We had two girls on our team last year and have three this year. I actually have a good number of girls in my classes at school (AP BC Calc, AP Physics, etc.)
we had one last year but she graduated. Im going to put up posters with Phil’s closing statements and a picture of my hotness. I’d like to talk longer with Phil. He seems entertaining.
And now the important aspect of this problem: Girls in engineering are hot. There are very few girls in engineering. Jim needs a girlfriend. Supply and demand is working against Jim. Jim is angred and saddened by the situation.
-wise phil sees deeply into the fellow roboteers mind
So I have an… interesting question. I have a position open and two people are interested. Is it OK to give a position to one of two equally qualified people because that person is a girl. I mean yes its sexism but I know that this situation happens in the business world as well as with the government so is it OK? I want to try and pull as many girls as possible into technical areas but I have this itch thats making me wonder if its right. Its not that I’m letting sex compensate for anything like lack of skill or knowledge, its just it’s the deciding factor. I would like to hear feedback from both men and women.
Two words: affirmative action. If you want to get more girls involved, go for it. But if you don’t care, flip a coin. 1351 also has voting. There’s people in place to evaluate the candidates and ultimately make a selection. But, they like to see the votes to make sure they didn’t make some gross error in their choice, and possibly use it as a tie breaker.
By the way, this reminds me of an episode of Star Trek: Voyager. The doctor had two patients with the same affiliction and an equal chance of survival. He only had time to save one of them though, so he saved his friend. Because of this, he went crazy. He had problems trying to justify choosing his friend rather than the other patient.
If you really want to attract as many girls as possible, then don’t let on about that itch.
:o
Yeah… thanks Sciguy but the truth is it wouldn’t matter. I’m not all quite their as it is. So yeah thanks this was helpful and that itch isn’t so bad now.
Our Team’s President is a girl, and she’s the one who does all the main electrical stuff. We also had a girl as a president last year. We have 3 girls in our Structure Division (including myself), and possibly two more joining for this year. Hoping to recruit more, but many get scared away because of all the time, weekends and vacations robotics takes up.
We also have a girl in the website division, and our PR and Fundraising are lead by girls.
Our team has always run about 40% female for the past 7 years. Our success can be attributed to several factors.
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Provide Strong female role models: We have a female coaches, student leaders and college age mentors for girls to look up to.
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Provide a safe environment: Girls on our team know that that won’t be subjected to the stereotypical comments that sometimes surface when guys work with girls. (zero tolerance)
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Provide a challenge for ALL members. We have high expectations for everyone involved.
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Provide Opportunity: Girls on our team know that the potential exists to EARN any job on the team. Last year we had one all-female drive team, a female co-captain, and lots of folks on the build team, pit crew, and just about any other area of responsibility.
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We Make it FUN!!!: This is universal for all members, male or female. We get a good female turn out every year simply because they hear how fun FIRST and Team 341 truly are.
Hope that gives everyone some things to think about. 
Why?? **thats the question! ** Well, just because we’re girls doesn’t mean we can do things like boys do. And, just because boy’s are boy’s doesn’t mean they can do things girls do. Thats true. =D
im on a california all girls team. we are all girls and im very proud of that fact. i personally am what you might call the cheerleader of the team. i run spirit and most people assume im a huge ditz and cant actually do anything involving the robot. well fyi im not just head of spirit. i also head programming and strategy so im well rounded. our team is full of well rounded girls who represent first on many levels.
OMGosh yes!!us GIRLS are the best…lol i love this atmosphere…i was the mascot/ cheerleader for our team…i want to be driver this year soo badly!..oh and i was the only girl but this year there are lots more…once u get one girl to join, others will follow…lol thats how it was/is for our team…
then again it will be lucky if we even get to do it this year…stupid funding issues…
Ive heard of a couple all girls teams. Is it that they won’t let guys join?
I doubt it. I’d bet that it’s because they’re all girls schools.
Ok yeah that makes sense… (looks sheepish)
I really havent noticed more girls joining the teams. Even though this is my first year I used to watch my brothers compititions and i havent noticed! Well, Im not complaining!
Whats wrong with girls joining team? They do just as much if not more work than guys.
i said i didnt mind. NOT complaining. I personaly like the idea. im sorry if i worded it wrong. 
my bad
Considering that our team is an all-girls team, we DO have more girls than boys. Boys = our mentors and our mascot. Hmm…
Awsome i love quagmire where did you get him
anyway i’d wish more girls would participate in the building of the robot all the girls we have just do the arts and crafts.