Sensational headline, but quite a balanced story with avery nice twist....
ninemsn Video: A Current Affair: Channel 9
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Furore over Sexy IT Calendar
Not my words, but the words of TV Channel 9s "A Current Affair" - the *meat pie* of current affairs shows.
Tech Chic
August 11 IT Screen Goddess Calendar launch date is the date hedy filed her Frequency Hopping patent.
Hedy patented frequency hopping which underpins spread spectrum used in cellular networks today - she did it in WWII, whilst working as a Hollywood actress reknown as the great beauty of her day.
Hedy Lamar famously said, "Any woman can look glamorous - all she needs to do is stand stil and look stupid"
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Iconic goddess Ursula , a role model for a Geek Girrrl
There is much talk of *sexual* stereotypes/perpetuating myths.
In the 1960's, Australia was largely isolated from the rest of the world. The culture was markedly different to the American lifestyle - and remains so today. I grew up in Queensland country, a remote and vast land of isolation. My childhood memories are of dust, animals, performing the chores, and learning the skills of a boy . I am still a tom boy.
Queensland can be extremely hot, thus people dress accordingly. In Australia swimwear is mandatory. You will find millions of people on Australian beaches every summer. It is quite normal for any Australian to don a swimsuit and to frolic by the beach, a park, a swiming pool, a creek, or even a hose on a clothes-line (water restrictions dependant). I wonder if most Australians would view photos of a woman walking through water on a beach as degrading?. Probably not, as it is part of our national culture and identity.
Put it in perspective, a woman in a swimsuit is not a whore. Actually clothes don't make the whore - these come disguised in all manner of sizes, shapes, and styles.
It is possible that those who view the calendar images as *degrading all women* or its "models being whores" are from a more repressed culture. I respect other cultural views - it is a necessity in as multicultural a society as Australia.
While I understand that swimwear is entirely acceptable in Australia and most parts of Europe, it is not acceptable in many Muslim nations.
I'm mostly unsure about attitudes within the United states, (along with the majority of the world).
My prime motivation for doing the calendar was charity. I never thought it would be anything more than FITT and WIT in Australia selling it to members (female) and their families. None of us ever expected any controversy.
Sonja gave all the girls a set of Hollywood images from which to choose.
Why did I choose Ursula?
For a number of reasons: Given I had just returned from a beach camping holiday in Queensland, and owned a white bikini, it seemed like a logical choice. Ursula was also the closest physical match.
Thinking about it some more, I suppose my curiosity about IT really springs from watching all the early Bond movies about the gadgets and inventions. I only ever enjoyed the Sean Connery Bond movies, and of these my favorite was Dr No.
When I was a child I saw that picture of Ursula (Honey Ryder) coming out of the water and from that very moment I wanted to be an international spy - I thought Ursula Andress was the strongest, most amazing, smartest, sassiest woman in the world. In fact for me, Ursula was an inspirational alternative to the only other female role models on TV when I was a child.... "the secretary", "the shopgirl", 'the nurse" or "the house wife" stereotypes.
The Real Ursula - OMG is that a swimsuit?!! You bet it is - she HAS clothes
It is a beautiful shot of a wet cold angry woman about to kick serious ASS, striding bravely and purposefully to achieve her goal.
YES YOU CAN BE SMART AND SASSY - ITS OK!
I have never viewed her swimsuit as anything more than that. This is because young girls don't have dirty minds - they merely see a wet woman in a swimsuit. Her image didn't make me want be become an actress, go on a diet, become an anorexic alcoholic or get married in Vegas.
Instead I studied, read, immersed myself in music, lived, rode horses, played as many school sports as possible, dived and boxed because I love being empowered. And to be honest, I've never changed my view.
And whenever I see Ursula in those shots, I still find myself thinking,"U GO Grrrl!"
Of course Ursula is not in ICT. Nor is Honey Ryder a real person. But I am - a developer who loves the ICT industry.
*Me* in spoof of Honey Ryder~Dr No - spot the technology!
Whether you like it or not, beauty inspires. The images that saturate our checkout liines are mostly vapid socialites, devoid of any intellect. Many women and girls are addicted to tabloids, and aspire to the lives of the celebrities. (men are largely dis-interested.). Some of these young women may be curious enough to look at this calendar, which may sow a seed that leads to work with mobiles, gaming, video on the net, IPTV or any of the other cool technologies, as they emerge.
The variety of the models and images will hopefully resonate with a broad cross section of people.
