We here at girl geeks sydney have a relatively open policy for our blog and twitter feed. Quite a few people have the ability to write a blog post or send out an email or twitter (though not many do) and we have only the “talking to each other” moderation process. Our basic premise is that girl geeks are both intelligent and diverse and therefore we will put most (NOT ALL) things out there and let you decide.
Over the past couple of days there has been some controversy about Beauty and the Geek. They approached us to find some girl geeks to show that girls can be geeks. We are not familiar with the show so had a look at the web site. Hmm, we said, looks a bit like objectifying women. So we asked a few girl geeks what they thought. Some said “sexist, don’t like”, some said “I like the idea of presenting another viewpoint”.
There are over 300 intelligent, opinionated, awesome girl geeks on our mailing list. We think it is presumptuous to filter your information and opportunities based on our personal opinions. So we put it out there to let you decide if you want to participate.
Anyhow, we are excited to have caused some conversation and would like to continue it. We’re guessing there are as many girl geeks wondering what the objections are as there are girl geeks objecting. So lets keep the conversation going on twitter, and start a conversation in the comments here, and talk amongst ourselves about it. Or if you want, email girlgeeksydney@gmail.com with your feedback.
We are girls. We are geeks. We are diverse. We are opinionated.
Having seen a few episodes of another series of “Beauty and the Geek” I’d be concerned that the “geeks” that they’re looking for are stereotyped versions of the larger collective. Most of the girl geeks I know do not fit THAT stereotype, but are strong, beautiful and fashionable women.
Do you pass on every “opportunity” to the group? I doubt it.
Also the email that was sent out didn’t mention the name of the show and implied something positive rather than the awful sterotype it portrays.
The show does nothing but reinforce the awful “geek” image.
What was offensive and wrong was that the initial email said “Channel 7 are looking for intelligent girls to appear on a TV show. Filming would take place on 19th August (from the afternoon) in outer Sydney. ” However the next email stated what I have posted below personally I took offense to the word “Reward” that and my Red did not think it was a good thing or did not feel comfortable with me being asked as my partner, which is understandable. I agree with the fact that people make up there own minds however, it was a misleading email if I knew it was for Beauty and the Geek a show which puts not only the Geek stereotype in a bad like but also shows male geeks as unattractive people who can not get a date
so not good for Women or Men from my perspective. However as I was saying if I knew it was for that I would not of responded. I think what you girls are doing is great and I do support what your trying to do, I just felt that more information upfront might have been a better choice. Once again I really do think you girls are great it is in no way an attack etc at anyone just a shock on my part. I have experience heavy harassment in the workplace from Guys thinking they can Date me etc so I guess the email through me back to certain experiences and yes stereotypes. Thanks for the above post as it shows a lot of concern and care for the group and I appreciate it deeply 
seriously acknowledgement goes along way 
The email text is below and shows the use of the term Reward, not the best choice and I will be contacting Channel 7 regarding the wording, which I can understand was Katie’s wording not Geek Girls.
******
“In a nutshell, channel 7 are looking for girls to help with the Beauty and the Geek TV program. This particular request, is for geeky girls to go on a ‘date night dinner’ with the guy geek as a reward. The channel 7 representative (Katie) said:
“Other details you could tell them directly is that it would be one evening shoot (might need them in the afternoon though).
It is a chance to show not all girls are into only their looks, and some can be highly intelligent. This date is a reward for the male geeks on the show to chat to like minded girls who don’t just want to talk about make up and clothes!”
Yeah, I have to say when I read the email I thought maybe it was some sort of doco for ABC or SBS or an interest piece for say 7pm project or something similar. I almost applied – until people started to say it was Beauty and the Geek. That show is awful and absolutely stereotypes people. I’m sure that they specifically dress all the geeks in the way they do , just so they can do the makeover later on. Imagine what they would do with geek girls who apply? They would probably make you wear coke bottle glasses, style your hair awfully and dress you like a dag.
I think a bit more info would have been appropriate so as not to mislead people.
A male friend applied. He got knocked back because he is comfortable with woman and is very sociable.
It’s show like that that doesn’t help the issue of how people perceive a female geek. I got told off at one stage from a random female I never kept in touch ever again for not being the stereotype geek by not wearing “geeky” fashion, not carrying around textbooks and not being socially inept. I “meant to know my place in society”.
