IBEX: New Innovations

Hi Judy, I'm looking forward to all of the innovations that you've encountered, and I personally appreciate all the work you've put into this and the fact that you're willing to share all of this with us. In addition to your plate being completely full, your willingness to share with us is very important to me.

Thanks for all of your hard work.

Can't wait to hear, Judy. I had to laugh at those not at their exhibits. I use to attend industry shows in other industries and there would always be some booths with no representatives there. Then you just wonder if they can't even man their show booth, is that really someone you want to deal with.

Hi Judy,
I hope your posting either with your feet propped up or soaking in some Epson Salts! Not speaking for the Powers that be here, but I'd love for you to do a review on your finds (along with photos) here on YF. Well that tears it, I'll find someone who can get me passes next year to that show....I'd love to attend. I'd like to recommend a couple of places for you to go for a good meal, but I'd guess you have just enough time to force some food down just to keep from passing out. I'm so glad that you were invited to be on the judging panel, it's kind of like trading on inside information! I can't wait to get the scoop from you.

Judy,
I feel you. Being a woman in a male dominated industry is one of the hardest assignments there is. Yachting and Wall Street probably top the list. But scientifically speaking, Women have better situational awareness than Men, have a higher tolerance for pain than Men, have better organization skills than Men (how many male secretaries do you know?) I used to own a yellow page company, and all of my employees were Female. I have a saying other than "You can't fix Stupid" it's "If you want something done and done right the first time, ask a Woman to do it." If something happened to me and I had to have a full time Captain, and both of the applicants had the same level of experience and hours, I'd hire a female over the male.
And guys...don't even go there...I don't want to hear it. It wasn't my intention to bruise any ego's here (and boy...there are some serious ego's on this site) I'm just stating Biological facts, and empathizing with Judy. She absolutely has a valid point!

Obviously a topic that interests me as I have that Venus thing too. I remember my shock as to the lack of females here and on power boating forums in general. Stereotypes are an interesting topic as while others stereotype us, we do the same to ourselves. And that whole man is Captain, woman is Admiral crap annoys the heck out of me. However, often women don't think of pursuing certain paths and don't even find out if the doors are open.

I think there is some assumption that being a Captain requires some freaking level of strength and muscle. It doesn't if you do it right. Then there's just this thing about engineering. Dealing with motors. Oh, that's a man's thing. Why? Nothing genetic about it. Again if he's using his muscles instead of his brain he's doing it wrong and maybe has too many muscles in his brain area.

So, after a couple of years I'd make a couple of observations. I think the limits to the Captain path are softer than we think. We've hired female captains and they're great. We perhaps got great ones because some prejudiced dudes looked past them. Since I got my license, we've had three female friends work on the same. Two have no interest in anything but operating their own boat, but they want to feel knowledgeable enough to go out together. Still, they created some degree of surprise in others. That surprise though was just as prevalent in other females as males. Walking around the halls, the other girls there just assumed they were stews. See, male deck hands think of following the path up to Captain and most deck hands remain male. But female stews don't think of that as a logical path. The facts are that there are some extremely competent female captains. Probably only 20% of those hiring will honestly consider them but as long as they are less than 20% of the candidates they still have a shot at jobs. Yeah it's not fair all don't. But until more do it and prove themselves competent then they won't be fully accepted.

Engineers are a whole different thing. When we were hiring, we didn't run across any female candidates. Zip. Nyet. Zero. Nada. None. Before females can break through that barrier that exists some have to decide to enter the field. When there are women in the field being discriminated against, I'll raise holy heck over it. But right now there's no one even testing the system. I think of car racing. Drag racing first had women successful. Well, why not other forms such as Indycar or Nascar. Yes, Danica started young but she's the exception. Look at someone like Chase Elliott. His daddy probably had him racing in his baby stroller. At 16, he was experienced. But race car owners are after sponsorship's and money and Danica can't drive worth diddly but look at the money she brings in. Some young female comes along and can actually drive, which they could if there were enough of them starting young, teams would jump on them (not literally, dudes). For real, it opens up a whole new world of sponsors. Can't you just see Heather Fastcar in her Victoria's Secret, Sure, Tampax, Catalina, Tide Toyota.

