Thanks to facebook fan Jesse for recommending this blog. Interesting quote from a musing on file-sharing, techno-geek culture and feminism:
Women are systematically left out of techno-geek culture. It’s a boys club that’s reinforced socially and culturally. It creates a space that is so undesirable for women to be in that they don’t want to or they aren’t given the opportunity to participate. -- source.I don't wholly agree with this blogger (I wouldn't be a feminist if I didn't disagree to some extent with every other feminist out there...it's part of our handbook), but this one is so very true.
And frequently, when we geeky girls do brave the heavily-male world of whatever geekery we're into, we get completely swarmed with often-unwanted sexual attention and constant comments on our gender. It tends to leave us feeling alienated, scrutinized, and like decoration rather than active and welcomed members of a community. We need a t-shirt: I'm a person, not your nerd-girl fantasy.
Glad to help! I'm fortunate to have heard her talk at my university last week. We had a whole side debate about Star Trek characters (e.g. is Deanna Troi really a strong female character, or is that role undermined by the abuse she has suffered in the past?)
ReplyDelete