4 ms·

I skimmed the comments on Tom's boob pic. Most of the women also thought it was funny. Only a few women were loudly critical. Do we solve sexism only when 100%

I skimmed the comments on Tom's boob pic. Most of the women also thought it was funny. Only a few women were loudly critical. Do we solve sexism only when 100% of women are satisfied? That's going to take a while.

bethling 15y ago
I think the how you see the context of the photo has a lot to do with how offensive it is - if it's a just a random photo from a party, then it's something I'd shake my head at and sigh. If it were something on an official Google page (which seems to be how some people in the comments are taking it), it would be downright offensive. As something in a "serious" article - it bothers me - not enough to be 'outraged', but it is indicative of a lot of the issues women have in technology. There are times where it's just not appropriate. It's fine to like looking a big breasted + attractive women, but also realize that women are made uncomfortable when they're put into environments where they feel like who we are/what we can do is second to what we are. Photos like that create such an environment - and take away from the article.
wccrawford 15y ago
You're getting voted down for not going with the group-think. For some reason, some people think that if even 1 women is offended, then it's sexist. They couldn't be more wrong. Anyhow, if all humor that made fun of someone or something were banned, there wouldn't be much left. That's the basis of most of it, and they continue to find it funny to make fun of some things, but not others. Everyone should stop being offended on behalf of people who aren't like them. Seriously. If you're offended because it affects you, I'm all ears. If you're offended because it's rude to do that to someone else, but you have no stake in it... Shut up. You're making the situation WORSE.
- urbanjunkie 15y ago
  So, if I get offended because I see someone shout out at an Indian woman crossing the street "Fuck off back to pakiland you dirty paki", I've made the situation worse? Can you explain what I should do in such a situation, or even better, what would you do?
  - wccrawford 15y ago
    That's an verbal attack, not just an offensive statement. It's quite a different category than taking a picture with a woman using her boobs as O's in a logo. The woman in the photo obviously wasn't offended. Most other women apparently aren't, either. But for some reason, MEN feel the need to make a big deal out of this situation. If a female blogger were writing to say she was offended by this situation, I'd be paying a lot more heed. People talk about equality and all, but when it comes down to it, the people defending 'women' from this are actually worse than the people that supposedly caused an offense! Wrap your head around this: Why are men getting up in arms about this? Because they think women need their protection. They are playing right into the sexism by thinking women can't handle this on their own. If women can't handle this on their own, they're welcome to say so, and I'll jump on a white horse myself. They aren't saying that here. Or ANYWHERE that I've seen lately. I'm apparently one of the few men out there that actually believe a woman can handle things. They aren't inferior; They don't -need- my help. So everyone should heed their own advice and back off.
    - urbanjunkie 15y ago
      Well, you didn't qualify your original statement. So, if I hear 3 people making a whole load of racist comments in a bus, but not directed at a specific person, should I ignore it? I'm Indian by birth, and have lived through a lot of racism. I'm not inferior, and I would never have gone begging for help, but I'd sure have appreciated people intervening at times, even when I wasn't under direct attack. In the UK, women are typically paid 15% less than men for equivalent jobs. Should I say nothing about this?

bethling 15y ago

I think the how you see the context of the photo has a lot to do with how offensive it is - if it's a just a random photo from a party, then it's something I'd shake my head at and sigh. If it were something on an official Google page (which seems to be how some people in the comments are taking it), it would be downright offensive. As something in a "serious" article - it bothers me - not enough to be 'outraged', but it is indicative of a lot of the issues women have in technology. There are times where it's just not appropriate. It's fine to like looking a big breasted + attractive women, but also realize that women are made uncomfortable when they're put into environments where they feel like who we are/what we can do is second to what we are. Photos like that create such an environment - and take away from the article.

wccrawford 15y ago

You're getting voted down for not going with the group-think. For some reason, some people think that if even 1 women is offended, then it's sexist. They couldn't be more wrong. Anyhow, if all humor that made fun of someone or something were banned, there wouldn't be much left. That's the basis of most of it, and they continue to find it funny to make fun of some things, but not others. Everyone should stop being offended on behalf of people who aren't like them. Seriously. If you're offended because it affects you, I'm all ears. If you're offended because it's rude to do that to someone else, but you have no stake in it... Shut up. You're making the situation WORSE.

urbanjunkie 15y ago
So, if I get offended because I see someone shout out at an Indian woman crossing the street "Fuck off back to pakiland you dirty paki", I've made the situation worse? Can you explain what I should do in such a situation, or even better, what would you do?
- wccrawford 15y ago
  That's an verbal attack, not just an offensive statement. It's quite a different category than taking a picture with a woman using her boobs as O's in a logo. The woman in the photo obviously wasn't offended. Most other women apparently aren't, either. But for some reason, MEN feel the need to make a big deal out of this situation. If a female blogger were writing to say she was offended by this situation, I'd be paying a lot more heed. People talk about equality and all, but when it comes down to it, the people defending 'women' from this are actually worse than the people that supposedly caused an offense! Wrap your head around this: Why are men getting up in arms about this? Because they think women need their protection. They are playing right into the sexism by thinking women can't handle this on their own. If women can't handle this on their own, they're welcome to say so, and I'll jump on a white horse myself. They aren't saying that here. Or ANYWHERE that I've seen lately. I'm apparently one of the few men out there that actually believe a woman can handle things. They aren't inferior; They don't -need- my help. So everyone should heed their own advice and back off.
  - urbanjunkie 15y ago
    Well, you didn't qualify your original statement. So, if I hear 3 people making a whole load of racist comments in a bus, but not directed at a specific person, should I ignore it? I'm Indian by birth, and have lived through a lot of racism. I'm not inferior, and I would never have gone begging for help, but I'd sure have appreciated people intervening at times, even when I wasn't under direct attack. In the UK, women are typically paid 15% less than men for equivalent jobs. Should I say nothing about this?