All Girls Teams?
 

There always is talk about how to get more girls involved in robotics. I know of some teams of girls from all-girl schools, but what about in co-ed schools?

What do all of you think about forming all girl FRC teams in addition to an existing FRC team in a co-ed school? From what I've heard from people I know in robotics there have been the stand points:

1. Its good! It gets more girls involved!

2. Its not so good! The girls are completely separated and not as much learning and sharing of knowledge involved!

I'd like to get an idea what the whole FIRST community has to say on this issue.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

This is idea is pessimal. It gives an innaccurate view of the real engineering world, and shelters both male and female proto-engineers. The experience of working on a team is radically different if their is intentional sampling bias in said team. Very, very, very, few companies have entirely female employess. Very few, but slightly more are all male. This also wastes resources and would be socially bizzare.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I'm not sure how it would get more girls involved. Especially if some of them only join at first because of all the guys.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I agree. Having an all girls team is fine if you are an all-girls school, or maybe a Girl Scouts team, but having a co-ed school with an all-girls team would be awkward. I would think they would rather join a co-ed team. Alternately, all the girls on the co-ed team might opt to move to the all-girls team, leaving the "co-ed" team with only boys.

It would also create a lot of problems logistically. Both teams would probably want to have equal treatment, meaning sponsors would either have to shell out double the money, or all donations would be split equally. It just seems to me that it would be more trouble than it's worth. Personally, I'd rather see a co-ed team with a 50:50 boy-girl ratio

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I would take everything said in this thread by a male with a grain of salt.

None of us can know how females feel about the subject.

In addition, it's somewhat insulting to all the women in FIRST to insinuate that they joined just because of the guys.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

This has been tried at least once. Emery Collegiate in Toronto had, at one point, a girls' team and a boys' team. Now there's only one team.

I'm speculating here, but I have a feeling that the sheer cost of paying major expenses twice, combined with the problem of dividing up the limited mentoring resources and fabrication space and equipment led to the conclusion that one team would serve their needs adequately. I'm also not sure if there was sufficient participation in later years to justify maintaining the unusual structure.

If you want to know more, ask someone from 1219 (the ex-boys' team, and now the co-ed Emery C.I. team).

(By the way, there's no need for Cory's grain of salt here; this is all easily verifiable.)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

There is actually an all girls team out here. I forget there number but they always have a pink robot they do pretty well at regionals Chespeake in particular.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

There's plenty of all girls teams in FIRST. This thread is dealing specifically with one school having two teams--an all girls team, and a potentially co-ed/male team.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

An all-women's team might attract more young women because they would feel less intimidated than being on a co-ed team, especially if they are new to FIRST or new to technology areas.

Besides, I thought 1929 had done just this in Montclair?

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Well I feel that sometimes young ladies are scared to step up to the plate and show that they can be chic but intellegent at the same time. I've been teased plenty by my girl friends and others for being on the robotics team and being the "dorky" engineering type. Sometimes peer pressure amounts to too much, from other girls only though, the boys couldn't really care less if you're on the robotics team or not. So many girls basically need a bit of an attitude adjustment. Not all girls mind you! But many.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

We have had an all girls team since the beginning of this year. In Montclair, there is 555, the co-ed team and 1929, the girls team. So far everything is going fine, we have 2 separate teams and 2 separate sponsors so there are no conflict of interests over anything.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

girls being on a team can be both entertaining ... if not stranbge at times... but hey, the guys need us

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Six years ago when my daughter's school organized FLL, there were too many for one team. They split up guys/girls (numbers were ~equal). The girls went on to be a very successful team (Dragon Devils, Michigan, in case anyone remembers).

Usually a school doesn't have the problem of too many participants for one team - I'd guess there would have to be somewhere between 50 and 100 team members before a split would become necessary (depending on team dynamics, roles, particpation levels, etc.). If you have to do a split and there are enough girls, then you can consider it.

Unfortunately there is another reason to set up a new all-girls team - if on the existing team the girls are relegated to background roles. All too often it happens, not just on FIRST teams, that the stereotype of "girls can't do Math/Engineering/Science" prevails. If girls can't break into leadership and technical roles on an existing team, they should explore setting up a separate team, perhaps in conjunction with girls from neighboring teams who feel the same way. They would have to find separate funding sources, mentors and build locations. But it could be done if it is needed. Just the threat of breaking off might give the existing team the wakeup call that it needs - "Hello, 21st Century calling!"

