Chris Hardwick And Why Geek Culture Can’t Shake Its Misogyny

Dykstra’s allegations of Hardwick’s cruel and controlling behavior — she says he isolated her, dictated her schedule, coerced her into unwanted sex, yelled at her constantly, triggered her anorexia and had her blacklisted after she left him — has many of us wondering, again, if the misogynist streak in nerdom will ever go away. On the primary level, of course, her story echoes every other recent testimony of a man using his status and connections to secure the obedience of a vulnerable younger woman. Each allegation is evidence that Hollywood’s specific power hierarchies and cult of personality are ideal preconditions for this exact abuse.
But there is no getting around the geek problem. From the dark days of Gamergate, to the dudes throwing tantrums about lady Ghostbusters and feminist Star Wars, to 4chan-inspired incel terrorism, nerds are itching for gender war.

via Chris Hardwick And Why Geek Culture Can’t Shake Its Misogyny

Absolute Twat Blocks British Law to Ban Taking Upskirt Photos

In an effort to console Americans by proving that their country’s politics aren’t alone in being completely fucking mental, let me bring you this story from my homeland: A Conservative member of Parliament blocked a bill that would have made upskirting—surreptitiously taking photos up a woman’s skirt without her consent—a criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison.

Sir Christopher Chope blocked the bill by shouting “Object!” in Parliament, the BBC reported on Friday—you know, the normal way to prevent progress on misogyny.

via Absolute Twat Blocks British Law to Ban Taking Upskirt Photos

Expose trolls, says Labour MP Jess Phillips after 600 rape threats in one day | News | The Times

One in five women in Britain has suffered online abuse or harassment, Amnesty International revealed last year. Common psychological affects included low self-esteem and confidence, apprehension when using social media and a sense of powerlessness. A third of women said that the police response to online abuse was inadequate.

via Expose trolls, says Labour MP Jess Phillips after 600 rape threats in one day | News | The Times

LGBTQ Icons Define What ‘Pride’ Means to Them

Pride Month is here, and JezeRoot is back!

This month, we celebrate the beauty and vastness of the LGBTQ community and its contributions to this world—and what better way to kick it off than with a conversation about pride?

After all, the word “pride” means many things to many different people. In the African-American community, we often link a sense of pride with our ingenuity and resilience: “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud.”

But what does it mean to have pride as a black member of the LGBTQ community?

via LGBTQ Icons Define What ‘Pride’ Means to Them

Geek Celebrities Can Help Shut Down Vitriolic Fan Behavior

At some point over the past few weeks, actress Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, deleted all of her Instagram posts for reasons that have not been explained. io9 has reached out to Tran’s representatives for comment about what happened but as of publishing, they’ve not returned our calls. Multiple reports are alleging that it might have been in response to racist, misogynist trolling from the Star Wars fandom, reports themselves based off of an as-yet unverified tweet from a fan account that spread quickly on social media.

Regardless of the specifics reasons for Tran’s disappearance from Instagram, the fact remains that groups of fans targeting specific people for harassment is a very real problem that’s not likely to go away soon unless people get serious about addressing it head-on.

via Geek Celebrities Can Help Shut Down Vitriolic Fan Behavior

Qatar Airways boss in ‘heartfelt apology’ for sexist remark – BBC News

The boss of Qatar Airways has issued “heartfelt apologies for any offence caused” for saying that a woman could not do his job.
Akbar al-Baker said on Tuesday that the airline had to be led by a man “because it is a very challenging position”.
He later defended Qatar Airways’ record on gender diversity, but that failed to quell growing criticism.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr al-Baker said Qatar Airways fully supported gender equality.

via Qatar Airways boss in ‘heartfelt apology’ for sexist remark – BBC News

Masterpiece Baker Jake Phillips Says “I Don’t Discriminate”

Everyone can relax: Jake Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop wants you to know that he does not discriminate, even though he refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple and then went all the way to the Supreme Court to appeal his case after the Colorado Civil Rights Division and the Colorado Court of Appeals found that he had illegally discriminated against the couple. I’m relieved, frankly.

The Denver-based baker spoke with Today’s Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb following the Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling in his favor.

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Kotb asked Phillips about his response to critics who believe that he is discriminatory and is comparable to businesses that might not have provided services to an interracial couple 50 years ago.

“I don’t discriminate against anybody,” said Phillips. “I serve anybody that comes in my shop. I just want to say again: I don’t create cakes for every message that people ask me to create.”

via Masterpiece Baker Jake Phillips Says “I Don’t Discriminate”

Pro-Choice Activists Take Abortion Pills Outside Belfast Courthouse to Protest Draconian Abortion Law 

On Thursday, a few days after the Republic of Ireland voted in a referendum to overturn its nearly absolute ban on abortion, pro-choice advocates in Northern Ireland, where abortion is still outlawed under Victorian-era law, staged a bold and creative protest of the oppressive status quo.

The Guardian reports that activists took what they claimed were abortion pills outside court buildings in Belfast, and in front of news cameras. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom where abortion is outlawed.

via Pro-Choice Activists Take Abortion Pills Outside Belfast Courthouse to Protest Draconian Abortion Law 

Multiple Women Say They Were Sexually Abused By Their Legendary Equestrian Coach

The Chronicle report, by Mollie Bailey, quoted five women who say Williams abused them in ways ranging from talking about his sex life to forcibly kissing them to trying to force one’s face onto his penis. The Times talked to 38 “former students, trainers, grooms, equestrian officials and members of the Flintridge Riding Club,” where Williams taught.

via Multiple Women Say They Were Sexually Abused By Their Legendary Equestrian Coach