Cate Sevilla writes...
At a certain conference I recently attended, I went to a session on "Women and blogging". Feminism and blogging are basically two of my favorite things to talk about, so the prospect of listening to an expert discuss these very matters filled my nerd-heart with copious amounts of joy. However, when I entered the room in which the talk was supposed to take place, I was a little disheartened to find the "expert" on blogging was struggling to make the projector work so we could enjoy her super neat power point presentation.
My anxiety only grew when the woman started describing blogs as "weblogs" that connected to each other through "comments" and "hyperlinks". And did you know that there are "internet web communities" based on blogging? And did you know that there are women who have built a sisterhood online, like, ON THE INTERNET and that these women become, like, friends and stuff?
This enthused gal was rather fascinated by the HOT! NEW! TREND! of keeping a "weblog...online!", yet I was practically foaming at the mouth and shuddering each time she said "hyperlinked". But perhaps the *best* part of this talk was when she posed the question, "What is the biggest issue with women and blogging?"And answered it with,"Not every woman has a computer or access to the internet, and therefore cannot blog." And I responded by passing out and convulsing for the next 20 minutes.
I raised my hand and (trying desperately not to scream) explained that there is actually a huge issue with women and sexual harassment online, and on blogs. I mentioned Kathy Sierra, Devious Diva, and the fact that women are threatened with rape and violence, simply for speaking their minds online. The "expert" looked at me blankly and responded,"Oh yea. No, yeah, I think I've heard about that happening in chat rooms. I'll look into that and let you know if I find anything."
Chat rooms? Is this 1996? Basically, I'm not going to go on and on about how women are harassed online - because this isn't just a female issue. Men are harassed online: crazed ex girlfriends try to ruin their current relationships with lies, or Trolls who like to argue, just for the sake of arguing.
But I haven't actually heard of any men who have been harassed to the same extent that women are. Why is that? Is it that women get more harassed online because the internet is like a misogynists' playground, giving men, and female hating women, a place to spread their venom? Is it that people are really still that adverse to women being mouthy, opinionated, and angry...
Is that men are just as harassed online as women, and that women are just harassed in a different way?
What do you think?
Cate Sevilla is the Editor of Dollymix. She's slowly but surely trying to learn how to not feed the Trolls.
[image via Take Back The Blog campaign from earlier this year]
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As a syndicated advice columnist who regularly pisses people off, I'm sometimes threatened (usually via e-mail) with rape, violence and death. I call the duty officer at the FBI and report it. They also have an Internet crime center at the FBI.
But, other than threats of violence, the rest of them I post on my blog -- let the air and my commenters get to them.
Quite frankly, ladies, if you can't stand the heat...well, you know.
"Expert" indeed.
Two word insults your idea of intelligent debate?