Let’s take a pause from our normal programming for just a second. 

Let me tell you why.

Every year UW-Eau Claire hosts an event called “GEEKcon.” Last year, it was hosted online due to the ongoing pandemic.

This year, though, it is back in person and ready for all the nerds to come together on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

To keep the geek spirit in mind, the theme of this event is “Return of the geeks: back and nerdier than ever,” a can’t-miss event. 

Now I know what you are thinking, all this is about is video games and nerdy boy activities. I am here to reassure you there is much more to do than that. 

GEEKcon is also dedicated to showcasing, entertaining and promoting multiple talents, hobbies and passions. 

Each year the event is planned and hosted by the Communication and Journalism Organization. 

Since 2017, Rob Mattison, a former comic book shop owner, developed a project to bring together UW-Eau Claire students, faculty, staff and the Eau Claire community. 

Alright, let’s press resume and return back to our normal programming.

Girls can be and do whatever a boy can. 

By that, I mean there is no limit to what a girl can be and what a girl can do. 

As women, we are warriors. We can be construction workers, surgeons and even nerds. 

There is nothing wrong with being something that isn’t a stereotypical girl-job, like a hair or nail stylist. 

There hasn’t been enough support for girls who want to go into a different field of work. We are judged left and right for everything we do in life. 

But, while women are judged for their lifestyle choices, so are men. 

Men can’t be a teacher, journalist or even hair stylist without being called aggressive words. 

This world we live in today is way too quick to judge both the binary sexes. Men can’t enjoy doing makeup and women can’t enjoy working on cars without the rest of society giving weird looks or comments. 

We need to put an end to gender inequality, women and men shouldn’t be at war with each other. Instead, we should be lifting each other up to fight the rest of the world together. 

Many believe that there are just two genders, male and female, but throughout history many societies have seen and continue to see as time goes on that gender is a spectrum and nobody should be limited to just two choices. 

So let’s fight together and go to GEEKcon as a united front. Girls can play e-sports and video games. The boys can teach us, girls, how to play instead of laughing at the ones who aren’t as good as the rest. 

We don’t have to be afraid of our gender and what we like or dislike just because we are too worried about what the rest of society is going to think. 

Love yourself and what you want to be and do in life. 

Geiger can be reached at [email protected].