> "The sad fact is that any woman with a sizable online following who posts any photo of herself is going to receive degrading and abusive responses, and anyone

> "The sad fact is that any woman with a sizable online following who posts any photo of herself is going to receive degrading and abusive responses, and anyone who is surprised by it is astonishingly disconnected from the reality of how women are treated, in public and in private, online and off, every single day." so true. when i stop to think about it--and i rarely do because who has the time or emotional energy to combat so much bullshit--i feel immense frustration at the inequalities and insulting attitudes that i see, both first hand and against others. just because this is potentially "not a big deal" doesn't mean it isn't terrible and wrong. (it just means maybe it's better to be a good role model and not argue with everyone over small things.) one thing that i find curious is that the notion of equality across genders, races and ethnicity is relatively new in developed countries, and is spotty at best. perhaps i should feel lucky to have the right to vote (first granted in New Zealand in 1893; international law via UN in 1948, which is about when my mother was born), to say nothing of the opportunity to make a career myself, voice opinions and not be physical intimidated. certainly i feel lucky to expect not to be beaten or raped (though i may still be accused of wanting or inciting it). at any rate, i often marvel at how spotty and recent our cultural notion of equality is. we've only be living like this for a few generations!! i struggle myself to be mindful of others...will this become easier, broader and more wide-spread one day? how soon before a world-wise crisis reverts us to a more primitive state? is equality and respect across humanity a random blip of our species' existence?