Being a Woman Who Loves Technology

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You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. (Song of Solomon 4:7, NSV)

Sometimes I struggle with feeling truly feminine.  I do not have a lot of the things in my life that many would associate with womanhood.  I am not a mother.  I am not a wife.  I am not dating anyone.  I would like to have all of those things but it just hasn’t happened for me yet.  On the flipside, I have some characteristics that are typically associated with being male.  I am good with technology, I love video games, I work in Information Technology, I do chores on my own that my married friends leave to their husbands.

It used to be painful for me when others referred to me as a ‘techie.’  One day God redeemed that for me when someone I respect (and who I would view as being a model of femininity) said to me, “I think it is very cool that you are a woman who is a techie.”  Since then God has used several instances to show me how he is using my femininity and my ability with technology to serve His purpose.

At the beginning of June I went to the StoryLine Conference in Portland.  When of the things that stuck out for me is the impact of character on story.  He pointed out instances of helping others as being character building.  It’s not necessarily the story itself but using the things we are good at to help others is an important part of our story.  So as a woman who is good with technology I was able to help a friend get her blog going.  I think her blog is amazing and it will impact a lot of women.  So I am honoured to be a part of that story.  This summer I am continuing to work on our church’s media team.  It is a small way I can easily help out and it is a part of the larger story.

I know that as a female techie I am different from a male who is  good with technology.  My femininity makes me more approachable and I help in different ways.  So I am beginning to embrace this part of my identity…  which is cool because I really enjoy video games!

gamer girl

Comments

Christy said…
Awesome Misty! I am so thankful for your gifts (and I know this is one of many). You have definitely helped in my "story"-your "techie" gifts and your role in Alpha so many years ago. You rock!(and thanks for your encouragement-it means so much!)
3:52 PM
She said…
I've been thinking about a potential response to this one for some time now. The trouble is that I can't give it a clear and succinct response.

I think that every woman strugles with feeling feminine. Is it because of the magazine/fashion industry? I don't know. BUt I don't think that magazines/fashion helps.

And there are also too many girly things to point out about you. (Lia Sophia comes to mind first.) And in honesty... feeling like you're not feminine is pretty feminine in itself. :)

You know - my nephews compared me to Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds. I haven't been so excited about a movie-star comparision in years! She could lay claim to exactly everything that you have just laid claim to. And she is *so* very very girly.

Someone else - a la tv - who lays clim to the similar things you're talking about? Abby on NCIS.

And really... these stereotypes wouldn't be on TV if they weren't appealing to someone. Actually, if they weren't appealing to *many* someones.
8:43 PM
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