the feminist librarian reads

SXSW’s decision to bow to threats of violence legitimizes said violence. It draws a direct line between what women experience online and how they will be treated offline. It also suggests that this experience is logical, even a necessary side effect of taking on “controversial topics” such as sexism and the internet. Gamergate is the peak of longstanding resentments that have flourished against women in online spaces, but it is not the first example of online harassment of women. It can be argued that Gamergate is the result of years of neglecting the stories, realities, and experiences of women online. Similar to rape culture, or the idea that women are “asking for it,” the inability for the technology community to adjust and account for the horrendous treatment of women online suggests that some of our market leaders may believe, on some level, this is the natural side effect for daring to show up in these spaces.