Wife's Panel at University of Chicago: Unmasking the Fake Geek Girl
Michi Trota, my wife and burgeoning local geek-justice celebrity, along with her nerd panelist associates bring "Unmasking the Fake Geek Girl: Confronting gate-keeping and sexism in geek culture" to the University of Chicago Hyde Park campus.
Information as follows via the Facebook Event page:
The "Exorcising the Spectre of the Fake Geek Girl" group is thrilled to announce that we've been invited to the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality at the University of Chicago to continue our discussion!
She makes me proud and has done some good with these panels. We're both real excited that the panel has advanced another level to a college hall or room. Seeing them getting a little more in depth into the topic should make for a good time.
Returning are Chicago Nerd Social Club panelists: Johnny Grey, Laura Koroski, Kate Lansky, Karlyn Meyer, Dawn Xiana Moon, and Michi Trota.
We have a revamped title and will be taking the topic forward with a more in-depth discussion of how the idea of the "fake geek girl" represents our perceptions of gender, social power dynamics and just who geeks are supposed to be.
This event is FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
Place: The Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, University of Chicago, Community Room (105), 5733 S. University Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2014
Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm
Description: As line between "geek" and "mainstream" culture becomes more blurred, the debate about what makes someone and "authentic" or "fake" geek has taken on an unmistakably gendered tone. Women are no strangers to having to prove they belong in perceived male-dominated spaces, and perception that women are "invading" geek spaces has invariably led to the label "fake geek" being appended overwhelmingly on women.
What exactly is a "fake geek girl" and why does she need to be barred from geek spaces? Who gets to define what makes one a “real geek,” and Do “fake geek girls” really exist? If so, does it even really matter? Is it really about keeping geek culture “authentic” or about keeping certain people out? Six women from the Chicago Nerd Social Club with a diverse range of experiences and expertise in geek culture look at how expecting women in geek spaces to be "fake" reflects our ideas of gender, power dynamics and cultural biases, and what happens when those ideas are challenged. This discussion will include time for Q&A with the audience.
Persons with disabilities who need an accommodation in order to participate in this event should contact CSGS:
Phone: 773.702.9936
Fax: 773.834.2000
Email: csgs@lists.uchicago.edu
All further information, please go to the CSGS's event listing: http://gendersexuality.uchicago.edu/events/calendar_detail.shtml?guid=CAL-ff808081-4358f2e4-0143-6e06f376-00001801eventscalendar%40uchicago.edu&calPath=%2Fpublic%2Fcals%2FMainCal
So go to the Facebook event page for the panel, RSVP and come on down to Hyde Park for an interesting talk. See you there!
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