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

There are many great all girls teams out there. I think they do a great job in every aspect when it comes to FIRST from on the field to off the field. Many team can learn a lot from these all girl teams I've seen throughout the years.
But all girls teams allows girls who feel intimated by guys while working on the robot a chance to work on the robot. Some girls just work better in this environment and this is a chance for them to succeed.
Like everything.. there are pros and cons. I feel the pros out weight all the cons though. Girls may not be as stong as guys but we will find a way to prevail and solve our problems. And I'm not saying we don't need guys. Both males and females bring something to this world and we can't live without one another.

Good luck to all teams once again! :)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

for schools like us, it is not feasable since we have too few members already. And I also agree that it would be a waste of resources for a school to have 2 teams, when 1 would be more than enough.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

This is basically why I started this thread. I was formerly a female co-captain on 555 and was the only girl on 2 out of 4 of the trips we went on last year. I was surprised when I had heard that Montclair was making a whole new team of girls (1929) since we only had a few girls last year.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I <3 girls whether they are on an all girls team or not. and whether or not they are part of robotics or not... ;)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I'll assume thats because of the beneficial and valuable knowledge and input we give when working in groups.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

As to the discussion, just from seeing the results this far it seems to me that having an all-girls team along with a co-ed team is quite detrimental. All it really seems to do is further segregate the teams, and make it much more difficult for the statistically smaller girls team. It also takes away valuable input from the co-ed team who, despite being co-ed, is left seemingly without girls as the girls no longer have the time to commit to both robots.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I don't think that we should start all girl teams because I really think that there are more ideas that float around (from personal experience). But I really think that the girls of the teams need to start a retreat of some sort. Sometimes girls just need to take a break, I mean I am one of only two girls on my team. Don't get me wrong I love these guys but on occasion I need a little break.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

if there were more all girls teams we would get beat and thats no fun not to mention all girls teams leaders get mad when you ding dong ditch there hotel rooms lol but ya we got a rookie girl this year and shes the best rookie weve had in a long time

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

You do realize that girls are now outperforming guys on a lot of standardized testing, right? I think that there are also more women in engineering schools, although I might be wrong on that. But, I do find the gender ratio of the GDC sort of odd.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Heh.

I really think that the mentors of the teams need to start a retreat of some sort. Sometimes mentors just need to take a break, I mean I am one of only four mentors on my team. Don't get me wrong I love these students but on occasion I need a little break. :)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Id like an all girls team :rolleyes:

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Universities in general, yes. Engineering programs, no. (And since a given engineering school might have non-engineering programs, I suppose that it's not impossible that they actually do have more females, thanks to their other programs. But I've never heard of a majority of girls in an engineering class—mine is about 8:1 for the guys.)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

How many people can raise that much money every year?

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

When i see an all girls team, it makes me proud to be a girl, for the girls being an all girls team thank you! because it shows the guys that yes we girls can also do things like all other guys. do, and don't think because we're girls doesn't mean we don't know how to work on robots or anything like that. And when an all girls team make it to the near finals! Whoa. proud of all of you guys! :D Most of all, i love how the Occra has an all girls competition. Now thats the day that we girls shine :p , and show the guys, teacher, and anybody that we girls can do great things like that too! =)
p.s Yes we girls should really get more involved! it's great to see that girls can do things too! :D

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I give a high five plus a hug to all the all-girls teams. good job. it shows men and boys that we can do any mans job. And also, not only for all girls teams, but for all the girls that are involved in FIRST robotics and even in lego league. girls rock haha

-Court-

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

there are two all girls teams in the NYC regionals

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

An all girl team would be fun, but I don't think it would get more girls to join... at least not here in Colorado.
Heh... we have enough drama on the team with mostly boys... I can't imagine what an all girl team would be like at shipping time! :P

Any ideas on getting more girls to join are welcome though

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I can guarantee that the girl on the Cyber Cards team 1529 did not join because of the guys. She wants to be an engineer!

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

What he actually said was this:

Your post takes his post to an extreme. He said /SOME/, not all. Please don't misrepresent what other posters have said.

I agree with a lot of what has been said here. I'm not sure how it would increase the girls' interest in robotics to have all girl teams. If you have 5,000 girls interested in this activity, I don't understand why creating all-girl teams would make more girls want to join.

I'm not maligning the OP here, I'm just adding my personal opinion that it's probably not going to help.

