Who run the world?
First post of the new year, and I'm afraid it's going to get ranty. So fasten your seatbelts, boys and girls, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Tonight Scott and I watched (recorded earlier) 'The Nerdist: Year End Review', or whatever the title was. The host is Chris Hardwick, and his guests were Wil Wheaton and Nathan Fillion, and someone else whom I don't remember. And there were two other guys, who appeared to be regulars. I had never seen this show, or listened to the podcasts before, but it looked like fun, and I wanted to watch it like the geeky girl I am.
I don't know if other geek girls have commented on this yet or not. There may be some giant discussion going on, but there was a moment in this show that just hit all my buttons for feminist rage, and also ruined the show for me. I've been stewing about it, and I want to share my thoughts.
One of the guys who appeared to be a regular had a segment about 2011 in music. And his shtick was that it was the 'Year of the Woman,' and all the top songs/albums had been by women. Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Adele - maybe a couple others but I don't remember. His comment on all this? His big joke? Was that this was 'also the first year that I wouldn't want to sleep with any of the top women.' (I paraphrase, as I don't have the transcript.) His next line, which I admit I mostly missed due to aforementioned feminist rage, was some crack about Adele not being attractive. I can only assume due to her not being a size 2. And everyone at the table chuckled, and then they moved on. And here I was, a geek girl watching, and suddenly this party has thrown me out because I have ovaries. This party is for boys only. Girls are only good for one thing, and that thing isn't for smarts or business acumen or talent or ability or anything, except how attractive you are, and whether some (by the way not a size 2 himself) geeky guy would want to sleep with you.
These were pretty much the only women mentioned in the entire show. Felicia Day was lauded for being smart and innovative later on, but there were no women guests, and all other mentions of women were in passing. And if it weren't for that jerk and his stupid non-segment, I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it. But after that, I felt bitter and kicked and angry. Because really? This is how we treat women artists in the nerdy community? Still? WHAT YEAR IS THIS?
I should probably just mutter "asshole" and move on. But this was a party I was looking forward to. Wil Wheaton and Nathan Fillion on the same show? With other nerds? Talking about nerdy things? And the show was pretty funny and otherwise fun to watch, is the real shame. The host is charming and keeps things rolling, and most of the jokes were light and a laugh riot. But that one crack made it very clear to me that I was not welcome at this party. That my presence was at best tolerated and that I didn't get to play in their clubhouse because I might get cooties on it. Also I'm probably too fat, and not pretty enough. Because if Adele isn't pretty enough, then no one is. That woman is freaking gorgeous, and that jerk is too stupid to live. Every time he opened his mouth for the rest of the show, I wanted to punch him in the face. Because now I feel marginalized by a group of people that I would like to be welcomed by.
To be fair, I don't know what the other people at the table truly thought of that joke. I don't know if this stuff is vetted beforehand, or if Wil or Nathan had any idea it was coming, or if they just let it go because hey, this wasn't their show and they're just guests on it. And I'd have to watch it again to see if they showed their faces at that moment, because I think the camera was just focused on that one guy. But it still felt like they'd all kicked me to the curb.
It just makes me so angry and sad that here it is, we're all supposedly 'living in the future', and my feminist rage button was pushed by the people who claim to be the most progressive. My people. Nerds. How progressive can they be when they appear to live by gender rules from 1959? Although the rest of the show seemed funny and smart, I don't think I want to watch it anymore. I like nerds who recognize that women have contributions to make, and are important and partners in this world. Not those who just rate us on whether or not they'd #*&% us. Those guys? Are a worthless wast of time.
Tonight Scott and I watched (recorded earlier) 'The Nerdist: Year End Review', or whatever the title was. The host is Chris Hardwick, and his guests were Wil Wheaton and Nathan Fillion, and someone else whom I don't remember. And there were two other guys, who appeared to be regulars. I had never seen this show, or listened to the podcasts before, but it looked like fun, and I wanted to watch it like the geeky girl I am.
I don't know if other geek girls have commented on this yet or not. There may be some giant discussion going on, but there was a moment in this show that just hit all my buttons for feminist rage, and also ruined the show for me. I've been stewing about it, and I want to share my thoughts.
One of the guys who appeared to be a regular had a segment about 2011 in music. And his shtick was that it was the 'Year of the Woman,' and all the top songs/albums had been by women. Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Adele - maybe a couple others but I don't remember. His comment on all this? His big joke? Was that this was 'also the first year that I wouldn't want to sleep with any of the top women.' (I paraphrase, as I don't have the transcript.) His next line, which I admit I mostly missed due to aforementioned feminist rage, was some crack about Adele not being attractive. I can only assume due to her not being a size 2. And everyone at the table chuckled, and then they moved on. And here I was, a geek girl watching, and suddenly this party has thrown me out because I have ovaries. This party is for boys only. Girls are only good for one thing, and that thing isn't for smarts or business acumen or talent or ability or anything, except how attractive you are, and whether some (by the way not a size 2 himself) geeky guy would want to sleep with you.
These were pretty much the only women mentioned in the entire show. Felicia Day was lauded for being smart and innovative later on, but there were no women guests, and all other mentions of women were in passing. And if it weren't for that jerk and his stupid non-segment, I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it. But after that, I felt bitter and kicked and angry. Because really? This is how we treat women artists in the nerdy community? Still? WHAT YEAR IS THIS?
I should probably just mutter "asshole" and move on. But this was a party I was looking forward to. Wil Wheaton and Nathan Fillion on the same show? With other nerds? Talking about nerdy things? And the show was pretty funny and otherwise fun to watch, is the real shame. The host is charming and keeps things rolling, and most of the jokes were light and a laugh riot. But that one crack made it very clear to me that I was not welcome at this party. That my presence was at best tolerated and that I didn't get to play in their clubhouse because I might get cooties on it. Also I'm probably too fat, and not pretty enough. Because if Adele isn't pretty enough, then no one is. That woman is freaking gorgeous, and that jerk is too stupid to live. Every time he opened his mouth for the rest of the show, I wanted to punch him in the face. Because now I feel marginalized by a group of people that I would like to be welcomed by.
To be fair, I don't know what the other people at the table truly thought of that joke. I don't know if this stuff is vetted beforehand, or if Wil or Nathan had any idea it was coming, or if they just let it go because hey, this wasn't their show and they're just guests on it. And I'd have to watch it again to see if they showed their faces at that moment, because I think the camera was just focused on that one guy. But it still felt like they'd all kicked me to the curb.
It just makes me so angry and sad that here it is, we're all supposedly 'living in the future', and my feminist rage button was pushed by the people who claim to be the most progressive. My people. Nerds. How progressive can they be when they appear to live by gender rules from 1959? Although the rest of the show seemed funny and smart, I don't think I want to watch it anymore. I like nerds who recognize that women have contributions to make, and are important and partners in this world. Not those who just rate us on whether or not they'd #*&% us. Those guys? Are a worthless wast of time.