I just wanted to say

[MustardSeed]

In my large ward, testimonies are shared mostly only by men.  Sunday school is male dominated in terms of participation.  I don’t think that’s typical.  My ward is, well, challenging for me at times. I used to participate to do my part but it doesn’t feel genuine and I’m sick of the sound of my ow voice.

Have you ever noticed that often times, women especially in a mixed sex crowd will state the following preface after being called upon:  “I just wanted to say...” etc.   

I hear that as an apologetic way of introducing thoughts.?

I rarely hear men say that.  They do, but not nearly as often as the women. 

Pet peeve, now passed into the internetic universe.  Thanks, I feel much better.   Edit to say, I don’t think the men are to blame.  Ladies of my ward, step it up!!

Edited November 16, 2018 by MustardSeed

[Kenngo1969]

Of course men are to blame.   Saying they're not to blame for something is simply crazy talk.  

Edited November 16, 2018 by Kenngo1969

[MustardSeed]

Just now, Kenngo1969 said:

Of course men are to blame.   

Tsk   come now. 

[Duncan]

I don't think I have ever noticed! 

[MustardSeed]

2 minutes ago, Duncan said:

I don't think I have ever noticed! 

I’ve mentioned it a few times to chair neighbors and then it happens and I get this look like “hmmmmmm” !!  Not very reverent of me I know. 

[Kenngo1969]

12 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said:

Of course men are to blame.   Saying they're not to blame for something is simply crazy talk.  

 

11 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

Tsk   come now. 

'K!  Where are we going?  

[MustardSeed]

7 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said:

 

'K!  Where are we going?  

🎼“Let’s all go to the lobby, let’s all go to the lobby..”

[Glenn101]

In my ward women often are the majority giving their testimonies. And I have heard some really good ones.

Glenn

[Hamba Tuhan]

28 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

Have you ever noticed that often times, women especially in a mixed sex crowd will state the following preface after being called upon:  “I just wanted to say...” etc.   

Is this an American thing? (Or maybe a regional American thing?) I don't think I've ever heard it. 

In my not large non-American ward, most testimonies are given by men. I think that's just because we really outnumber the women. When I first moved into the ward, we used to refer to YSA Sunday school class as 'first elders quorum'.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Hamba Tuhan

[MustardSeed]

Maybe it’s just a cowgirl thing.  I live in the western part of the US. 

The imbalance in female participation is unique to my ward....I’ve never seen anything like it.  

And yes Glenn, women have always been very strong testimony sharers. 

[Rain]

28 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said:

Of course men are to blame.   Saying they're not to blame for something is simply crazy talk.  

Serious question. Why are you reacting in this way? Was there something she specifically said that gave you the impression that men are to blame?

[MustardSeed]

1 minute ago, Rain said:

Serious question. Why are you reacting in this way? Was there something she specifically said that gave you the impression that men are to blame?

I think he’s being sarcastic.  Thus the silly stickers.  

[Rain]

33 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

In my large ward, testimonies are shared mostly only by men.

I've not noticed this in any of my wards.

33 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

 Sunday school is male dominated in terms of participation.

I noticed this in my last ward, but not this one. I suspect it has more to do with age. More than half of our last ward was retired.

33 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

 I don’t think that’s typical.  My ward is, well, challenging for me at times. I used to participate to do my part but it doesn’t feel genuine and I’m sick of the sound of my ow voice.

I've found this has more to do with the teacher, rather than the students.

33 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

Have you ever noticed that often times, women especially in a mixed sex crowd will state the following preface after being called upon:  “I just wanted to say...” etc.   

I hear that as an apologetic way of introducing thoughts.?

I rarely hear men say that.  They do, but not nearly as often as the women. 

Pet peeve, now passed into the internetic universe.  Thanks, I feel much better.   Edit to say, I don’t think the men are to blame.  Ladies of my ward, step it up!!

No,  I've not noticed anyone saying it.

[Rain]

5 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

I think he’s being sarcastic.  Thus the silly stickers.  

I like to ask people why they are stating something or why they are doing it in the way they did.  I find that while many times I was right about their behavior, sometimes I have assumed things they did not mean. So I ask them because sometimes I actually am surprised and barriers get knocked down a little bit.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Rain

[MustardSeed]

2 minutes ago, Rain said:

I've found this has more to do with the teacher, rather than the students.

I hate to blame the teacher. I’ve taught GD myself many moons and so I have compassion for our teacher, but I do think discussions can be skillfully led that sets all class members at ease.  

I admit to having a few important admin conversations run a little long in the hall 2nd hour. I’ve learned if I grab a tv cart and push it around the hallway, no one questions why I’m not in class. “Scuse me, sorry, coming through” 😂

[Tacenda]

15 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I hate to blame the teacher. I’ve taught GD myself many moons and so I have compassion for our teacher, but I do think discussions can be skillfully led that sets all class members at ease.  

I admit to having a few important admin conversations run a little long in the hall 2nd hour. I’ve learned if I grab a tv cart and push it around the hallway, no one questions why I’m not in class. “Scuse me, sorry, coming through” 😂

🤣 I can picture this in my mind so well, hilarious!

[Calm]

21 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I hate to blame the teacher. I’ve taught GD myself many moons and so I have compassion for our teacher, but I do think discussions can be skillfully led that sets all class members at ease.  

I admit to having a few important admin conversations run a little long in the hall 2nd hour. I’ve learned if I grab a tv cart and push it around the hallway, no one questions why I’m not in class. “Scuse me, sorry, coming through” 😂

Ward librarian is a very useful calling.  I volunteer for that one when teaching kids got too much (couldn't be consistent in attendance due to health).  

[Rivers]

In my ward, it’s the same people every single week.

 

[Hamba Tuhan]

8 minutes ago, Rivers said:

In my ward, it’s the same people every single week.

You have testimony meeting every single week?

[Rivers]

7 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

You have testimony meeting every single week?

Yep.  And we fast every week too.

[Hamba Tuhan]

40 minutes ago, Rivers said:

And we fast every week too.

 I've been doing that for about 12 years now. It's been really good for me.

[RevTestament]

3 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

Of course men are to blame.   Saying they're not to blame for something is simply crazy talk.  

Especially bald men with glasses.  

[juliann]

I think it totally depends on the personalities in local congregations. I think women are just as active in testimony meetings but if there are a few aggressive men in classes, they do dominate. There is still a tendency to see men as knowing more about religion, especially if they have held leadership positions.  For example, a former bishop will be singled out to give the final word on some point even when there are members who have academic training on that topic. We have two well informed and outspoken women now and I've noticed they often contribute more than the men. 

[juliann]

3 hours ago, Rain said:

I like to ask people why they are stating something or why they are doing it in the way they did.  I find that while many times I was right about their behavior, but that sometimes I have assumed things they did not mean. So I ask them because sometimes I actually am surprised and barriers get knocked down a little bit.

Have you ever noticed how quickly women's topics are taken over by off topic joking? 

[Alan]

In my ward the women won't shut up and let the rest of us speak!

Testimony meeting is very much dominated by women, both in number and in time (travelogue after travelogue), and there are a couple of sisters in Gospel Doctrine class who suffer from verbal diarrhoea.