Paul Dennis

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Just a quick correction. Other than last year (where we had two different driving teams), the drivers were always the team captains. Both the rookie year (2001) and my first year (2002) had girl drivers. Also, the following year's (2003) lack of girl drivers was partially due to an extreme lack of girls (the only one on the team was Audrey)!

As for mentors, we had female mentors every single year. Don't forget last year where Liz mentored at all of the regional competitions!

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Ok I am completely 100% all for more girls in the team lol especially good looking ones that can help around :D

Ok seriously, more help is always great no matter what gender, race, language or whatever. More skill + more help = great. Also a little bit of eye candy never hurt anyone right?

But in all truth and honesty I dont care about anything as long as the new members are there to learn, help around, and use their skills for the better of our team. I know there are some people who just join the team for a ride to go traveling or whatever and dont even jump up and dance/cheer our team. I hate that, you either have to help build the robot, do something to help us, or dance. You dont even have to dance well because I mean I dance over there at the competition, and loose my voice and everything. So yea more girls in FIRST teams are great just as long as they help with the team and dont just join so they can go with us to the regionels and stuff for a "free ride" as I call it.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

just from a programming standpoint, I'd rather have ANYONE who could program than anyone who couldn't, regardless of their gender. However, I'm not qualified to comment on other aspects of the team.

as for a seperate girls team, my school barely has enough ppl interested in robotics for ONE team, much less two......

also, it goes without saying that ANY programmer on a FIRST team MUST be willing to ignore the teacher and program for the robot ON PAPER, DURING CLASS.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I think we can all agree that it doesn't matter who is on the team just as long as theres people who work, and are there to help the team so they can have fun too and everything. IMHO,


anyone that can help > girls who just sit around doing nothing for a "free ride"

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I'd just like to have one girl on our team. My daughters come to the meetings out of necessity and are starting to take interest and learn about some things. One day I hope they will participate on our team.

We do not have many students on our team (about 12 regulars).
I keep trying to interest more of my programming girls but even those numbers are low this year.

Any ideas how to market to girls too.

Carolyn

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

im on an all girls team (433) and we do just fine every year with recruiting and competitions and whatnot.

i think having an all girls team in a co-ed school is absolutely ridiculous though. the only reason my team is all girls is because my school is all girls. by separating girls from the boys, it's like saying that they SHOULD be separate. as a girl and a future engineer, i find this incredibly insulting. if you want to spread the message that girls are just as good as guys, dont make them separate teams. have them all working together, competing against each other, etc.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

:mad: for your information girls don't just join the team because of the guys. Us girls probably are more useful than most guys and we know more than you think we do!

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I'm sure the young women on your team would be delighted to hear this estimate of their contribution.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

All girl's teams rock! Yeah!!! :cool: ;)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

chicks arnt usually as smart/nerdy as robotics dudes. ya. im bein sexist, but just sayin that itd be easy ta beat all girl teams. haha. ;)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I don't know how you could possibly say that. I certainly hope it's just a very bad joke, especially seeing as this is your first year competing so you don't really have much basis for such a statement.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

? r u insane? im just sayin as of nerdy guys...they care more and try harder...no offense to women. women can or cant be better; in general, they are smarter, but in extreme situations, they arent. please dont be quick ta judge.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

i dont know about all the "nerdy guys" that you're talking about, but im pretty intense. down in the basement every day, working my heart out, leaving homework to the very last minute to go chop up some aluminum, etc. All the other girls on my team are the same way. And I don't know every robot girl our there, but I'm thinking they'd be just as offended as I am right now. Sure, it's scientific fact that girls' brains are usually more geared towards english and whatnot, but when we're on the team, we're good. And we're dedicated. You wanna see how much? Take a look at everything my team has done.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I'm not being "quick ta judge," nor am I insane as you so put it. Your statement is both false, and out of line. As a first-year member of a team you can't say for a fact that men come any more, or work any harder, than women. Even if it has been your experience so far this year on your own team, you can't generalize that for all teams. There is also no decisive evidence as to which sex is more intelligent, let alone if it is even really related to sex at all.

Finally, women are absolutely not, in any way, less intelligent in extreme situations. I have known a number of women in many different positions throughout FIRST, from team members and captains to officials like Ana Martinez, who are incredible under the stress of such situations. My own team (Montclair's 555) has had the fortune of having women as captains in the past, and they have proven themselves to be completely equal, if not better, than the male captains (and I am speaking for myself as well). Montclair High School also has a second team, team 1929, which is further disproving your theory, as they are an all-girls team being led and completely run by girls. So far this year they are doing terrifically, and are currently further along in the build process than 555 is!

