(no subject)
At the suggestion of a reader, I just went to check out http://paperbackswap.com (ThatGrrrl, if you're reading, thanks for the links!) and decided to register. However, during the registration process, they collected some basic demographic information, including gender.
Now, I am very used to only seeing "male" and "female" as options. It irritates me, but it's the societal norm, and I deal with it. (Most of the time. In queer space, I get all ranty. But that's another matter.)
BUT. This site followed the dropdown menu with you only have two choices, ha ha.
*mutterfumerant*
After thinking about it for a few minutes, I hunted up the feedback link, and sent this little note to the powers-that-be:
While registering, I was very dismayed by the "you only have two choices, ha ha" comment following the gender selection. A great many people identify as transgendered, and although I am not one of them, I find that comment offensive and belittling. Seeing that sort of adolescent narrow-mindedness during the registration process does not make me feel comfortable. I hope you will consider removing the comment, or better still, adding "other" or "transgender" to the list of choices.
I've no doubt I'll be laughed off as some sort of tree-hugging dyke, but damn, that sort of thing annoys me, especially from a site that has nearly 3500 members. Going on statistics alone, a good number of those people ARE very likely transgendered or intersex or genderqueer (unless they all backed out upon encountering that bit of "humor" during registration) and even setting aside gender issues, that kind of comment does NOT make me feel like I'm dealing with a reputable organization.
Also, while I'm ranting here: the LJ spellcheck doesn't grok "dyke." Seriously, what the fuck?
Now, I am very used to only seeing "male" and "female" as options. It irritates me, but it's the societal norm, and I deal with it. (Most of the time. In queer space, I get all ranty. But that's another matter.)
BUT. This site followed the dropdown menu with you only have two choices, ha ha.
*mutterfumerant*
After thinking about it for a few minutes, I hunted up the feedback link, and sent this little note to the powers-that-be:
While registering, I was very dismayed by the "you only have two choices, ha ha" comment following the gender selection. A great many people identify as transgendered, and although I am not one of them, I find that comment offensive and belittling. Seeing that sort of adolescent narrow-mindedness during the registration process does not make me feel comfortable. I hope you will consider removing the comment, or better still, adding "other" or "transgender" to the list of choices.
I've no doubt I'll be laughed off as some sort of tree-hugging dyke, but damn, that sort of thing annoys me, especially from a site that has nearly 3500 members. Going on statistics alone, a good number of those people ARE very likely transgendered or intersex or genderqueer (unless they all backed out upon encountering that bit of "humor" during registration) and even setting aside gender issues, that kind of comment does NOT make me feel like I'm dealing with a reputable organization.
Also, while I'm ranting here: the LJ spellcheck doesn't grok "dyke." Seriously, what the fuck?