It seems like every season the team at Beauty and the Geek contact my employer and ask for volunteers and seem to be shocked that we’re not interested. That being said there are those for whom getting on television or having that kind of media attention sounds enthralling and tbh anything that helps to instill self esteem in nerds is okay by me (even if it’s not my cup of tea).
I was very put off by the idea of a girl geek date being offered as a ‘prize’ like we can prostitute ourselves for a reality show… but then I’m the kind of person that shies away from media. I think you did the right thing to offer people the choice but not endorse it.
I for one will not be signing up.
Hi all,
I agree that the show is awful, and that the comments from Katie from the show were offensive, but I don’t agree that the girl geek sydney organisers should not have forwarded this email on. We are all intelligent adults here. Perhaps some women would like to participate, perhaps some would see it as an opportunity to present a good face (even if the producers are trying to go for entertainment and have bollocks ideas about “rewards”, “intelligence” and geek culture generally).
We can’t just disengage with everything we find to offend us. Indeed, if we are to actually make a difference in mainstream society we should take the opportunities, and not let the (mis)perceptions of a few tools get in the way. Unfortuantely mainstream television and media do reinforce (and invent?) the stereotypes which is massively problematic, but by not engaging at all we are making it too easy for them to misrepresent us.
Kinda like democracy, people disengage because they think they don’t like politicians/politics, but there is a whole world of engagement and democratic processes people can participate in and really make a difference
Also, I’m personally disappointed that some people have directed their frustration at the ggsydney organisers. We are all part of this community, and railing against things we *all* agree are a bit off by targetting individuals (let alone ones who contribute a lot to our community) is misdirected and damaging.
FWIW, I’ve brought up with the ggsydney organisers to potentially engage with either a media/tv outfit to present the reality of women geeks, or we could have some fun and make a youtube sketch poking fun at Beauty and the Geek, which could be awesome. After all, humour is often the sharpest sword and no doubt there are plenty of writers, digital arts, video, music, and acting girl geeks amongst us
“Opportunuties multiply as they are seized” Sun Tzu, Art of War
I belive the main issue’s here fall under two categories;
1. the use of the word “reward” as pointed out by Amaya aka “prize”
2. The misleading first email that disclosed nothing of the nature of the request as pointed out by Michelle
The lessons learnt from this also fall into two categories I feel
1. Channel 7 use of words is sexist and offensive
2. The wording of an initial mis-leading email which could of been and should of been worded better
When we collect peoples email addresses for mailing lists we are also taking on a terms and conditions and also respect for those people who provided them. Therefore we take on the responsibility that we should honour those people by fully disclosing the nature of requests.
I do not feel that anyone has been directing there frustration at anyone person they have been directing it and the frustration of the two points mentioned for the two reasons mentioned.
From this we should learn and embrace the lessons and also as many have said many times when sending emails ensure you word them correctly or you may be misunderstood something I am sure has happened to us all in not only our careers but also in personal life?
To finish I would like to say as I stated before If the first email was worded correctly I would not have said I was interested which would of not lead to the second email being sent which would not have lead to me feeling belittled and offended. I for one feel not frustrated but I do hold hope that the above two mentioned lessons will be learn’t and taken on board.
We are adults that can make informed decisions. And we probably wouldn’t make it onto the show as we have too much common sense. That is what I see over and over again. It is a show that loved to exploit the stereotype and the people they end up hiring are nit your regular people! Because we are extraordinary! But we can all make our own decisions. Great topic to fire everyone up though.
Let’s keep it simple; even when the individuals involved are well intentioned you just can’t trust the media
I guess it’s always going to be the lowest common denominator for these shows.
I agree with Clare in that despite any good intent you can’t really trust the media, let alone anything to do with “reality” tv style shows. It just seems like they want to present an image that will give them ratings on that show.. whether that image is the distorted “beauty” image they have going or trying to pass off typical geek girls as being akin to Ugly Betty. (As much as the name of that show irks me.. I do love it as a sort of private role model I can relate to given my own issues)
It is TV and they will ham it up either way, whether it is making geek guys look like complete dorks or having a go at geek girls while they’re at it. From what I’ve read in this I’m pretty disappointed, but if anyone wants to exploit the opportunity, feel free
As a trans-girl I’d be way too terrified of having anything to do with tv shows
I also have no idea why this is on my twitter feed.. but hello.