It takes a special combination of computer geek sensibility and creative ability to be a web designer, web developer or graphic designer these days. In fact, there’s an article on a new website to be launched in February by Dave Abrams, TheMarySue.com, targeting the widely underserved: female geeks.
“TheMarySue.com will feature content on topics such as video games, comics and women in technology, and will be curated from a female geek perspective.
“A lot of it is going to be, ‘here are the cool things on the Internet,’ but it’s from the sensibility of women who are really knowledgeable about the tech and geek world,” MSNBC’s Abrams said in a phone interview.
OK…I’m NOT on board with this. Video games and comics? Come on.
Code and technical know-how as well as combining color, symmetry and balance on using cutting edge software are what it takes to be a great web developer or website designer. The ability to communicate while helping the viewer navigate the website is the end goal of every graphic element. Whether it is a male or female web developer does not factor in. While I appreciate the effort to provide the latest geek information for the nerdy requirements of my profession, I object to the rest of their perspective on the subject of female geeks.
Susana Polo (obviously a female) will be editor of TheMarySue.com. She has said she’s excited about carving out a new space for women on the Web. However, I see her as taking us a step backwards.
“One of the things you want to do as a girl geek is you just want to play with the boys; you want to be part of that culture,” said Polo, who currently writes for Geekosystem. “I think there’s value in having our own space.”
“She explained by phone that the name of the site is an ironic twist on the Mary Sue character in fan fiction. A Mary Sue is typically a beautiful female character who represents a standard of perfection that’s impossible to live up to.”
If that is not the most condescending, ridiculous statement toward female web designers, I don’t know what is. Ugh, the images of perfection girls are fed, even in jest. While I embrace my female geek sensibility, I do not feel excluded from any aspect of gathering design information, participating in web forums, or the geek community in general. Being a female in a male environment can be a plus and fascinating, as well.
Hopefully, as the vision for TheMarySue.com develops, it will become a valuable hub and community for techy women, nerdy web designers, geeky developers and more. One that contributes to a tech knowledge base as a whole and not devalue the role of us female geeks in an unintended, “humorous” way. I’m also interested in how much they comment on social networking and women in technology (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) in relation to the web and tech world.
I’d like to share the artistic side of this female tech geek. Here is a sample of some of my latest fine art. They are created with encaustic wax, acrylic paint, ink, Japanese paper and a few other things. Who knows— hopefully you may see them around Hendersonville or Asheville some day. Enjoy.
[portfolio_slideshow]
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