Why Nerd Sexism — Or Any Sexism — Is Not Okay Under Any Circumstances [Video]

thank goodnes for bob he always is a voice of reason

I can’t speak to problems in the gaming culture, the server I play on seems better than some in that regard, but where I’ve noticed this the most is in comics, especially when a woman offers suggestions about redressing certain issues (I’m sure you can guess which ones).  As soon as someone takes a reasoned approach and offers concrete suggestions about changing things in the industry, they’re shouted down in such a frightening way that I can’t believe we’re part of the same subculture.  It’s 2012, we need to be onto the next thing, not dealing with all this old baggage.  Sexism, racism, homophobia, that’s old shit.  We need to be done with that already and get with the new thing.  I’m thinking something with robots.  And magic.  That’s what we need to be working on.  Magic robots.  Whatever your hatreds, deal with that shit so we can deal with the magic robots that I’m building in my basement.  Get a therapist, talk to a nice pastor, something.  Change yourself, we’ll be waiting for you to catch up to the rest of us. 

/applause

I love Movie Bob.

And he covers this topic wonderfully.

Funny this should pop up today, earlier on I talking to a female colleague of mine who refused to believe I was a male feminist when I told her I just wanted equal rights for both. Annoyed me a little, specially after the recent Cross Assault thing which I got in such a tizzy over. >_<;

Bless this.

Normally even when I agree with Moviebob I have reservations, but not here.  He absolutely nailed it right here.

SO awesome to have another male ally. Well done, Bob. 

Thank you!!! I’m not even a gamer, but this is relevant for everyone!!! Win!!!

YES! This really made me happy, especially the line about equating defeat with rape. 

What was the substance of your debate?

This is exactly what I’ve been saying for awhile but he did it much better than I ever could. Fantastic and exactly to the point. 

 To be honest, it wasn’t so much a debate as me saying “I’d consider myself a feminist” and her continously saying over and over “you can’t be because your not a girl, thats stupid.”

The only requirement for being a feminist is that you believe in equal rights and treatment for women. That’s it. My older brother is a proud feminist and he’s the one who turned -me- his little sister into a feminist.

There are a lot of great male feminists out there, don’t let her dishearten you. Just tell her calmly and rationally that there is no gender requirement for being a feminist (I often read a blog by a trans-woman feminist! Really makes you think about gender in a new light!)

You can as much be a male feminist as a white pro-civil rights advocate. There is no barrier to supporting equal rights!

So much casual hating out there & it eats into my psyche like Alien-blood acid.
This guy’s words are like oxygen, makes me feel better on the inside. Thankyou.

How is it that a culture that identifies itself EXCLUSIVELY by its love and passion and respect for things other people might throw away can let itself hurt and marginalize those few, rare, beautiful people we are most hoping will want and need that love and passion and respect from us – RIGHT WHEN THEY’RE ASKING FOR IT?!!!

Geek women, you are beloved in the eyes of the Gods.  If your gaming group or whoever it is you play with doesn’t think girls are cool, you come right on over to my house.  Girls are ALWAYS cool at my house.

My own ambition is to become a leader in our entertainment culture, and I can tell you right now that homophobia, sexism, racism and all the other horrible things people do to marginalize one another on an individual level will not be tolerated in my work or in my life.  Success is hard enough, this world’s problems are big enough, and people are already too damn hurt.  Doing the things we set out to do and connecting with people along the way is already too goddamned hard without setting fire to other people’s self-worth.

A geek is someone who lavishes love on those things other people overlook, and cultivates the value of that thing so the world will notice.  Sexism is NOT a part of geek culture.  Anyone who says different is not a geek.

I call myself a feminist. Isn’t that what you call someone who fights for women’s rights? We all come from the same mother. That creates the basis for compassion.”
– The Dalai Lama at the International Freedom Award ceremonyAnother man calling himself a feminist.  But yes, you’re right-she’s wrong.

But of course! I had never doubted it for a second it just dumbfounded me that she reacted in the way she did! I was more surprised that she hadn’t seen it coming to be honest, what with me being one of the most pro equal rights guys about, not to mention being a pansexual, cross dressing, vegetarian who faces an awful lot of criticism myself. I don’t want anyone to be critized for anything they can’t really help!

My girlfriend of four years is the one who first told me men could be feminist and in the first year of our relationship I was still a bit of a clown who made the “Get back in the kitchen” jokes, but now days I can’t understand why anyone would even be so rude and unjust.

I love the edits of various lynch mobs! That’s exactly how the internet can feel with the nerdbaiting antics of some writers.

Completely agree with this i was shocked when i had to explain to someone on xbox live when i was playing fighting games and things like gears of war i was a woman, they could clearly hear me on the headset and i don’t sound like a man to my knowledge.

Thank you for this, I hope you succeed in the entertainment industry. :)

Seriously nerd community, when the otaku folks are the most gender balanced and female friendly group of nerds out there it is a sign that something might be wrong.

Thanks, Bob! Women, like male nerds, just want a Community and Medium to escape to (like an “Escapist” ;) ). Yet, I still keep finding the hypocrisy, every now and then, even in Communities Waving the Slogan, “Love & Tolerance,” constantly… >_>

Damn right I will!  Thank you for reading my rant!