Guest Post-Rise of the Girl Geek

Today I'd like to welcome an author who many have probably heard of–this lady is all over the net. Designing websites, editing, writing . . . there's not much she can't do!

Please welcome—->

Lucy Felthouse

 

Before I start, I'd like to point out that I use the word geek in a completely positive way. Basically, I'm a girl geek, and I'm proud of it. I'm also happy that I'm not the only one. There are lots of (proud) girl geeks out there, and the number is rising fast.

There's no denying that men are still in the majority in many industries, with IT being one of them. To be honest, it doesn't bother me. I'm not in a position where I'm working in an office with tons of men and being in the minority. Even that wouldn't concern me. I get on with men just as well as women, and I can hold my own. In my old job I'd have regular conversations with men that professed to know more than me about certain techie things and take great delight in shooting them down in flames. I'm not saying all guys are like that, just some of the ones I worked with were know-it-alls

 I'm not saying I know everything; I don't. I'm not saying I know more than men, or that I'm better than anyone. I'm not. I'm just saying that I like what I do, and I love constantly finding out more about how things work. I'm very much a learn-by-doing person. I've got no qualifications in web design or development and yet I know my way around. I've learnt everything myself – and I've always been the same. A geek through and through.

I didn't have any decent IT training in school or college. Luckily for me, my parents bought me a computer from a young age and I taught myself how to use it. I'll always be grateful for that because now I'm in a position where I'm working from home, for myself. I'm using my hard-earned knowledge to help other people, earn some cash and keep learning and developing along the way. What's not to love?

So what are your thoughts on girl geeks? Are you one? Know one? Love one? I'd like to hear your thoughts in the comments. And to girl geeks everywhere – I'm raising a glass to you. It's nice to show that we're capable of holding our own in a male-dominated industry.

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Find out more about Lucy Felthouse on her website, http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk. You can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Lucy recently started her own business, Writer Marketing Services. She offers web design, PR & Marketing Services to writers, along with copywriting and editing. Check out the website for more information and to contact Lucy. http://www.writermarketing.co.uk