4 ms·

I am a woman, and I subscribe to Wired, and my reaction when I opened my mailbox and found that cover was "Oooh look, honey, boobies!" Quite literally. I gues

by Female 16y ago

I am a woman, and I subscribe to Wired, and my reaction when I opened my mailbox and found that cover was "Oooh look, honey, boobies!" Quite literally. I guess I should, as a caveat, mention that I'm very sex positive and not entirely straight. But I personally believe that bodies aren't obscene, no matter what context they're in. Even if that context is an attention-getting cover on tissue engineering. Trust me, that's a pretty good use of boobies.

gaoshan 16y ago
It bugs me that, as a man, I feel like I can't say this (though I think it). Thank you for doing it!
boha 16y ago
It's not a matter of obscenity. That is not the author's contention. She is pointing out the disparity between covers featuring men and covers featuring women: Men are presented as people--pioneers, leaders, innovators--but women are presented as objects--sex symbols, characters, models. Using an anonymous woman's chest makes the objectification even more egregious. Women in tech fight an uphill battle to be recognized for their accomplishments and not just their gender identity. For the author to say that a media mainstay (Wired) in the tech arena should be trying to fight that imbalance instead of aggravating it is justifiable and welcome.
- jamaicahest 16y ago
  Would it have been equally offensive, had they used an anonymous penis? Or does equality only apply to women?
- sp4rki 16y ago
  Men make probably more then 90% of the middle to higher up positions in tech. Women founders of startups make around 4% of the total founder pool. What are people supposed to do? Invent important women in the tech industry out of thin air? The important women make a name for themselves, and I'd argue that the good ones have it better since it's easier to be acknowledge as an important contributor as a woman, since there are so little of them. I'm sure a great developer probably has a harder time getting some exposure, than a women at the same level (a great woman developer, a woman that's just like 90% of them won't get noticed, and neither will the men) and with the same opportunities. In my experience, great female developers are always a big deal. Everybody loves them, and they get more exposure than their peers at the same level. The one's that complain are the one's in the trenches complaining on why they have to share a bathroom.
- yummyfajitas 16y ago
  Women tech fight an uphill battle to be recognized for their accomplishments... Is this really true? To me it seems pretty easy for a woman to get press. Consider, for example, indinero. It was founded by Jessica Mah and some other dude who gets no press. See also Leah Culver, who can barely code and yet is considered a tech icon.
mfukar 16y ago
Finally, a voice of reason. I think it's extremely hard for people not to project their own thoughts and background of abuse (mostly perceived, but also otherwise) on simple things like a picture, a work of art, or a book, while simultaneously invalidating the context it appears in. Why, I'll never figure out.

by Female 16y ago

gaoshan 16y ago

It bugs me that, as a man, I feel like I can't say this (though I think it). Thank you for doing it!

boha 16y ago

It's not a matter of obscenity. That is not the author's contention. She is pointing out the disparity between covers featuring men and covers featuring women: Men are presented as people--pioneers, leaders, innovators--but women are presented as objects--sex symbols, characters, models. Using an anonymous woman's chest makes the objectification even more egregious. Women in tech fight an uphill battle to be recognized for their accomplishments and not just their gender identity. For the author to say that a media mainstay (Wired) in the tech arena should be trying to fight that imbalance instead of aggravating it is justifiable and welcome.

jamaicahest 16y ago
Would it have been equally offensive, had they used an anonymous penis? Or does equality only apply to women?
sp4rki 16y ago
Men make probably more then 90% of the middle to higher up positions in tech. Women founders of startups make around 4% of the total founder pool. What are people supposed to do? Invent important women in the tech industry out of thin air? The important women make a name for themselves, and I'd argue that the good ones have it better since it's easier to be acknowledge as an important contributor as a woman, since there are so little of them. I'm sure a great developer probably has a harder time getting some exposure, than a women at the same level (a great woman developer, a woman that's just like 90% of them won't get noticed, and neither will the men) and with the same opportunities. In my experience, great female developers are always a big deal. Everybody loves them, and they get more exposure than their peers at the same level. The one's that complain are the one's in the trenches complaining on why they have to share a bathroom.
yummyfajitas 16y ago
Women tech fight an uphill battle to be recognized for their accomplishments... Is this really true? To me it seems pretty easy for a woman to get press. Consider, for example, indinero. It was founded by Jessica Mah and some other dude who gets no press. See also Leah Culver, who can barely code and yet is considered a tech icon.

mfukar 16y ago

Finally, a voice of reason. I think it's extremely hard for people not to project their own thoughts and background of abuse (mostly perceived, but also otherwise) on simple things like a picture, a work of art, or a book, while simultaneously invalidating the context it appears in. Why, I'll never figure out.