American Women's Club of London

Went to my first event last night (many are during the day when I'm working, so I've been unable to attend thus far) -

It was lovely and really interesting, and I met some very cool women.

It was the Business Women's Group - probably why they had it at night, at least they do know some of us work and are on our own! And it was a 'talk' by Lindy Woodhead, author of War Paint, a bio about Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubenstein.  So not only cuz of doing Mary Kay, but my interest in make up and business, it sounded great to begin with.
It was very classy; they served wine and canapes, it was at a lovely room in some club near Bank... yes, a few conservative looking women, but once I started talking to them... they were lovely!  I only really started to get to know about three, none of whom have kids, two looking for jobs - one is a lawyer, one is a university level chemistry professor (! anyone got any connections there?  She's having a bit of a struggle getting on the 'inside').

Overall:  very cool, glad I joined! 

THANK YOU!  i'm sending in my check today!!!

i've checked off soooo many groups! i may never see DH!!!!

One is a university level chemistry professor (! anyone got any connections there?  She's having a bit of a struggle getting on the 'inside').

Omygod, did she choose possibly the hardest field to get into in the UK at the moment. Chemistry jobs in the academy are almost impossible to find now, since universities are closing chemistry departments left and right. Like architecture, there's worry that the topic won't be taught at all in the UK in ten years. No wonder she's having a hard time to get a job when so many are being laid off.

Really encouraging and helpful, lightbulb, thanks a bunch.  I'm sure she's completely unaware of that; I'll be sure to pass that on.

Sorry, but how about something POSITIVE that might HELP!   

I'm going by the women  (20 and 30 something's) I know with no kids who retired after they married and shop and lunch and go to the gym!!!  This is a common thing in NYC!  Maybe I'm just jealous of them. (I don't think so though!)

LOL, I'm joining this thread late - missed it somehow originally. Anyway, as all of my day-to-day friends over here seem to be spawning, I'm in search of a way to meet some new women in the area who don't have kids.... But I had to stop and laugh when I got to this post - that's what I aspire to! Heeheehee. I'd kill to shop, lunch, and go to the gym. Alas, that's not the lucky star I was born under. Of course I have to qualify that while shopping, lunching, and working out I'd also do some charity work, read a lot, spend long afternoons strolling in art galleries, and having difficult philosophical conversations.....  And I'd want to shop, lunch, and work out with intelligent, independent women with good brains in their heads and kind hearts - not just women with no brains and too much cash....

see they are perfect for me.  i'm skinnier on top than i am on the bottom. my small waist and rear poofs it out!

Oh that is SO my problem - I'm litterally like a UK10/12 on top and UK16 on the bottom!  Those dresses save my Spring/Summer wardrobe! Macy's had a whole line of them the summer before I moved over here and I bought about five of them! 

... Anyway, as all of my day-to-day friends over here seem to be spawning, I'm in search of a way to meet some new women in the area who don't have kids....
And I'd want to shop, lunch, and work out with intelligent, independent women with good brains in their heads and kind hearts - not just women with no brains and too much cash....

These are a few of the women I met last night.  I recommend looking into it.
I also didn't realise I could have brought guests; so if anyone wants to check out the activities, let me know, and if I can go, I'll enquire as to whether I can bring someone or not!

http://www.awclondon.org/

Don't we already have a 'real' American Ladies club right here on UKY?  I mean most of the members are women, we arrange meet-ups, share/seek advice, play games, have a book club and I dare say a few of us lunch whilst chatting on UKY.

Now, I'm rather biased, but I think UKY is the best American women's club in the UK.   

I completely agree, Cait. Now if only I could afford train fares to get out and actually socialize in person with more people!!!!  Bloody university. I am SO ready to have a normal, full-time job again....  :\\\'(

Really encouraging and helpful, lightbulb, thanks a bunch.  I'm sure she's completely unaware of that; I'll be sure to pass that on.

Sorry, but how about something POSITIVE that might HELP!   

Well, if she's going to a women's club as a networking device, she may be thinking that her difficulty is an obstacle of gender, when the larger problem is that there are structural forces that are shutting down chemistry departments, and the field's main problem today is not hiring people, but preventing them from getting fired. I also mention it because people on this forum might confuse the debate in the US about gender prejudice in science with the problem here of government under-financing. The former exists here, of course, but that's not the current main challenge.

The positive advice would be to consider looking for jobs on the continent where the unique problems of the British academy don't exist. As for the issue of language, many university science departments in Europe operate with English, which is the trend. If she's made one move out of the US, she might be willing to make another.

These are a few of the women I met last night.  I recommend looking into it.

Took a look at the website - looks interesting. I may wait until you guys have done a couple more activities and then do it. Gotta love guinea pigs.  By May I'll have a bit more cash (not only for dues but for the train into London....) But it sounds like it might be alright....

Elizabeth, I really don't think Lightbulb was trying to be negative. Chemistry is D*MN hard to get into right now. Many of the physical sciences are. As the government tries to get more and more students into Uni, they are having larger and larger funding problems. It's extremely competitive in the few Unis that are still teaching pure sciences. And those that do have jobs aren't going anywhere soon b/c of all the difficulties. They're hanging on for dear life whereas there used to be a fair amount of movement.

Aside from her looking on the Continent... she may need to consider diversifying her skill base. If she's pure chemistry that's hard. But if she's biochemistry or any other overlap she might be able to find her way into another dept.

As a random example... my DH's supervisor is not just a geomorphologist and geoarchaeologist, but a forensic archaeolgist specializing in pollen. He can work in geography, geology and archaeology departments.

I am sorry; I am simply fed up with so much negativity lately and am currently exhausted in my battle against it; I feel like I'm drowning in a quagmire of perniciousness (wow, I'm even impressed in my bad mood I came up with that!  ).

I was making a comment.  This woman was there to meet other women, period.  I did not then, nor do I now, presume to know why she was there, other than to have a night out and meet some interesting people, which is why I went.
I made a side note asking if anyone had any connections, not proposing a discussion to analyse why this woman can't get a job in the field.

If y'all want to have a major discussion on why women in chemistry can't find a job, so be it.
I had recommended this board to her, as well as some other women.
Interested to see if they come across this thread.

Uh, I like your sig, Elizabeth.

Hey Elizabeth, OT but who is the cute little baby in your avatar?

Really encouraging and helpful, lightbulb, thanks a bunch.  I'm sure she's completely unaware of that; I'll be sure to pass that on.

Sorry, but how about something POSITIVE that might HELP!   

Well it is very true.  Essex just announced the closure of its chemistry department.  I don't think lightbulb's post was meant to be negative, b/c lightbulb is a/thing but a negative member, but just to point it out.   As far as 'negativity' on this board, well, it's like a/where else, seek and ye shall find.