Last year alone for our team can disprove any notion that girls are less adept. One of the two captains (pika1579) was not only dedicated and unbelievably hard-working, but an amazing leader. The only other leader the team has had previously who was as good as her was our other past woman captain from a few years back.

I don't mean to come off as harsh or rude, but I do take offense to your generalizations. You don't have the experience to make the statements you did, nor is there a bit of truth to them beyond anything you have experienced so far.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I don't know what you are talking about. I am a woman and, as Adam said, I was captain of team 555, and 555 has a lot to show for it. As to women not working hard or caring enough that is completely not true. I worked very hard and cared very much about the team. I am still going back to help them when I can. People care about robotics regardless of their gender. You have no right to make generalizations like that.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

bull there are only to girls on my team at the moment and we're both more valuable than some of the boys. Im a freashman and my friend is a Senior.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I believe phrontist was being sarcastic. I wouldn't get too upset at that statement.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

i'm from the #433 firebirds (an all girls team from PA) n we're just as good as the guys. this yr our team has started the first FRC team in africa n by next yr we plan for them to compete at the philly regional. This yr we have fundraised enough money for 10 of their members to come to PA just to scout (that's $13,000 for 10 plane tickets). so girls can do remarkable things n are certainly an asset to the robotics community in general

however, i do not believe that u should make an all girls team in a co-ed school simply because that's not fair. if all the girls on ur team support that decision to make another team then sure, by all means. i think the girls that join robotics are just as good as guys b/c the girls that want to join have the desire to learn programming, designing, mechanics, and etc. therefore shouldnt u want them on ur team? n isnt it in the best interest of ur team to have them there? building a robot isnt about how many ppl is on ur team or everybody having an equal say, its about learning to work in an engineering environment and rising up the challenge. the engineering environment isnt divided, so why should ur team be?

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Team 868 officially apologizes for the comments by one of our members, and we are working to ensure that they will not happen again. Please be aware that the beliefs stated below are not held by Team 868 as a whole. We regret that this is necessary, but please disregard the following posts. Thank you for your time.

In other news, at least five of our most influential team members are girls, and are an irreplaceable part of this team. We support any efforts to help women in engineering fields. We hope you're having a great build season!

~Kyle Lemons
Team 868 - Head of Control Systems and Electronics

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

yes, sorry on my part. i didnt even mean anything that i had said. im not even on the team, and i didnt even think that anyone would take it seriously. well, please accept my dearest appology for any wrong ideas you might have about team #868. this is not what anyone thinks at all. not even me. well, please accept my appology for the team.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I don't understand how this could seem funny. Maybe the first post alone could be construed as a very bad joke, but the second post made it real. In any case, I respect you and the team for the apologies. Thank you.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I graduate several years ago from an all-girls' high school where I helped to start our FIRST team. We never questioned our "weirdness" until our second year, at the Chicago regional, where we were made fun of, groped in a "tunnel" after we won an award, and had disbelieving (male) scouts asking how we managed to build a robot if we were all girls. Also, the MC made a big deal out of referring to us as the "all-girls team" every time we were announced at a match. Didn't really help us to blend in and just play the game.

On the team I now mentor, we've got about half and half boys and girls, and it's the same with the mentors. We treat both genders equally, and we get the same quality work out of both. Nothing is ever mentioned about the girls doing something versus the guys doing something.

At competition, on your own teams, in high school and college and the real world, just don't make a big deal of it. It's not a problem until you make it one. If you have equal expectations for everyone and hold to them, chances are you'll see the results you want.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I really don't understand why this is such a controversial issue. I mean, why are we talking about making all-girls teams? If girls want to be on a FRC team, they don't have to make a big "gender bender" movement about it. And I don't think we should have all-girls teams just so that they are there. If that's the way it turns out, just let it be.
I am one of 4 high school girls on our team, and we have 2 female mentors. So what if the boy-girl ratio isn't perfect? Its just how things unfold. We should think of it as an intelligence thing, its about people's interests and what they want to do.

If people are concerned about the number of girls in FIRST, why are they?

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I just want to say thanks to Adam Shapiro for standing up to the false statements that were posted. So....Thanks :)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Its not controversial to have all girls teams in general. The issue is, is it appropriate for there to be 2 teams an all-girls team and the resulting "all-guys" team. Why? Because it has happened in some places.

