The Utlimate Social Climb

Nerd, Bookworm, Dork, Dweeb, Techie, Trekkie, Weirdo. Whatever the choice of word, we all know one. The word and it's meaning has changed over the years; evolved. What we knew to be a nerd in high school is not the nerd we know of today. In high school, nerds are at the bottom of the social food chain; outcasts. Exiled for their superior skills or intellect. Socially rejected. They were the ones who got tripped in the hall and laughed at. They were the same guys that got cheated off of in class, and were spoken to only if it involved homework. Nerds were once portrayed in the media as wearing big thick glasses (probably with tape holding them together), wearing pocket protectors and running around reciting the periodic table. Now, suddenly, they're sexy? I believe two major aspects have fuelled this transformation.

Technology is really important to us. And the people who create it, develop it and know it become more important and are seen more throughout society. Just look at Bill Gates and Steve Jobs: The Ultimate Nerds. The rise and coloassal success of these two is the real life "Revenge of the Nerds." Whose laughing now? The nerds, because they're raking in tons of money using their brains; which they were once teased for. A 4 letter word, and a 6 figure income. Bill Gates was quoted saying "Be nice to nerds, chances are you'll end up working for one."

Television and the media have been exploring the lives of the nerds. The show "Big Bang Theory" has made women look at nerds in a whole new light. They've become attractive to us.  This attraction has grown and spread into the fashion industry (nerd chic) and now everyone loves nerds! Those cliched glasses have become a fashion statement, and cardigans are trendy and not something your grandmother wears. Now it's okay to be attracted to intellectual and smart men, and suddenly librarians are even more sexy (lucky for us who work at the library!)

Since these two aspects is something people see more regularily, we've begun to accept it more and more. We've been conditioned, in a way. Pavlov would be smiling. I'm happy for the nerds! It's the ultimate social climb. Win!