6 ms·

Sexism is if you're Noether in 1915 and you can't get a faculty postion because you're a woman. Sexism is not if you are being a nag and you get called a bitch

by ucee054 13y ago

Sexism is if you're Noether in 1915 and you can't get a faculty postion because you're a woman. Sexism is not if you are being a nag and you get called a bitch as a result. The guy in the story just sounds like a jerk who wasn't taking his TA responsibility seriously. Finally, even if there were sexism in that one CS departmenT it wouldn't mean that there's hidden sexism in CS departmentS. That's just stupidity and assumption. Because one female had a problem in one CS department, she implies the same problem exists everywhere from Timbuktu to Helsinki?

cs648 13y ago
It was abuse, using a misogynistic word, in a department where there is already a dearth of women due to the hostility they face. Brushing it under the carpet by denying her experience isn't helpful. You don't need to read this story to learn of sexism in CS departments, just ask any woman who does computer science and you can hear plenty of stories.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- kaonashi 13y ago
  Right, but it's an anecdote. The title of the piece suggests some sort of comprehensive study, but fails to deliver anything beyond a single story of friction between two people (one of whom clearly has women issues).
- s_baby 13y ago
  "Bitch" being a misogynistic term is a stretch...
  - mmmelissa 13y ago
    Its more about what was communicated/interpreted than the actual words. Take for instance: "I'm not going to let some bitch tell me what to do" vs. "Hey bitches, whats up?" the first statement could communicate that the speaker has issues with females telling him what to do. The second statement is playful and affectionate. However, because the word bitch is so generic and well used, the first speaker could easily only have issues with unpleasant people, not females. Its not clear. That's why it is better to talk about a person's pattern of behavior, rather than labeling an isolated incident as sexism.
- ucee054 13y ago
  where there is already a dearth of women due to the hostility they face Where the hell did you pull that from? I suppose there's a "dearth" of men in nursing too? Can I infer an epidemic of misandry because we don't have 50% male nurses? Ludicrous. just ask any woman Yeah, because the plural of anecdote is data </sarcasm>
mmmelissa 13y ago
Sexism can manifest itself in many ways, and the subtle ways arent less legitimate concerns just because it could be worse. "At least youre not getting beaten, be thankful for that". Sexism can totally be if you are a "nag" and get called a "bitch"! Talking about an isolated relatively minor situation with the lens of sexism becomes difficult, because without establishing a pattern of behavior, its hard to determine if the situation is sexism or not. What happens when many females encounter similar attitudes in many CS work spaces. Will we still deny that society isnt perfect?
- ucee054 13y ago
  Sexism can totally be That's just an unbacked assertion; come back with something better. "nag" and get called a "bitch"! If you are a nag you probably deserve to get called a bitch. I'm fairly certain if I nag like the OP, I'll get called a bitch, and I'm not a girl. If that's sexism, I supposed it's misandry if I get called a dick. Lame. What happens when many females encounter similar attitudes in many CS work spaces What happens is that it will be demonstrable with a valid statistical test, instead of being stretched from one anecdote to a complaint about CS DepartmentS in general, which the idiotic OP did. I'm waiting for you to produce the stats. <crickets/>
  - mmmelissa 13y ago
    "Come back with something better", "I am waiting on you to produce the stats", "<crickets/>" ...um, why would I want to engage in a discussion with someone who communicates like this? Also before you insult people's arguments by attempting to devalue them as assertions lacking proof, make sure you are also not guilty of the same. You use a lot of absolute language for someone concerned with evidence. Lots of things in life cant be proved, does that mean we cant talk about them like mature and curious adults?
    - mmmelissa 13y ago
      Note to self: dont feed trolls.

by ucee054 13y ago

cs648 13y ago

It was abuse, using a misogynistic word, in a department where there is already a dearth of women due to the hostility they face. Brushing it under the carpet by denying her experience isn't helpful. You don't need to read this story to learn of sexism in CS departments, just ask any woman who does computer science and you can hear plenty of stories.

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
kaonashi 13y ago
Right, but it's an anecdote. The title of the piece suggests some sort of comprehensive study, but fails to deliver anything beyond a single story of friction between two people (one of whom clearly has women issues).
s_baby 13y ago
"Bitch" being a misogynistic term is a stretch...
- mmmelissa 13y ago
  Its more about what was communicated/interpreted than the actual words. Take for instance: "I'm not going to let some bitch tell me what to do" vs. "Hey bitches, whats up?" the first statement could communicate that the speaker has issues with females telling him what to do. The second statement is playful and affectionate. However, because the word bitch is so generic and well used, the first speaker could easily only have issues with unpleasant people, not females. Its not clear. That's why it is better to talk about a person's pattern of behavior, rather than labeling an isolated incident as sexism.
ucee054 13y ago
where there is already a dearth of women due to the hostility they face Where the hell did you pull that from? I suppose there's a "dearth" of men in nursing too? Can I infer an epidemic of misandry because we don't have 50% male nurses? Ludicrous. just ask any woman Yeah, because the plural of anecdote is data </sarcasm>

mmmelissa 13y ago

Sexism can manifest itself in many ways, and the subtle ways arent less legitimate concerns just because it could be worse. "At least youre not getting beaten, be thankful for that". Sexism can totally be if you are a "nag" and get called a "bitch"! Talking about an isolated relatively minor situation with the lens of sexism becomes difficult, because without establishing a pattern of behavior, its hard to determine if the situation is sexism or not. What happens when many females encounter similar attitudes in many CS work spaces. Will we still deny that society isnt perfect?

ucee054 13y ago
Sexism can totally be That's just an unbacked assertion; come back with something better. "nag" and get called a "bitch"! If you are a nag you probably deserve to get called a bitch. I'm fairly certain if I nag like the OP, I'll get called a bitch, and I'm not a girl. If that's sexism, I supposed it's misandry if I get called a dick. Lame. What happens when many females encounter similar attitudes in many CS work spaces What happens is that it will be demonstrable with a valid statistical test, instead of being stretched from one anecdote to a complaint about CS DepartmentS in general, which the idiotic OP did. I'm waiting for you to produce the stats. <crickets/>
- mmmelissa 13y ago
  "Come back with something better", "I am waiting on you to produce the stats", "<crickets/>" ...um, why would I want to engage in a discussion with someone who communicates like this? Also before you insult people's arguments by attempting to devalue them as assertions lacking proof, make sure you are also not guilty of the same. You use a lot of absolute language for someone concerned with evidence. Lots of things in life cant be proved, does that mean we cant talk about them like mature and curious adults?
  - mmmelissa 13y ago
    Note to self: dont feed trolls.