Comments on: The female 9-5 mentality or of cheerleaders and football players http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358 Tue, 15 May 2012 09:24:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rosie Sherry http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-486 Rosie Sherry Tue, 06 Feb 2007 14:25:00 +0000 http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-486 I'm convinced that it comes down to passion too. I've experienced both males and females lack of enthusiasm for work. I'm in the position where I love my work, I run a business, I put in alot of hours, however there are somethings that I will not sacrifice because I want to be able to tuck my boys into bed at night. It doesn't stop me switching back onto work in the evenings though! However, on the serious note, it means that I don't get out as much, don't get to meet as many new people and limit myself to work opportunities. I find that if something is not local to me it just gets quite difficult to manage and attend. It's not because I'm not interested, it just causes much more stress than pleasure! However, since I am keen to get involved in the community, I decided to start my own local "Brighton Girl Geek Dinners":http://www.brightongirlgeekdinners.co.uk. I’m convinced that it comes down to passion too. I’ve experienced both males and females lack of enthusiasm for work.

I’m in the position where I love my work, I run a business, I put in alot of hours, however there are somethings that I will not sacrifice because I want to be able to tuck my boys into bed at night. It doesn’t stop me switching back onto work in the evenings though!

However, on the serious note, it means that I don’t get out as much, don’t get to meet as many new people and limit myself to work opportunities. I find that if something is not local to me it just gets quite difficult to manage and attend. It’s not because I’m not interested, it just causes much more stress than pleasure!

However, since I am keen to get involved in the community, I decided to start my own local “Brighton Girl Geek Dinners”:http://www.brightongirlgeekdinners.co.uk.

]]> By: Scott http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-485 Scott Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:49:00 +0000 http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-485 I thought the idea of putting a brick wall between your work and your private life was more of a German thing than a male/female thing. My wife is a decision maker in a 24/7 industry. Her first work experience was in the States, and we've always felt that her American dedication to her job (even though she is German) has been an advantage to her. On the other hand for the past (how old is my son now?) seven years, because of my wife's position and her dedication not to mention her salary), I've been the one to work set hours and to put family obligations ahead of work. It's a conscious compromise. There's no way I can lead projects or assume responsibility when I have to leave the office at 4 pm. I can contribute my skills and experience to the company, but I'm never going to move ahead, regardless of my gender. (The question of whether women have a fair choice between career and familiy is a different issue.) I thought the idea of putting a brick wall between your work and your private life was more of a German thing than a male/female thing. My wife is a decision maker in a 24/7 industry. Her first work experience was in the States, and we’ve always felt that her American dedication to her job (even though she is German) has been an advantage to her.

On the other hand for the past (how old is my son now?) seven years, because of my wife’s position and her dedication not to mention her salary), I’ve been the one to work set hours and to put family obligations ahead of work. It’s a conscious compromise. There’s no way I can lead projects or assume responsibility when I have to leave the office at 4 pm. I can contribute my skills and experience to the company, but I’m never going to move ahead, regardless of my gender.

(The question of whether women have a fair choice between career and familiy is a different issue.)

]]> By: Ewan McIntosh http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-484 Ewan McIntosh Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:15:00 +0000 http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-484 "passion doesn't pay the bills" Depends what the passion is. Maybe I'm lucky, but I find the more I pursue my passions the more success I encounter (the more there is to pay the bills etc etc). “passion doesn’t pay the bills”

Depends what the passion is. Maybe I’m lucky, but I find the more I pursue my passions the more success I encounter (the more there is to pay the bills etc etc).

]]> By: brian thomson http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-483 brian thomson Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:01:00 +0000 http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-483 Hi Nicole, Like Ewan, I'm not sure this is a gender issue either. In my current job I'm strict at enforcing the number of hours a week, because it's just a job, not a passion. I learned the hard way, years ago, that putting extra hours in and risking your health is simply not worth it. I've even tried studying after hours, but found that my job left me too tired to concentrate, so I'm considering full-time study now. Like most people on the planet, I don't have the luxury of doing what I want to do. I read people like Kathy Sierra, who say things like "follow your passion" and "get a job that you love", but passion doesn't pay the bills, especially if you have no supporting source of income. Sure, I'd like to study again, do something more in line with my interests, but can I afford to take years off work to do it? It's a big risk, one that might not pay off. Hi Nicole,

Like Ewan, I’m not sure this is a gender issue either. In my current job I’m strict at enforcing the number of hours a week, because it’s just a job, not a passion. I learned the hard way, years ago, that putting extra hours in and risking your health is simply not worth it. I’ve even tried studying after hours, but found that my job left me too tired to concentrate, so I’m considering full-time study now.

Like most people on the planet, I don’t have the luxury of doing what I want to do. I read people like Kathy Sierra, who say things like “follow your passion” and “get a job that you love”, but passion doesn’t pay the bills, especially if you have no supporting source of income. Sure, I’d like to study again, do something more in line with my interests, but can I afford to take years off work to do it? It’s a big risk, one that might not pay off.

]]> By: Ewan McIntosh http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-482 Ewan McIntosh Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:55:00 +0000 http://crueltobekind.org/the-female-9-5-mentality-or-of-cheerleaders-and-football-players-358#comment-482 I'm not sure about the relevance of the girl/boy thing in my own experiences - I am lucky enough to be surrounded by women with as much passion about their work as I have for mine and we can slip in and out of workspeak when we need to. It comes down to passion at the end of the day. I am passionate about certain things in my personal life but, for me, my 'work' is something about which I am more passionate than, say, who's going to win Big Brother, where the best bars are in Glasgow or how many drinks I'll have downed by the end of the weekend. This, btw, is what some of my colleagues bring into the workplace. It's not for me to say that that's inappopriate in the same way no-one has the right to say that it's inappropriate for me to get passionate about my 9-5 outside those hours. I just feel sorry for those who don't have this kind of enjoyment and passion out of their work that they don't want to talk about it with the people they know. I’m not sure about the relevance of the girl/boy thing in my own experiences – I am lucky enough to be surrounded by women with as much passion about their work as I have for mine and we can slip in and out of workspeak when we need to. It comes down to passion at the end of the day. I am passionate about certain things in my personal life but, for me, my ‘work’ is something about which I am more passionate than, say, who’s going to win Big Brother, where the best bars are in Glasgow or how many drinks I’ll have downed by the end of the weekend. This, btw, is what some of my colleagues bring into the workplace.

It’s not for me to say that that’s inappopriate in the same way no-one has the right to say that it’s inappropriate for me to get passionate about my 9-5 outside those hours.

I just feel sorry for those who don’t have this kind of enjoyment and passion out of their work that they don’t want to talk about it with the people they know.

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