A womans place

[StewL]

Hi Russell

Like you I have for the most part of my life worked in female dominated areas. Student Nurse (resigned before I finished ) Disability services, Childcare. Now Social work.
I have to agree with you on your thoughts, with the same reservations you stated.

As for myself, I got into genealogy through my social work studies, but none of my female relatives are really interested except when I give them the information that I have either found or been helped with.

[karenc]

just thought i would add a post on the topic.

I can cover two of the aspects mentioned as i am a female and i am young (22).

although my dad is interested in our ancestry it is me who does most of the research, including putting posts on websites.

i wont suggest why i think this is

[Tracey]

An ammeded version of - Proverbs 2:3-6

"if you cry out for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear
of research and find the knowledge of our past. For the Lord gives wisdom . . . " - to women

Amen

[Scozzie]

Some interesting ideas there.

I grew up in Scotland, my mother's aunts (her mother's sisters) were often at our house. I started searching for my family in June last year, and in November I found out that my father's mother had three sisters that I knew nothing about, I believe she also had a brother (haven't found him yet, he was born after 1905). My paternal grandfather had six siblings, I never knew any of them either. Last year I made contact with my father's cousin's daughter on the GR site, and we keep in contact. Aren't families strange!?

By the way - my brother-in-law is researching his family too. He's been researching for over twenty years, so he "knows more" (his statement) than I do! What???

[pinkshoes]

I've never considered the ratio of men to women in this pursuit, but I have noticed a fair number of the "older" folks. Now this might be that they started years ago when they were "young" folks and got caught up in it, but I do suspect we become more interested in our past once we reach lets say our "middle" years.

As to fewer men than women Malcolm - if you mean a greater number of women post on this (and other) forums, I'd say the answer to that is simple - men won't ask for directions (and (a few) women can't read maps)

Not only am I wearing my tin hat, I'm heading for the trenches.

Best wishes
Pinkshoes (of the female variety)

[Malcolm]

Ted’s warning had me worried for a while but this post wasn’t so controversial after all. I feel safe now and have planted some spring bulbs in my tin hat.
In 1863, one John Stuart Mill wrote, “with equality of experience and of general faculties, a woman usually sees more than a man of what is immediately before her “except when driving a car. I’m kidding. I made the driving bit up. Well, if Tracey can adapt her proverb to reinforce her point, then so can I. Perhaps I should add that Mill was a supporter of women’s suffrage.
Personally I have some doubts about all the empirical stuff said about gender difference. If women have more intuition than men for example, why do they ask so many questions?
With the exception of Ina’s desert dwellers, the collective wisdom of Talking Scot is that women outnumber men in the family history stakes. Perhaps the libraries are all air conditioned in California and the women are left to slave over a hot orange grove.
Although I don’t necessarily agree, I can understand why Trish, Wilma, Frances and others say, albeit in non specific terms, why more women are at it than men. The underlying suggestion is that there is something innate in women that require them to do this. Perhaps my first assertion about mitochondrial eve has some bearing on all of this. Could it be that there is a special female gene that instructs, you are the eyes and ears of history and you are commanded to ensure that it has a happy ending? It’s just a thought
It’s ok Pinkshoes, it’s safe to come out now. I hope you didn’t get your shoes too mucky.
Thankyou all for your thoughts.
MM

[Malcolm]

Some background information in case you may not have heard of it. Mitocondrial refers to a type of DNA that is unique to the female sex.
MM

[paddyscar]

If women have more intuition than men for example, why do they ask so many questions?

It's a test, to see if you're paying attention, Malcolm

Frances

[sporran]

Hello all,


I think that it was Ronnie Corbett who asked "If a man says something and his wife does not hear, is he still wrong?"


Regards,

John

[AnneM]

The answer is simple. Among the not yet retired age groups more men that women are in full time employment (even now). Those women who are, are better at also having interests and making connections (and need something to do to avoid the housework, know what that is guys?). Among the older age groups more men than women have already joined their ancestors.

My husband is only too delighted if I often aided and abetted by MaryE find out anything about his ancestors, but sit in a record office going through fiches he will not! Mind you the poor man's job involves research, though not of that variety so you can 't blame him. I find the concentration and the need to be methodical relaxing and love solving mysteries. The one thing I did ask him to do was e-mail the archivist at the university to see if there were any details of a probable connection of his from the early C19 who studied medicine there. I even produced an e-mail which could easily be forwarded but did he do it. No, did not have time!!!!!!!!!

Anne, who has a full time job which certainly has no me time involved and often no lunch half hour and also has a tin hat!

BTW Hobbies keep you sane. I had so much to do in the house that I skipped choir for a fortnight, hardly looked at TS and did no FH research or story writing at all. My house was tidy but I was so depressed I did not appreciate it in the least.

Anne