On a closing note, each of the models involved in this project are Goddesses, not because of their physical attributes, but because of *who* they are: their passionate, conviction and quiet achievement. I was inspired when I met each of the models for the first time.
Please take the time to explore their stories, and maybe you also will feel inspired to live your dreams . These women are not only an inspiration to me, but potentially to women everywhere who believe in themselves, and will not allow themselves to be limited . These include my 22 year old daughter and all her friends!
IT Screen Goddess Rant
Not only does the calendar *financially support the attraction of* more women into the industry via industry recruitment programs, MORE IMPORTANTLY (to me at any rate) it supports the often isolated/dis-empowered women*already in ICT*.
| IT Goddess Calendar 2007: Not for Profit Charity fundraiser to support programs for women in ICT industry. Please support. It Goddess Calendar Preview | ||||
|
Life Training
- Career path planning
- Mentoring
- Networking
- Study
- Dev groups
- Business Opportunities
- Work/personal balance
- Maternity support (supporting our genetic brains trust)
- Flexible hours
- Social networks
- Remote access
- Training for individual enterprise bargaining
- Corporate survival skills.....I'm sure you can all relate to this one
Options
I see Calendar being about providing OPTIONS. Recipients includes women who *need/want* to be supported ~ however this in turn provides opportunities to all women [and thus people].
I for one can no longer sit back and watch any more of the most talented, professional, amazing, and (dare I say) *superior human* female colleagues continue to fall out of IT.
Glass Ceiling or through the Looking Glass?
Just prior to falling out, these women often feel undervalued, unrecognised. They always leave holes so much larger than the space everyone thought they filled ~ replaced more often than not with some average to low quality DRONE.
Is that a shard in your eye or is it superglue?
Women are often the glue of IT enterprise; communication hubs, translaters, human interfaces - so much more than *just* their *job*.
Is that why they are glued to their role, finding it difficult to advance ~ because too often they are irreplaceable?
Soft Skills are for pussies & some members of the Homo Sapien species (but not for techies!!) :P
Is this a soft skill? Who cares? Are soft skills some kind of heinous crime?
These skills are what are required to be human/humane. A pre-requisite for empathy. An innate understanding of User/techncal requirements to deliver user/technical interfaces that HUMANS will use!
This is the reality of the ICT industry. It is much broader than *just* technical, and so much more than *just* "marketing". I always view myself as some hybrid catalyst that perceives and analyses systems, develops strategies and translating details into actions. Then, along with my team, I roll up my sleeves, we have some fun to remind ourselves we're friends, then throw ourselves into IT and Get IT Done .
Personal Choice
Being a senior executive (of an entity owned by a public company), I had to carefully consider and workshop the decision to appear in this calendar with my colleagues for 9 months, and only gave my permission 1 month ago. All my family, friends and colleagues (encompassing a broad based population group) have supported me throughout.
Happily married to a wonderful, warm, heroic, funny, sane man; and deeply proud of my daughter & granddaughter, I've reached a point in my life where I've made my share of mistakes and *learned the hard way*. While I've had little in the way of support in my career, I wish for a easier route for those who follow. IT doesn't have to be difficult.
I'm supportive of any charitable endeavour that at some point in the future can help provide young people with greater options.
So much more than IT
I am NOT ONLY a woman with a passion for ICT (I LIVE IT). I'm also [for example] a woman who loves getting away: snow skiing or camping, swimming and fishing lost somewhere on beaches with a 4WD, a tent, a towel, some walking shoes, and three pairs of bikinis. I'm a strong woman. I'm a do-er. I'm nobodies fool. I'm curious. I need to know the how and why of everything. I have an absolute belief in myself that I can achieve all my goals.
4Grrrl: Proud to be KickAss
I have a tendency to be quite idealistic (Platonic), however I strive to balance this with pragmatism (skepticism rather than cynicism/negativity).
The commercial reality is that in order to most effectively enable women with information and options, co-ordinated programs must be funded, and governments don't pay for it. Grants for worthwhile projects that support women will be available if we can give charitable endeavours such as these our financial support.
Personal rant ends
Personal stuff aside now, this is not about *me*; or any other individual involved in this initiative. This is about putting a spotlight on the industry, extracting the individual issues that (often isolated) women face, and looking for solutions.
Time to build bridges
Now its time to hear the stories of women who want support. That's when the real work starts. This calendar is the kickstart.
Anyone that can support the initiative has my support reciprocated.
Sharon Don IT Goddess Calendar girl
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