A Lack of Interesting Women

A few weeks ago I was a part of a market research group and it has been on my mind ever since. It was a study for a new energy drink from Tab (aka Coke) that was geared towards the female market. Yeah, I know I don't drink energy drinks (at least not without Jaeger) but I figured that wouldn't matter (for $75 and dinner). So sue me.

We were in a miked room with one-way mirrors. It was interesting. As an ice breaker, and to get everyone talking, we had to talk to the girl sitting next to us and learn things about her in order to introduce her to the group. The girl next to me recently moved to Atlanta "for a change of scenery." She worked for Lanier Worldwide and said she loved baseball, summer and the 4th of July.

We were the last to go. As they went around the room introducing each other and themselves, I began to notice something. Each girl had listed shopping, "lying out," and partying as what they liked to do. With the exception of a girl (also from Tech), my partner and myself, all the girls had the same, uninteresting response.

It got to be my turn. Unlike the others, I wasn't a psychology or marketing major. I told them my major, that I do undergraduate research, that I am a member of GT's Cycling Team and a student pilot. They all looked at me in this weird way. They guy leading the group asked me what else I like to do... as if there's time for anything else?

Since when did diversity and interestingness disappear among young women? I have been, for the most part, very fortunate in the women that I meet at Georgia Tech. Most are overachievers. Among the many women I know, there are swimmers, runners, readers, activists, cyclists, pilots, golfers, musicians, researchers and the list goes on. These women are clearly the leaders among our peers and will be later on in life, undoubtedly.

But, following that experience, I begin to wonder if we are not the norm but the exception. Maybe, by attending this fairly "elite" school, we have been surrounded by the over achievers. Of course there are those who, when you ask them what they're interested in, can't really seem to find an answer. Is that the kind of woman that society is producing today? When I enter the "real world" (assuming it ever happens) will I be surrounded by women who cannot carry a conversation about current events or anything outside of the popular fashion trends and celebrities?

Don't get me wrong, I pay attention to all of that stuff as well. But whatever happened to being well rounded?

Will always says that he had an "interesting" (or uninteresting) time dating before he met me. He's always known that he can attract the extremely good looking girls. He said he became tired of the girls who had always gotten through life by relying on their looks. Perhaps those are the same as the ones that I refer to. The ones that spend more time on their makeup than they do on what's in their brain.

Hopefully, that's not the case. For now I'll be thankful for knowing the Jen Lees, Alex Kennedys, Elise Beiseckers, Katy Halls (and the list goes on) of the world. The girls that can talk about everything from politics to last night's episode of Gilmore Girls. And hope that in the future we can be mentors to young girls and inspire them to be "interesting."