History of Feminism
Related: About this forumGeeks, you have a problem
So, I'm sure many of you have seen this image going around:
This image drew out my most head-patting, condescending side, I must admit. It's just so cute when delusion reaches these levels. Now, I've got a toe in some geek stuff, but mostly I watch the culture from the outside, and I have to say, from an outside perspective, it actually looks like geek culture has allowed a form of entrenched and vicious misogyny to flourish. It's not the majority or anything like that, but there's a loud minority of geek men who have a hate-on for women that's so grotesque that it often gets to fundamentalist Christianity levels. And it spills over into the rest of geek culture, allowing other geek dudes to congratulate themselves loudly for their non-sexism, even if they're really still reaffirming a ton of sexist messages. This image is a good example. That's Lady Gaga on the right, and it seems that the main crime she's committed to keep her from being a good role model is Teh Sexy. Lady Gaga is an accomplished songwriter and musician who, even if you don't really like her music that much, nonetheless has to be admired for her ability to push people's buttons and push boundaries while selling epic numbers of records doing it. She's a great role model, because she models how to exert control over your career and develop a vision, refusing to apologize for it the whole way. Pushing that all aside because she occasionally wears skimpy costumes suggests that a woman's sexuality trumps all other considerations when determining if she's a good person. That's messed up, but I'm going to guess the guy who made this thinks he's pushing back against sexism.
It's also a good example of the fallacy of cherry-picking, as demonstrated by the rebuttal I found here.
The timing of the original image couldn't have been worse, to the point where I kind of wonder if it was made in a defensive posture to remind people that not all of geek culture is misogynist in midst of a bunch of public, outrageous battles within that culture over misogyny and feminism. A sampling:
1) Anita Sarkeesian of Feminist Frequency starts a Kickstarter page to drum up money for a documentary about sexism in video games. She hasn't even made the video yet, but a sea of angry geeks don't need to actually hear her opinion before they denounce it, and so they have mounted an elaborate and mind-bogglingly vicious harassment campaign against her in an attempt to prevent the video from getting made. I don't need to dwell on the details, which can be read at the link if you aren't already familiar with the story. The point is that a bunch of dudes are so utterly attached to the sexist imagery in some video games that they will try to squash anyone who offers a critique of it.
2) Speaking of which, there's a very concerning development in the Tomb Raider series involving the threat of rape of Lara Croft. Alyssa has a rundown of why this is probably not so awesome here, a rundown which caused---invariably---the nasty assholes to come out of the woodwork to fap to the idea of Lara Croft getting raped. This understandably unnerved Alyssa, and her response to it brought out the even more maddening group of men "concerned" that she takes this sexism thing and this violence against women thing too seriously, and wouldn't she just be a lot more adorbs if she could shut up about it and stop ruining their good time? The good news is the whole thing brought out this thoughtful comment from one of Alyssa's readers on just why it is that this group of hard core misogynists find geek culture a good place to hang out, which is they can dress up their misogyny in the clothes of the misunderstood outsider instead of actually have to confront the fact that they're pigs.
...
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)like You sick bastards for example ?
polmaven
(9,463 posts)but...if not... did someone force you to come into this group and click on this thread?
I simply asked an honest question.
Incase you didn't grasp it "You sick bastards" is a genuine FB group.
polmaven
(9,463 posts)so out of all the "genuine" FB groups, that is the one you think would best describe this group.....gotcha!
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)redqueen
(115,103 posts)What gave you that impression?
I didn't write this, but no, I didn't get the impression from anything in this post that Amanda Marcotte was referring to a group on facebook.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)"So, I'm sure many of you have seen this image going around:"
I searched and yes that was "going around" on FB 17th June" doubtless by multiple sharing.
I simply asked if that was what you had meant by ".....this image going around" given that these days FB seems to be responsible for most distribution.
With regard to the other comment above - the group name I used as an alternative example obviously had nothing to do with this group. I could just have easily used Viz or numerous others.
redqueen
(115,103 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)that is my biggest problem posting on a board. i will read something and in all of it, one thing will stick in my mind. when i post, i answer that one piece. people say... wtf...
to me it is clear.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)FB group has to do with the article posted.
polmaven
(9,463 posts)It does, however, appear to have more to do with the posters opinion of this group, that with the posted article, doncha think?
