Sexist Reactions to an Ad Spark #ILookLikeAnEngineer Campaign

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/04/429362127/sexist-reactions-to-an-ad-spark-ilooklikeanengineer-campaign

by user_235711 • 11 years ago

27 13 11 years ago

npr.org

s_kilk• 11 years ago

Something tells me it's going to be a long, slow process stamping out sexism in tech. But this is a good step forward.

Edit: I know remarking on downvotes is frowned-upon here, but I just can't help it. Good to see HNs resident mysogynists are keeping on top of their game!

jazzyk• 11 years ago

You were downvoted (not by me) for not providing anything meaningful to the discussion, not because of your bias.

Stop being a victim, don't blame other people every time you screw up (as we all do from time to time)

deadmik3• 11 years ago

As if companies never hire attractive models to feature in their campaigns

AlexC04• 11 years ago

Thank God!

It feels like weeks since the last gender in tech hashtag has trended. I've been waiting desperately for something to steal the internet's vitriol and outrage from this whole Cecil the lion thing.

OK - yes - I'm being entirely facetious there. This might take off it might not, but I am personally tired of the seemingly endless new thing to be outraged by.

Tim Hunt, Gamergate, Doglegate, Meritocracy Carpet, Beach Body Ready, Cancel Colbert ... then if you start googling around for "gender hashtags" you'll see articles extoling the "social change hashtags" of the year - but if you look at them http://www.forbes.com/sites/karenhua/2015/06/03/tweeting-to-... ... http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomwatson/2014/12/29/top-social-...

What has actually changed? How is the world a better place?

I'm honestly appalled that this poor young woman had to suffer shitty troll comments in the internet, but a hashtag isn't going to actually do anything.

Do we really think those idiots are the same ones reading the social justice pages of the huffington post?

Holding on to outrage or fanning the flames of outrage are NOT the right way to effect positive social change.

Shame and fear may be effective methods of effecting change, but they're dark and hurtful. Love, patience, forgiveness and kindness is better for everyone.

http://www.futurity.org/shame-942522/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creative-synthesis/2015... https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/research/wor...

There's a reason this stuff is in the 2000 year old wisdom of Jesus (turn the other cheek) and the 2500 year old wisdom of Buddha.

Love is the answer.

jrochkind13• 11 years ago

Wait, her response, with the hashtag, was to promote the fact that there are lots of engineers who don't look like many people's stereotype of an engineer, no?

What about that involves 'shame and fear'?

Why does it bug you?

dvg253• 11 years ago

Maybe because Isis Anchalee Wenger is not an engineer, despite what her inflated job title ("platform engineer") and 3-months of web development bootcamp may tell her to the contrary. That doesn't mean she doesn't face real sexism -- just one comment about her appearance is one too many. The more interesting question, however, is what does a software engineer actually look like? Does a 3-month web bootcamp give you the rights?

henry_vonfire• 11 years ago

The worst thing is that "looking like an engineer" is a pejorative description. People expect some kind of nerdy appearance from an engineer no matter what gender the person is.

mycroft-holmes• 11 years ago

Exactly. I've been told I don't look like an engineer but it doesn't matter because I'm a man.

totierne2• 11 years ago

I think the hashtag is cool. Just waiting for lots of male engineers in drag to subvert it. Seriously though it's cheap and I really do not see a downside except woman may be encouraged to become engineers and be surprised by long hours impinging on family time (long hours (if a little self inflicted) impinge on my family time). (I will not declare whether I am male of female. My bio: Engineering degree/programmer).

Sexist Reactions to an Ad Spark #ILookLikeAnEngineer Campaign

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