Why are the biomechanical "big boys" boys?

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Some great female posters on this site, and I am ignorant of the situation as regards international "biomechanics" luminaries but in podiatry it seems the "big boys" are exactly that, boys! And the reason is?

 

Don't know about that one. Two of the best foot and lower extremity biomechanics researchers of the last few decades, Jacqueline Perry and Irene McClay Davis, are of the fairer sex. I know Irene well and she is as good as it gets in regards to lecturing, researching and being supportive of podiatry. As far as I'm concerned, we need a few more individuals like Irene and fewer male podiatrists who think they are experts in biomechanics, but aren't.

 

Thanks Kevin, I just now realised how many times you, and messrs. Payne & Spooner quote / refer to them.
Unfortunately I'm a WUM at heart, and was trying to get some replies from the ladies! I apologise, to the fairer sex, for my childish ways!

 

Hey Mark,

What is a WUM? :dizzy: Is that an old man's terminology?

Regards

Donna

PS: By the way I'm from a Biomechanics only practice that just happens to have an all-female staff at present...

 

Bit of a WUM yourself eh Donna .... stop now! while you can ...
As for female biomechanists, I always thought it was a "spatial relations" gender thingy

 

Agreed.

To answer Marks question, gender difference have been reported in estimation of time, judgement of speed, ability to perform mental mathematical calculations, spatial orientation and three dimensional visualization. In all these tasks, women and men are said to be markedly different, with an overall better performance of males than females. It may be argued that such skills are important within disciplines such as biomechanics.

Females perform better than males in human relations, recognizing emotional overtones in others and in language, emotional and artistic expressiveness, aesthetic appreciation, verbal language and carrying out detailed and pre-planned tasks. For example, women generally can recall lists of words or paragraphs of text better than men. It may be argued that such skills are important within disciplines such as biomechanics.

The question of nature versus nurture arises and social stereotyping may well be significant. Hands up all those girls who played with construction kits, meccano, etc...
:drinks

 

It could be that we are asking the wrong question here.

Is it that the "big boys" are big because they are boys?

Or is there something in the masculine psyche which means that a male Biomechanics whizz is more likely to "put themselves forward" on a forum and wave their ... brain about for all to see.

Perhaps its more advertising than demographic.

Regards
Robert

 

Mark

I find in general that men onerestimate their capabilities and women under estimate their capabilities. And so promote themselves accordingly. As Kevin says
J Perry is among the best reads on gait biomechanics.

At the end of the day women just need to follow the Mans Rules

The Man Rules**************

We always hear " the rules" From the female side.
Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules!
Please note.. these are all numbered "1 "
ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.


1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.


1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colours, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A colour. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as football or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;


But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.


All the best Dave:drinks

 

The female residents and students I have trained in biomechanics over the past 23 years have been sometimes, my very best residents/students. In fact, I somewhat prefer having female residents rotate through my office rather than males resident since, in general, most women seem more receptive to learning than their male counterparts. In addition, Donna has been one of the few individuals on Podiatry Arena that answered most of the questions on my "Thought Experiments" correctly. That being said, I think that one cannot say that men are any better at biomechanics than are women, since I know of many fine female podiatrists that are awesome in clinical biomechanics.

 

Oh dear David,

Tsk, tsk & thrice tsk......

I hope you don't mind but I have modified your post slightly with some 'lady 'answers:

Methinks man with sense of humour is great man indeed.

Us delicate gals just need you BIG hunky guys to show us the way.......



Much lurve xxxx

 

Twirly:

Excellent posting above! Having been married to the same lovely woman now for nearly 28 years, I'm sure she would agree with most of what you say! The things she must put up with!

 

Generally I'd agree, but maybe not so much in the public health sector?

Thanks David, I have copied and emailed to all my fellow (female all of them) pod's and to my one and only.

 

Love the English, EVEN their ladies, Twirly nice one!

 

Twirly

Mind! I expect it, It would be rude of you not to. Vive la difference I say.

LoL Dave:santa2:

 

Twirly, I thank you. Me and my Choo's thank you.