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)as to what a FB page has to do with this subject.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)dipsey feels to be neutral on our group and post things from across the pond from that perspective. i dont know that it is about a group thing. and i dont want to decide to quickly, lol. so, i am open.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)was just a random group I used ,which is easy to confirm it exists, which posts all and sundry - mainly sexist.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)the question. Are you just commenting on where the picture in the OP is being posted?
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)The author had used the expression "doing the rounds" and I just queried where.
I mentioned elsewhere I could see it was circulating on FB 17th June - maybe even before that. That was a buzzfeed link. Sometimes some store stuff from FB and then repost at later date to make a point about something.
Genuinely sorry for any confusion here.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)confused some of us.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)in the geek culture:
The panel at Comic-Con was framed poorly, and perhaps thats why it turned into a goddamn mess, with panelists suggesting the women criticizing sexy cosplayers were just jealous, one panelist arguing the women are all a bunch of bitches, another claimingI cant help it that some of the characters I like to cosplay are scantily clad, and the only male panelist showing up 5 minutes before the panel ended and making an inappropriate sexual joke (synopsis from Feminist Fatale). Well, one of the reasons. Another reason is probably that geek cultures tend to think were beyond feminism, and Suzanne Scott claims that the panel
devolved into a postfeminist panel, in which feminism was invoked and then discarded as no longer necessary (or too old fashioned, or some form of buzzkillery we need toget over).
This is unsurprising, if disappointing. Because geek cultures often think of themselves as countercultural, they dont usually believe they are tainted by the sexism, racism, ableism, ageism, ad naseum that infect popular culture. And there are entire blogs that prove that nonsense untrue.
http://geekfeminism.org/2011/08/23/geek-girls-and-the-problem-of-self-objectification/
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)because what i am hearing the last day on this, is not really making sense to me. i can really express why, but it is contradictory and i am not see the answer being presented.
your post is not the first. this is from the thread yesterday on the street harassment to. but, it is interesting to sit in it. see if it develops to an understanding.
to say it is not really about that gals that choose to dress in the manner, but those that reward that behavior, is the issue, is making it hard for me to wrap my mind around
being libra, things MUST be balanced.
redqueen
(115,103 posts)The focus should be on the cultural / societal level IMO.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)admit to knowing zilch about geek culture, it's not my thing, but it's interesting to watch the growing disgust and pushback from women in that culture.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)and how they dont want it in their play, either. i think this has gone so far, that women are pushing back, but the a lot of men are standing behind, saying, ya.
redqueen
(115,103 posts)but it seems more like a few to me.
I'd love to be wrong about that though!
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)those assholes did not get all they did for her, not to mention financially. we have seen articles recently about the women pushing in the industry.
we see the push back against the "wimmin" serving in the conventions and other sexist roles the geek place women in.
and then there is my family, . who are aware and bothered.
BlueIris
(29,135 posts)And therefore someone whose woman hating ways can be socially excused with 'but he or she is so smart/well educated/prosperous.'
redqueen
(115,103 posts)And remember the tech company that listed 'beer girls' or some such description as one of the 'perks' at a conference?
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)for me to actually address the issue.
and the reason this is used is cause he can come up with NO reaason but objectifying and cannot validate it
so it is her fault.
MadrasT
(7,237 posts)It is what we deal with every damn day on DU.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)and really, it is totally how RL is, too. even people we love and love us. totally. so to pretend it is not a real thing is..... just pretending.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)redqueen
(115,103 posts)outside of strictly moderated feminist spaces, that is.
MadrasT
(7,237 posts)Love the end bit:
You realise that perhaps part of the answer might be: because there are so many men.
redqueen
(115,103 posts)it's nice to see this stuff getting attention.
Now I'm reminded of the blowup between the good men project founder and feminists. That was a good one.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)Him: "why the agressive tone"
redqueen
(115,103 posts)Tone, implied threat, 'I have a family' , but 'feminist Ryan Gosling'...
Fail after fail after fail...
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)her employment and how his company has a contract with that employer, no attempt to silence there.
redqueen
(115,103 posts)So good to see that her boss supported her.