geared for adults or children, I'm a fan. From classic Jules Verne to Starship Troopers, I can't get enough (Oh, and the steampunk movement has brought the genre to a whole new level of yay). Even though this is one of my passions, I've become aware that a large percentage of women in this world are indifferent - or even hostile - to the genre. Hearing perspectives in real life has made me curious about your interest. A few questions to help guide the discussion... feel free to answer all, none, or simply share your thoughts as you see fit. What do you think of when this genre is mentioned, do you have a positive or negative mental image? Do you gravitate to this genre, or stay clear? What is your favorite piece? Do you have any treasured childhood memories on the topic? How do you view the portrayal of women by the genre? How do you respond when you meet a woman with interest in the topic? List the first 5+ sci-fi works that come to your mind. ------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of when this genre is mentioned, do you have a positive or negative mental image? The first thing that I think of is classic Star Trek - cheezy sets, terrible acting, and unexpected adventures. Do you gravitate to this genera, or stay clear? You know the answer to that already. What is your favorite piece The Restaurant at the End of the Universe Do you have any treasured childhood memories on the topic? Yes. Too many for my own good. My siblings dressed me up like Princess Leia frequently. Oh, and one especially poignant memory is that of my brother reading excerpts from Hitchhiker's Guide at the dinner table, resulting in bouts of laughter. How do you view the portrayal of women by the genre? Mixed. I wasn't fond of Classical Star Trek's take on women, but I love how Princess Leia took control and basically rescued herself in A New Hope. In David Weber's Safehold series, the fate of the world is placed squarely on the capable shoulders of a young woman android who transforms herself into a man - seeing Merlin with a woman's set of emotions is really pretty entertaining. Then there's video games where nearly every woman seems to be under-dressed, curvy, and senselessly stupid - except, as more women show interest in gaming, this seems to be diminishing. How do you respond when you meet a woman with interest on the topic? As a child, if I met another girl who liked science fiction, we frequently became inseparable. It was always welcome to find someone with whom I could easily converse. There wasn't any shortage of topics to discuss. As an adult, sci-fi doesn't come up often in conversation. Most people have no clue that I'm such a geek. When among fellow scientists, little references to sci-fi are occasionally made, in which case it's nice to see their look as I respond appropriately (laughing or rattling off the following line). I had an office-mate that was equally versed on Star Wars as I was, and that made for some fun conversations. I do have a group of microscope nerds that I sit with at lunchtime and the discussion usually revolves around various sci-fi topics, but those are mainly men. The one other woman that usually joins us is younger and doesn't quite have the same depth of interest. Sci-fi trivia has shockingly come in handy at dinner parties and cocktail hours as an ice-breaker. List the first 5+ sci-fi things that come to your mind. Star Wars Tabula Rasa War of the Worlds Earth 2 Perelandra __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy Last edited by genuinegirly; 06-01-2011 at 09:04 AM..