[crapolasplatter]

“Ask a Female Engineer”

Why leave other important engineering characteristics out? Are you fat,skinny,tall,short,ugly,pretty , white,or black?

I really don't see the importance of sex in relations to engineering.

Nor understand the desire to get more fat,skinny,tall,short,ugly,pretty , white, black , male or females involved in engineering.

[Chinjut]

I'm short and skinny. (I wouldn't normally describe myself as ugly, but, who knows? I guess that's not up to me to say...).

It seems to me there are a ton of short skinny guys in the software engineering industry, so I rarely feel out of place on those particular grounds. If you have a specific question about that experience, though, I'd happily answer it.

I have noticed that the paucity of women is undeniable and pervasive, and it does at times lead to a dude's club atmosphere. Not every minute of every day in every way, but it's around. Overt sexism isn't generally tolerated, because, well, it's overt, but the environment is definitely experienced differently by many women than for men, in a million small ways, which can add up to big feelings.

[crapolasplatter]

"but the environment is definitely experienced differently by many women than for men, in a million small ways, which can add up to big feelings."

absolutely agree, but that goes both ways and can be both positive and negative for both sexes.

A fat, ugly, short male or female engineer will likely have a different experience than a skinny,attractive, male or female engineer.

personally I think looks has more of an impact than sex or even color when it comes to discrimination and no I dont consider myself ugly or fat.

[Chinjut]

For some things, looks matter a lot. For other things, gender matters a lot. Of course, the way we evaluate looks is itself highly gendered. These are all things worth talking about! That at some particular time, someone wants to discuss one thing doesn't mean dismissing all other concerns or conversations.

[crapolasplatter]

wasn't suggesting that you were dismissing all other concerns.

I just didn't see the point of stating your sexuality when that by itself really means nothing.

Not all women and men are created equal and other factors such as looks,weight,height,color can make all the differences on experiences.Even among same sexes.

[thesmallestcat]

While your request is a little unreasonable, this is actually important. A younger, attractive male teacher at a primary school likely has a very different experience from an obese, older man.

[crapolasplatter]

I don't see why it was unreasonable to ask why only state sexuality over other equal characteristics that get discriminated against on the topic.

[crapolasplatter]

For those that are down voting, care to expand on why?

Or perhaps explain why the following characteristics are irrelevant or less important when it comes to engineering:

fat,skinny,tall,short,ugly,pretty , white,or black?

[vacri]

You're welcome to start your own "ask a fat engineer" page. Other people don't have to cater their topics to your personal interests.

Here, you can start an "ask a tall engineer" page with some comments from me: office chairs are too small and I have to shift posture constantly; communal desks are too low; and there's nowhere high enough to try a standing desk.

[crapolasplatter]

Nice, why the hostility? Nobody said anything about catering .

I was curious on the importance of defining the individual as female , but leaving other non engineering characteristics out?

[vacri]

> Nice, why the hostility?

Because your original comment wasn't innocent or genuine, and you already know the answer to it. It's a comment that gets made every. single. time. something like this comes up, has been answered a million times before, and it's not worth pandering to.

[hnbroseph]

i can't downvote but:

> I really don't see the importance of sex in relations to engineering

that expression is too vague to really say anything about. there exist "minority groups" in various fields (such as "male nurses"), and said groups sometimes have distinct life experiences and insights as a result, including their relationship with the "majority group".

> Or perhaps explain why the following characteristics are irrelevant or less important when it comes to engineering

this seems non-sequitur or a strawman. the mere existence of "ask a female engineer" does not necessarily imply anything about other potential "ask a _ engineer" q&a's.

[crapolasplatter]

"that expression is too vague to really say anything about"

The same goes for "Ask a Female Engineer" hence I wanted more information about other non engineering characteristics such as her height,weight, color, height, etc.

"this seems non-sequitur or a strawman"

Its not a strawman it was a valid question , why did she only decide to single out her sex. Why not disclose her weight,height,color,etc?

[hnbroseph]

> The same goes for "Ask a Female Engineer"

non-sequitur. it's a q&a with a particular segment of individuals. if you're not interested in the experiences and insights of a segment of the workforce, you don't have to ask anything.

however, asking about "the importance of sex in relations to engineering" requires explanation of what you mean by "importance" and "engineering". otherwise it's a bit of a weaselly question.

> Its not a strawman

you said: "explain why the following characteristics are irrelevant". nobody said they were.

> why did she only decide to single out her sex

did you not even look at the link? even the first paragraph? there isn't a "she" who "decided to single out her sex". it's a content publisher/blog (?) that took questions and then posited them to a group of female engineers.

[MollyR]

Some research shows for women, the prettier you are the easier it is to get ahead maybe the halo effect ? For men there is research that shows the taller you are, the more money you get.

The stuff you mentioned should probably be a separate conversion, but I do think there is probably overlap with the gender issue.

Its not about just technical ability, but social and economic power through jobs.

[clifanatic]

> For those that are down voting, care to expand on why?

Because you're challenging the feminist manifesto.