tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3716194.post114055624693880968..comments2023-10-17T10:02:49.673-04:00Comments on My World: the weaker sex...Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15279574173474748725noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3716194.post-1142212289026261652006-03-12T20:11:00.000-05:002006-03-12T20:11:00.000-05:00(Hi Wedge! Let me know how the grad school decisi...(Hi Wedge! Let me know how the grad school decision works out!)<BR/><BR/>It isn't all roses and hearts in the working world either. I have heard many men say, "Well she just ruined her career." because she chose to work 3 days a week instead of 5.<BR/><BR/>I am very lucky to have found a company that is open to women (or men, for that matter) adjusting thier schedules to be with their family. However, there is still a bit of "not quite animosity, but something else," toward any woman that wants to start a family before she is 30. Because you know, you're not a real engineer until then. Hopefully that will change, too. ;) <BR/><BR/>But you're right, choosing to go back to grad school at this point in your life is a difficult decision. I wish you luck, but you already know that. :)adriannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11735637488168744236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3716194.post-1141056511101727202006-02-27T11:08:00.000-05:002006-02-27T11:08:00.000-05:00Cheryl,Hey! Good to hear from you!I've certainly ...Cheryl,<BR/><BR/>Hey! Good to hear from you!<BR/><BR/>I've certainly heard about the craziness that is med school/residency/etc. but <BR/>I know very little about the female:male ration in medicine. How much does it shift from first year of med school to residency to independently practicing medicine?<BR/><BR/>Your statement that "I'll be able to have a profession I enjoy and the freedom to enjoy life on top of it - no shame in me on that count as a 27 year old, but there would have been had I declared those sentiments at 22" rather intrigued me. I felt that way (and knew Robin felt that way) by the end of our time at Caltech... we both agreed that neither of us wanted to go the academic route because we wanted what Robin had growing up. Both his parents were home by dinner time every night, and they were extremely involved in their kids' lives. It seemed obvious at the time that any academic or consultant at McKinsey would not have time for family. <BR/><BR/>5 years later, I still feel that way, but I realize it's not so black and white. Ultimately it's still about choice. Today, women are empowered to choose to work or stay home with their kids, choose to keep their maiden name or not. We can't forget that we can choose to let our jobs take over our lives, or choose to push it into its own corner. For instance, my own advisor just had his third kid this summer. He is not slacking in running his lab (hell, I'm still here) and anyone who talks to him knows that he is very involved in his childrens' lives. If he can do it, well I'll be damned if I can't give it a try.Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15279574173474748725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3716194.post-1141022669675859022006-02-27T01:44:00.000-05:002006-02-27T01:44:00.000-05:00Hello! I'm amused that of all the times to check ...Hello! I'm amused that of all the times to check your blog, I do so now...1) these thoughts are in my mind as well and I've changed my career path in somewhat of a response and 2) working for a (female scientist) Harvard Overseer, the continuing Summers "situation" has been our water cooler topic for months. <BR/><BR/>Back to the first topic: it's even worse in medicine, from what I can see - not necessarily the ratio, but the "career v. family" aspects...your 20s are when you are going through the hell of nights on call, residencies and fellowships...forget starting a fmaily, as you'll be lucky to make it through the training with your marriage intact. I'm not at all ashamed to say that my time off from school has given me a different perspective on what's important to me, and while I still definitely want a career, family is up there as well. I'll never care enough about my career to miss piano recitals or student plays and wouldn't marry anyone who thought differently...this was not at all what I thought coming out of college, uncertain though I was about what direction I was ultimately going to take. <BR/><BR/>I'm going to take the plunge this summer and apply to school - specifically, dental school. There is a whole long and lovely story about why dentistry is such a good fit for me - but really, let's face it - dentists don't have grueling nights on call. I'll be able to have a profession I enjoy and the freedom to enjoy life on top of it - no shame in me on that count as a 27 year old, but there would have been had I declared those sentiments at 22. Hoepfully, I'm not turning my back on years of womens' rights progress by saying so...<BR/><BR/>Take care and good luck with your applications!<BR/><BR/>-CherylAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3716194.post-1140796531050525392006-02-24T10:55:00.000-05:002006-02-24T10:55:00.000-05:00It is my understanding that at this point in time,...It is my understanding that at this point in time, the ratio of female:male in science doing graduate work is not that much less than the ratio in undergrad. The steep dropoff occurs after the ph.d... somehow, the ratio isn't "filtering" through to academia.<BR/> <BR/>No word from Systems Bio for me yet either.Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15279574173474748725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3716194.post-1140761259191271152006-02-24T01:07:00.000-05:002006-02-24T01:07:00.000-05:00The most interesting grad students that I have wor...The most interesting grad students that I have worked with are those students who have taken time off after undergrad. They have had the chance to sample the 'real' world and are sure that they are making the right choice in pursuiting a PhD. Women now constitute the majority at the undergrad level (though still underrepresented in engineering and the physical sciences), wont't this filter through to the graduate level as time goes on? <BR/><BR/>Have you heard back from Harvard Systems Biology....even though I know that I must be rejected (no interview) I have received no letter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com