I agree completely that the number of girls to girls on a team shouldn't just be a ratio, the team should just be made up of people who are really interested no matter if they're girls or guys.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

You're certainly welcome. ;)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I am sorry but I think that an all girls team would good but it would feel a bit sexist if you made whole new robotics team at a co-ed school. I think that you should just try to get more girls involved then the teams would not have to compete against each other. Besides I do not think that it is legal to have two teams at the same school. Hey it would be cool if they Had a robotics class then even more people would get involved.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Nothing to be sorry about :)
I think most people on this thread so far would agree with you. All-girls teams are a fine idea when it is a necessity (such as at an all-girls school) but creating one alongside an existing team is more segregational and detrimental than it is helpful. It is, however, legal to have two teams at the same school; teams 555 and 1929 (the all-girls team at Montclair High School) prove just this.
Definitely. They actually do have this at Montclair High School. It works out well.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

As the current captain of 555, I can say that the girl's of 1929 have much more of a drive to get the robot done and to learn new skills than the guy freshman on Team 555 For a first year team with all but one rookie member, they are doing amazingly well and have finished their robot and programmed it by Saturday at 4:00PM. As for 555, its getting there....

I only wish that having an all girls team didn't also turn the other into an all guys team. Our two teams are trying to get around this, but it has been an almost impossible struggle. Our best way to bridge the gap was the decision that any member may go to any competition. For example, many of the girls are coming to Trenton where 555 is competing and a few of the guys are going to Hartford to help 1929.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Are yo thinking of think pink or another team?

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I agree with this statement 100%. Its almost like saying we are going to have a 100% (insert any "group" here)... that does not seem very ethically correct if you ask me. Of course there are exceptions such as an all girl’s school or an all boy’s school... then the teams demographic will reflect that.

When it gets broken down it should all be a team full of "people who love FIRST, and want to be there" regardless of anything else.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Les Femmes Fatales? Team 709, I guess.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

As a female, I think all girls teams from Co-ed schools are a very, very, bad idea. While I agree that more girls could become involved in FIRST, I don't believe sexual segregation is the way to go. I am speaking from the point of view of a girl on a co-ed team. I initially joined because my Chem. teacher mentioned the idea of a robotics team to my class. As time has gone on, I am one of 3 girls who have stayed constant on a team of appr. 20-25 members. I'm not on the team for dating, and I find the thought that I would've joined the team as some sort of dating service offensive. I have yet to date a guy from the team, and I prefer it that way, I wouldn't want to spend that much time with ANY one person!
Anyway, I believe that co-ed is the best way to go if possible. There is so much everyone can bring to the table... I'm not so good at the mathematics or physics of our 'bots, but I'll be jiggered if my ideas aren't almost always the ones the team ends up adopting and modding to the benefit of our season!

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Wait a minute. I have never seen a girl join our team because of boys. That is like saying that boys would join strictly because of the girls. That is a sexist remark. Us girls on our team are offended by that remark. We work just as hard and sometimes much harder then some of the boys. We use power tools, we help design, we are creative, and at times we show the boys how to do things. All of us belong to the Chicks Union and are proud of ourselves. The boys on our team support us in every way and encourage us. This is the way it should be. GIRLS ROCK :cool:

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Maybe this is why you are the team mascot. Very insulting not only to us girls
but also to F.I.R.S.T. They encourage girls to work and compete to their fullest extent!! Maybe you should go back and do some research about what F.I.R.S.T. is all about.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

I know that many, many people have been outraged by this statement, from both sexes. I am one of them. But seriously, why would someone even say this? How could someone say this? I don't know, but they did.
There are some people out there that feel this way. But ya know, us girls can't get all up tight about every single sexist thing said about us. In fact, it gives us power to prove them so dead wrong!!! YEAH!!! We know these remarks aren't true, so lets not let it get so under our skin.
So forget about what soccerguy868 said. Or maybe even just laugh at it. Really, try it. Read what he wrote and just laugh. Maybe you have to read it twice, but I mean, he called us girls "chicks" and guys "dudes". You see what I mean?? He wouldn't even have had the guts to say it to a girl's face at the thought of how much his hospital bill would be. lol jk.

So lets get back to the real issue and people's views:
What do all of you think about forming all girl FRC teams in addition to an existing FRC team in a co-ed school?