So this is how I see the tech side of boating, the engineering side. We won't know how females can be accepted until some actually pursue it. Look at engineering schools and see what forms of engineering the females there go for? You'll find very few choose mechanical or industrial. That's fine if we prefer to be architects or write about boats. So who is to blame? Parents. Teachers. A kid is going to see the world as it is. They will picture themselves as they see adults of their sex. It's up to parents and teachers to break through those barriers, not to force females into these fields, but to present them as possibilities. What happens isn't conscious. A simple example. You're a father with a boat and you have a son and you probably talk him into working in the engine room with you, helping you change the oil or a belt, long before he's of any help. If you have a daughter, do you do the same, or do you and her mom tell her to be careful and not get her oil on herself?

So we have the proverbial chicken and egg. I personally believe a female who really wants to be in these fields could do it. They'd run into prejudices and issues, but if they wanted it bad enough, they'd win the important battles and win people over. We have female captains who could have been engineers if they'd chosen. They know their way around the field better than many engineers. Maybe females are too smart for the dirty world of engine rooms and chasing electrical problems through the bowels of the boat. As to developing new products, there's no difference between developing the Malibu arch and developing better kitchen appliances. The reality is very few females do either.

I guess the short of it is I don't blame the industry. I don't believe they're rejecting female candidates. I don't think they're getting them. As to Captains, I do hold some of the older Captains a bit responsible because frankly they're protecting their turf a bit and it can be a good old boys club. On the other hand, all professions have obstacles. I firmly believe females who want to be professional captains can do it. They should just go in knowing it will take hard work, probably require overcoming some stereotypes, and require them to be willing to do all the job, not just the fun parts.

God, this is as freaking long as my hubby writes...oh well. One last comment on the subject. I do remain disappointed that women don't take equal roles on boats couples own. They miss out on a lot. I sure hope if they're going out on a trawler with their man they at least know enough to take over if he gets sick or hurt. Maybe some like just being a spectator, but to me the real fun is participating. Most of the time the man would like for them to take a more equal and active role. Women on sail boats do. Time for women power boaters to do the same.

Hmmmm.

http://www.findacrew.net/secure-server/eng/account/crew.asp?account=240363

Doesn't have the engineering certification we required. I don't doubt there may be some who do, but we sure didn't run across them or have them referred to us. Now, we did find a person pretty fast so didn't look as much as maybe we could have.

Question for you....are you going to remain a thinker? You seem to like that new name....hehe

Certainly, going for another T-Shirt, post-wise.


Question for you - How does a female obtain cert time without a job?

Perhaps hired as a multitasker with some time spent as Engineer assistant.


P.S.- Your Avatar lacks expression of thought. Any desire to change pic?

Too funny. Just realize the other half is using the Question Mark.

The two of you should have a union meeting and change your Avatars.

I changed just for you, OP. Or OPT it is now.

We didn't have avatars before. I don't think he knew we did now. And the union meeting.....if that's what we're calling it tonight...will occur shortly. It's not quite 10 here yet so maybe about 10:30. Never can tell how long those meetings will run.

What do you have to do for the tshirt? I'm sure I knew but forgot as we don't normally pursue those type things. Didn't know there were prizes. Didn't know about trophies either.

Your concern about the engineering trainee is well placed. We obviously haven't talked to her. But from what we read, we believe she would be better off at this point in her career either on a larger boat or a commercial one with many levels in the engineering area. She could gain the training. She would also benefit from more school training. We typically only have one engineer on board and so it requires more experience and knowledge. Perhaps one day we'll have a training position of some sort. We'd like to help qualified candidates start and build their careers if we had the right situation to do so.

Now, regardless, we were not aware of her as we didn't get a referral from acquaintances nor from the management/placement companies we work with. I'm sure there are others we don't know about. Did run across one but she wasn't US.

Oh and I think we have a big enough boat to land you. If not, we'll just take off and tow you behind.....hehe. What a big mouth you have in your avatar.

Too funny.

Think Hemmingway:

Old Man (OldPhartThinker) of the Sea - need a bigger boat.

Aren't you afraid this burst of thinking is going to short something out on you? Well, we're headed to the bedroom for the union meeting you feel is needed. Good night OPT.

"I may not be as strong as I think, but I know many tricks and I have resolution"

Free T-Shirt for Senior Member.

http://www.yachtforums.com/index.php?threads/free-t-shirts-for-yfs-senior-members.20872/