Feminist from Los Angeles Looking for Work (Austin: transfer, move)

[traceyr13]

I'm a liberal feminist Yankee (by way of New England) who has lived in Austin for the past 3 years, and not only have I not been run off, but I genuinely feel welcomed. I work in suburbia with a vast majority of people who don't agree with me at all on religion, politics, social issues, etc...but they (endearingly) call me the liberal Yankee and I (endearingly) roll my eyes and tell them how they're "such Texans" (which they take as the greatest of compliments) and we all get along great.

As long as you don't lecture or point out how people "should" act/feel/believe, you'll get along great with Texans.

[AustinTexan]

Originally Posted by traceyr13

I'm a liberal feminist Yankee (by way of New England)

Oh God, what's worst? A liberal feminist Yankee or a liberal atheist feminist Californian??? It's a draw.......

[love roses]

I can live with a liberal feminist yankee transplant with a great sense of humor like traceyr13 sounds like....after all, one of my very best friends that lives in NY is one and we can joke or spat with each other and still be friends

[brattpowered]

Originally Posted by traceyr13

I work in suburbia with a vast majority of people who don't agree with me at all on religion, politics, social issues, etc...but they (endearingly) call me the liberal Yankee and I (endearingly) roll my eyes and tell them how they're "such Texans" (which they take as the greatest of compliments) and we all get along great.

Sounds like me and my neighbors (except the conservatives are outnumbered here)! Agreed, Austin is a great place no matter who you are.

[BrotherDave]

I wonder why this feminist has such an inflated opinion of herself that she thinks it will actually matter to the people of Austin whether she's there or not?

Why would anyone give a damn?

[readymade]

I have yet to encounter any sexism here. While I don't walk around proclaiming myself as a feminist, I am one and live my life that way. No one's had a problem about it as of yet. I work as a web designer at a marketing company with a lot of computer guys (and women). No one has ever talked down to me in regards to computer stuff... which HAS happened in SoCal & Boston.

As for religion. People definitely tend to be more religious and/or open out their religion here than either Los Angeles or Boston, I've found. More "in-your-face" about it. Since moving here there's been a lot of "Well I'm christian so..." and "I spent the weekend with my church group." People here seem to want you to know their faith, and there have been a few weird "religious" incidents since I moved here in August. Nothing major, though.

For the most part, people tend to be "live & let live" here. I've had a few pretty interesting discussions about religion with people.

Being from the east coast, I found LA to be pretty friendly, actually. The first time someone in a supermarket asked me if I needed any help, I thought he was hitting on me! He wasn't... he was just being helpful. Austin is a lot friendlier in LA. People do tend to (sometimes) just say hi for no reason, which is cool. Depends on what neighborhood you're in and the attitude you're putting out. The people here seem more genuine and genuinely nice as well.

[b. frank]

Originally Posted by BrotherDave

I wonder why this feminist has such an inflated opinion of herself that she thinks it will actually matter to the people of Austin whether she's there or not?

Why would anyone give a damn?

Maybe it's because she gets prejudged and called names simply because she is an open feminist. Weird, huh?
She probably just wants to check the temperament of the place where she intends to move. Maybe she should rule out Alaska/Algeria but she will do fine in Austin because here, even when people do "give a damn" about such things, they generally remain polite.

[readymade]

Originally Posted by traceyr13

I'm a liberal feminist Yankee (by way of New England) who has lived in Austin for the past 3 years, and not only have I not been run off, but I genuinely feel welcomed. I work in suburbia with a vast majority of people who don't agree with me at all on religion, politics, social issues, etc...but they (endearingly) call me the liberal Yankee and I (endearingly) roll my eyes and tell them how they're "such Texans" (which they take as the greatest of compliments) and we all get along great.

As long as you don't lecture or point out how people "should" act/feel/believe, you'll get along great with Texans.

I have yet to be called a Yankee! What the hell, Austin? Why are you holding out on me?!

[cls88]

Originally Posted by readymade

I have yet to encounter any sexism here.

Sexism does exist here in Austin. It's just majority are not and act professionally in the office leaving very little room for the sexism to show.

I worked for a small company where everyone, except one guy, helped answering the main phone line while the receptionist was away from her desk. This one person would just leave the phone ring off the hook (often from clients) without answering it, if no one else was available. When asked, he replied "I don't wear a skirt". (He is well educated too - a very well known college graduate.)

[readymade]

Originally Posted by cls88

Sexism does exist here in Austin. It's just majority are not and act professionally in the office leaving very little room for the sexism to show.

I worked for a small company where everyone, except one guy, helped answering the main phone line while the receptionist was away from her desk. This one person would just leave the phone ring off the hook (often from clients) without answering it, if no one else was available. When asked, he replied "I don't wear a skirt". (He is well educated too - a very well known college graduate.)

Sexism exists everywhere. I'm sure here, too. I just haven't had any issues or run-ins with anyone. And people in the computer field can be fairly sexist... nothing major but a lot of guys don't expect a woman (actually, they don't usually expect ANYone, to be fair) to know how to troubleshoot, etc...

As of yet, I haven't found that here.