I’m very anti the subject of geek girls (however many Rs you put in there). I royally detest the phrase for one strong reason: I’m a GEEK. That’s it, plain and simple, right there. And with fellow geeks, especially in Silicon Valley, is one of the few places I’ve actually found a meritocracy. Granted, all male geeks want to see breasts, and enjoy having breasts around, but if I dress in geek camo no one remembers I’ve got breasts (no mean feat if you’ve ever met me).
However, in recent readings, I’ve come to feel there’s a need for me to speak up. The people claiming themselves as good role-models for the advancement of Women in Technology scare me to death, and go a long way towards ruining it for the rest of the women trying to get by on their merits, rather than their gender. So, I have to ashamedly come out of the closet and admit to being a geek girl.

Do I think I’m a good role-model? Not so much. I am what I am, a network engineer cum sysadmin who has been doing this for more than a decade. At the times when women were saying they couldn’t make it because they were being discriminated against, I went out and did it. In 1997, I was one of 5 women at nanog in Scottsdale, and one of only two under the age of 30. There was a bond that formed in that time, but it was that of mutual respect. Here was someone else who was technically competent in spite of her gender. I say in spite of because most women make their gender work against them. There are those female geeks who are insecure of losing the affection of their male groupies, and insecure about being shown up as if it will make them less of a person if another girl knows more on a topic than she. Most of these are real cats when introduced to other geek chicks. I don’t claim to have never been catty, but I do generally reserve it for those who are all talk and no show. I know what I know, and I know there is a lot more out there I don’t know.

I do think I have a perpective which should be heard. I think girls interested in technological fields should see the reality of the situation, not the myths perpetuated by women so caught up with how put down they are to look at the situation realistically and impassionately. This may seem conceited of me, but I rarely meet another female geek who is willing to be outspoken about it, because one of the biggest thing about female geeks is that their gender isn’t an issue, its just another facet of who they are.

I step up at this time, because I’m so sick of being told how I need to stand up and fight for more than my fair share solely because of my gender. Being female is not a disability, nor a disease that requires special considerations. It’s who and what I am, and I ashamedly stand up and classify myself as a geek girl, to counteract those who have made a mockery of the term.