Anthropology, Definitions of Geek, Geek Girl Survey, Gender, Study of geek culture

Geek Girls: I need your help!

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Geek GirlFor almost a year now, I have been paying close attention to women’s experiences in geek culture: I have tried to map out their involvement in this (sub)culture, to obtain data about demographics, and to create a list of female pioneers of geekdom.

I also followed the intense debate around the notion of the ”fake geek girl”, documented various forms of harassment women face in geekdom or in geek related industries (technology or video games, for instance), and studied the discussions about sexism and gate-keeping on blogs, Youtube channels, through memes and elsewhere. Needless to say, it has all kept me very busy.

Through this process, I have felt the need to obtain clearer and richer data about geek girls: who are they really? Is their presence in geekdom really as new as people often think? Are they really less numerous than men in geekdom? These are all questions that people enthusiastically answer in various spaces on the Internet, and their opinions are plenty. But valid data is not readily available. Thus, I have decided to investigate further.

This is where you come in:

I am looking for geek girls and women to answer a few questions about their involvement in geek culture and their experiences with geek peers. Whether you are 16 or 50 years old, a trekkie, a pegasister or a browncoat, whatever your gender identity or sexual orientation is, or even if you consider yourself more of a nerd than a geek, I want to hear your story.

Confidentiality will be respected, so don’t be afraid to contact me!

thegeekanthropologist[at]gmail.com

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About Marie-Pierre Renaud

I am an anthropologist living in Quebec city, Canada. I specialize in native studies and anthropology of health. I am a geek. I founded and now co-manage The Geek Anthropologist blog. I am working on transforming my memoir into a book and journal articles. I like to knit while watching Star Trek. Reach out to me for collaborations! https://mariepierrerenaud.co/

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  3. As Always, it Started With Star Trek: A Study On Geek Girls | The Geek Anthropologist

    […] I became absorbed by the intense debates which took place on blogs, news reports, videos, comment threads, at geek events, and in other spaces. For over a year, I mapped the interventions which received a lot of attention and reactions and analysed them. The result of this work is a paper I presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association, and the Geek Girl Survey. […]

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  9. Lauren Craig

    I am definitely a geek girl, but I also believe in the “fake geek” thing. I often do not expose my geekiness for fear of being labeled a poser. In regards to whether there are more geek guys than geek girls, it depends on where you look. Some fandoms are more popular among women and some possess more men. It really just depends.

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      1. Dearri

        Then I would love to respond to the questionare! I consider myself a geek because I love to learn new things and am a hardcore Marvel fan girl and occupy my time with Ironman comics. I’ve been a Harry Potter fan since the beginning and anthropology is something Im very fond of. I feel like I could be of some help! 🙂

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  12. Andie

    I was a geek long before the term became popular; I am 58. I read superhero comics when all the other girls were reading Archie. I love science fiction and am one of the original Trekkies. I’ve read everything from Asimov to Zelazny, and give every scifi TV show a shot. I still prefer them to “soap opera-style” dramas, etc. Today I am the proud mother of a daughter with whom I share a love for all things geek (especially Dr. Who—and I was one of the early viewers).

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