One of the great early hopes for the internet was that it would erase sexism. Once we couldn’t see gender, we’d be judged on the quality of our ideas and not our sex. And now huge sectors of the internet are porn sites and games where female avatars look like porn stars with fantasy metal bits instead of genitalia. And that’s only where it’s smack-you-over-the-head obvious how fully sexism thrives online. Sexism may well be worse online.Granted, I'm a music geek, not a gamer, but I think a lot of the same things apply. I've been on and off various music boards in the past decade or so, and it's usually the same: a group of like-minded people I'd love to shoot the shit with until I realize the men outnumber the women at about a ten-to-one clip. Nothing wrong with that, really. It is what it is. But only since I've joined a few women's boards have I noticed the underlying sexism at sites where I am one of few women. I feel as though my comments are glossed over, or ignored.
Fortunately, I've never dealt with much overt sexism --no one has ever asked me about the size of my breast -- but the less obvious kind of sexism is still there: someone will casually use the word "pussy" or make inane comments about his wife. Those are the times I want to say something, but don't. There's a huge stake in being a "guy's girl," and part of that is laughing along with their jokes. (Or at least not actively challenging theme.)
I'm curious what other women's experiences are. How does the online fan world differ from the real one?
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