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

This is ridiculous, I'm on Team 1929, and I was one of it's founders, now that it's the end of the 2006 build season I look back and am very glad we have become two teams. The Montclair's teams work together, are friends, and always hangout together, but when we were combined there just was too many people and not enough work. Last year I was on Team 555 and 2 girls showed up for the build season, one of them was me and the other a co-captain. This year there are 15 members on the all-girls team, 7 of them very involved, and I know if they were on Team 555 this year they would still not know how to use power tools, configure electrical boards, program a robot, know c++, know how to make a website in java script and html, design, and many other things. When the teams were combined a person who didn't know how to do something didn't always learn how, it was no ones fault but that was just the way it was, this year there are more chances for girls and the boys to learn because there is more work.
So I understand that having 2 teams might not work well in every school, but in ours it has worked well.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Well, actually, one particular girl is why I signed up for Stagecraft when I was a senior. We've been married for 27 years now...

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Was it a smaller team that made the difference?...Or the fact that it was an all girls team?

From what you said, not a lot of the girls had prior experience in robotics. Do you think you would have learned more if it was a smaller team with a few experienced people who learned a lot in past year and a few people ready to learn new things rather than the gender split?

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

i totally agree w/ u. i think more girls should be in Robotics. i am 1 of 2 girls on the team of 1323.

Robyn :)

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Same here...it's just myself and another girl who're like...ALWAYS there. There's another girl who's there from time to time but she hardly does anything when she comes. BUT...I've apparently been dubbed as 'one of the guys'...and I'm not sure if I should take it as a compliment or an insult...

However, our marketing team is all girls.

But yeah...other than that, I'm the only other girl on the Build team.

2 years ago we had two teams. One was a guys team, one was girls. But, we decided to let our girls team go and just form one big team again because we just couldn't afford it.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Give the kid a break! Soccerguy868 said he was sorry. What more do you want out of him? Look there are two possibilities as to how it was said
1) He was kidding
2) He was serious and isn't going to believe different until he sees a girl's team beat his.

Either scenario does not include any form of improvement by having people yell at him after he says sorry. I don't believe anybody understands FIRST anyway until they have seen a competition...

I find this question really interesting. I mentor an all girls team that is suppose to be city-wide. Every school in the city except for two already have a team. I mentor 1725 not because of it is all girls but because I asked for a team to mentor and I was told this team needed a mentor. I however come from a co-ed highschool team so I have seen a little bit of both perspectives.

From a logistics perspective it is much easier to mentor teams that are not co-ed. (Between FRC and FLL I've done both) It is far less socially awkward and it keeps parents calmer. On my highschool team sometimes the boys would take a part home and sleep in shifts so somebody was working all night on it. Explaining to my parents that I was going to a boy's house, that I would be the only girl, and that I was staying over just did not fly. I am very sure if I had been going to a girl's house with no boys there my parents would have permitted me.

Perhaps if more girls had been going to work on the electronics board overnight my parents would have permitted me. The problem was they did not doubt that I was going to really work on an electronics board all night, they just thought it wasn't the proper thing for me to do. I have not heard of parents telling their son that. I do think there is a correlation between parents with rules about what their daughter should or should not do (in the "properness" context of things) and daughters who are more use to a stereotypical definition of female roles in society. Those girls are the ones who will gain the most out of a FIRST experience. Those particular girls will gain a great deal from an all-girls team.

However I'm fully willing to admit: the idea is a sexist from the perspective of a girl ready to work with the boys who has parents who will let her. It also is a terrible approximation of life in the work force.

Also for the record
No way. Not within the engineering programs themselves. This shows the number of girls at WPI in various majors along with national averages data. http://www.wpi.edu/Admin/Women/Students/

Only a few schools can sport 50/50 numbers and places like MIT have to fiddle with some numbers to pull it off (8% of men who apply get accepted to MIT. That number is closer to 19% for women).

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

How do you have an employee thats not entirely female? BTW for the comment about girls joining because of guys theres a 56 page thread in the chit chat section on dating.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

He probably meant to say that few companies are made entirely of female employees. It was just a weird word choice.

Re: All Girls Teams?
 

Although i TOTALY suport 1929, 555's Female Companions, i do think that it would be better of we were one team. Its really hard to split our resources and build two bots. I will halve to admit that there are more girls on 1929 then there have ever been on 555. So yes the team has succeded in getting more girls to join FIRST.