Hair down, makeup, nice attire, slightly pretty...what could this mean? Oh yes, it must mean that this is a real female who has NO computer sense what-so-ever. It's what society tells us so it must be true, right? ...Wrong.
I never really had this happen to me before until today. I had just gone to a job interview this morning and later on I went and met up with a friend. He is the larger techie but shares his knowledge with me as well (though I do have my own fair share of knowledge better than your average computer user). So, we decided to head off to this computer superstore. I was planning not to look as honestly I am poor as anything and with no prospective job coming any time in the next week or so, I will remain fairly poor for a bit. So, I wanted to avoid temptation and just ignore it.
My luck, the computers called to me and it didn't help when my friend would show me a case and go on how it would benefit me, as I did state I wanted a better fan for my desktop. So, I started finding myself with the thought of looking about just to get an idea. After all, it doesn't help to plan now for something I will buy later. So my friend referred me to this one case which seemed really nice. It wasn't too large but seemed spacious enough. There were two fans in the front, one at top and I can't remember if there was one in the back or not but there was also a mount for one at the side. I'm one of those terrible people that don't like to shut off my computer, so seeing that many fans pulled me to it. However, I noticed a gap at the bottom which my friend stated was for the power supply (like I said I'm not the hugest of computer experts but I know a good amount). Now that I think about it, Ithink I was just really tired because for some reason that boggled me and I couldn't figure out how it looked, I guess because mine is at the very top, which is possibly why I got confused. At the time I had wanted to look at an example since for some reason I felt lost (right now I'm already realizing how it would look but again it was a long, long day).
They had a display set up so I went to look at it but all they had set up was a fan and a blacklight. So, I was just eyeing it and immediately the predators (aka salespeople) pounced on me. I informed them I just wanted to see how the power supply was in it. And now, I'm realizing my wording must have sounded off to them, as I think they thought I wanted to see what a power supply looked like as opposed to seeing how the power supply looks seated in that particular case. So, the guy stated that they had another case with everything in it. I was tired so it didn't hit my head at the time why he was dragging me to it. I just thought "Ok I don't know how this will show me how things look seated in the other case but for shits and giggles I'll go look at the other case." Actually, I wanted to look at the other case because I saw the liquid cooling going through it and I think liquid cooling is the sickest (coolest) thing in the world!
So, I go over to look at it and the guy points at the slots of two video cards and says "These two things here are video cards." I stare at him for a second and laugh saying I know what video cards look like and then he kinda stares back like he doesn't know what to say. Then me and a fellow customer start getting in a discussion about the liquid cooling and what not in the case.
As I typed this up, I'm starting to realize more why he thought I had no idea what the parts of a computer were especially with the more than likely misunderstood "I wanted to see what the power supply looked like". I should've really said "I want to see how the power supply looks seated in this particular case." Like I said, I was tired as all hell. We just ate and were walking all over, plus a stressful job interview earlier that day, and I had been up earlier than usual today.
Still though, I think it also speaks for my gender as well. I'm sure if a guy said that, he would have interpreted it in the manner I had intended it to mean. Why is it just so easy to believe a female doesn't know computer parts and why is it so easy to think a female is being a video game for a brother, son, or a boyfriend?
It's just this whole stigmata society puts on females and anything in regards to technology. Just look at ads for Father's Day as opposed to ads for Mother's Day! Mother's day always has appliances and what not, Father's day is literred with tech gadgets and tools. Honestly, when I see stuff for Father's Day I keep thinking "Oooo I'd like that!" I'd rather get some techie thing for a holiday than an appliance. Really, give me a sick video card over jewelery the same price and I'll be happy! I barely wear jewelry but I know I'm going to use that video card to death. As a kid I once got upset when my mom bought me earrings rather than a video game I had wanted. That was always just the girl I was. And no, it doesn't mean I'm a lesbian. I happen to be very, very straight and sometimes even like games based on the romance between lead male/lead female. Yes, I have a girly side too. And sometimes I like RPGs where I can customize my female character and make her look nice and then later on I'll go play some Resistance 2 or CoD4 or CS or whatever FPS I'm addicted to at the time.
I've always been told by people once they find out my geeky tendencies, my love for games, etcetera that they were surprised and never pegged me for a gamer but that's who I am. I never was allowed out much to play with friends so video games became my only outlet. I was raised up on them and from a young age had been fascinated by them. That doesn't mean I have to be boyish and doesn't mean I have to be girlish. I'm me and that's all that matters.
It's this very reason that we need to let go of stereotypes and accept the individual before we take on our own perception of them.
