Internet Sexism

[Ho-Oh]

Recently I've been thinking about how much your gender actually matters online. Whether if you're a girl, males are more likely to talk to you (or if you post a picture, even if you're average EVERYONE thinks you're good looking), or if you're a guy people are more likely to assume you're "tough" and therefore have to be macho, in an Internet sense.

Do you think that this is true? Have you seen examples of this? How do you think this can be stopped? Do you think it's fair that gender should play a huge role in a mostly anonymous format? I mean, even without showing pictures, males are more likely to talk to females and so on. Do you think this can affect younger children as they become exposed to the Internet and whether this'll affect their sexuality as they grow up (noting that these days, children use the Internet a lot younger and well, you get how it carries on)? Should we all just pretend to be the opposite sex to be treated normally? Either way those are just a few stimulating questions!!! Discuss how you think sexism plays a role on the Internet and whether we should/could/can do anything about it.

 

[Sydian]

The most I've noticed is that I get less rude members PMing me their bs when I have my gender set to female than when I had it as male. ...If that means anything, lol. I guess it shows people are quicker to jump on a guy for doing something they see as wrong than jumping on a girl for the same situation. But that's all I have for now. Perhaps I'll come back to this thread. We're talking about gender in society in sociology this week so YUP!

 

[Ice Car]

I highly doubt this "internet sexism" translates into real life for children. Children should not even be on the internet without being supervised in the first place. I should have been when I was younger so I hadn't been exposed to all this inappropriate **** so early.

Moving on, I see this a lot on places like Youtube, and even in general, everywhere. I think everybody just automatically assumes everyone is a guy unless they state otherwise. Everyone thinks I'm a girl on another forum on sight but there are a couple of girls there that are perceived as guys because of the way they type and their avatars. And then when they post pictures everyone was like WHAAAA-

I believe this mentality of assuming everyone is a guy is the point of "there are no girls on the internet". Which is sexist but obviously isn't to be taken seriously.

 

[Echidna]

To be honest, gender never really mattered to me. I mean of course I'd VM/PM a girl if she posted a picture, but same goes for guys... It all depends on what that person is trying too look like in that picture.

Beyond pictures, no. I've never VMed a girl because she's a girl lol. Most girls I know online I met when I thought they were guys (Cirno ; North ; Star and so on). Of course when I found out they were girls, I started hitting on them and proposing but oh well :/

Bottom line is, it doesn't matter as long as they're being treated the same, whether or not they are being given more attention based on their gender. (Speaking in terms of number and not singularity, as in not more attention to every girl, but more attention to girls in general).

 

[Shiny Celebi]

I dont really think it matters. I havent seen much internet sexism to be honest. If either a girl or guy posted a picture and they looked nice, I would comment on it and say so. I have made the mistake of thinking some guys were girls because of how they said things and was kind of embarrased but nothing other than that.

 

[Esper]

It can definitely affect younger people. Just look at the case of Amanda Todd.

Young people are going through puberty and want attention or don't want attention, or want attention from some people and not others, and so on. That's just how it is when you're that age 'cuz you're learning about all these feelings and such. But people exploit this. They pressure you. If you don't socialize, post a picture, or whatnot you're cold and rude and mean and a prude. If you give in to the pressure you're a hussy, a drama queen, an attention w-- ah, you get the idea.

 

[60]

I feel awkward since I like just posted a picture yesterday. xP

I have noticed this though. It's not fair, since people shouldn't obviously start conversations based upon gender alone. I think since there are less females on the internet males tend to want to talk to someone different. I haven't seen much of it one this forum per se since the gender ratio is rather even, at least more so than other sites. But that's why I don't think it should affect a growing child much. Back at school or in society there are equal numbers of guys and girls so a person will have their guy friends and girl friends and it shouldn't be anything like the internet.

 

[Phantom1]

Didn't we even have a game here which was to guess the gender of the person above or something like that at some point?

Most people think I'm a guy. Probably because my profile isn't sprawled in pink and unicorns and puppies. Sexism exists everywhere. It's there on the internet, but it's not 'as' personal in real life, but some do take it to heart more than others.

I just correct people, then threaten to fus ro dah them if they get it wrong again.

 

[AChipOffTheOldBrock]

I always assume anyone I see on the internet is a male. I get pretty weirded out if Im talking to someone who I think is a guy says they are a girl. I certainly dont think internet sexism is a big deal or that people expect guys on the internet to be "macho" and girls to be girly. I personally assume everyone I meet on a forum is a super nerdy social outcast(because society) and Im usually wrong.

 

[Fomalhaut]

*gender fluid*

I've been displayed as both male and female, and have been an active member on many forums. In my experience, my Anima get's a hell of a lot less BS than I do. If that makes any sense. And if it does not, let Google be your friend.

 

[AChipOffTheOldBrock]

*gender fluid*

I've been displayed as both male and female, and have been an active member on many forums. In my experience, my Anima get's a hell of a lot less BS than I do. If that makes any sense. And if it does not, let Google be your friend.

Im confused. Isnt your anima an aspect of your masculinity, not some kind of alternate personality? And what is "gender fluid"? Sounds disgusting.

 

[LividZephyr]

I always assume anyone I see on the internet is a male. I get pretty weirded out if Im talking to someone who I think is a guy says they are a girl.

The time that happened to me, I was stunned. I didn't find any hints about her being a her, because she was more masculine than feminine. That wasn't due to sexism, it was just due to my analysis of character.

I analyze people I meet to try and figure out more about them - not extensively, really. Just some assuming based on patterns I see while talking to them. Sometimes I'm way off, though, so I don't do that like I used to xD

Personally, I don't think gender should matter online, but unfortunately, it does. Online, there are a good number of horny, single male virgins who react "Omgz u r girls?" and automatically picture this extremely attractive woman who they want to have sex with. They don't even need a picture. It's pathetic. If they want to get laid, they should try to do it the right way, and not court a girl they just met online and don't know much about.

I also remember a meme that was used extensively at GameFAQs when I used to go there, that "there are no girls on the Internets." I'm not sure if that was sexism, or just assumption that anyone who was a "girl" was, in fact, lying to seek attention. It's obvious when that happens, when someone tries to be all promiscuous or posts a picture of a hot babe they got off of a modeling site. Real girls don't draw attention to their gender, thus it's not that hard to tell the fakers from the real ones. Back in my days of being a master troll, I created an over-the-top satirical alt account to teach some of those guys a lesson. It was hilarious the results "Tifa Tequifa" produced :-X

The thing about gender discrimination... I don't talk to anyone solely based upon their gender. Gender doesn't affect how well you can get along with someone else online. In real life, yes, it can. But on the Internet, not really. Just talk about common interests and you can find friends. Don't try to scope out dates. That isn't the place.

Unfortunately, there are those aforementioned horny, single male virgins who don't understand that and objectify any woman they meet online. Those neglected youths will not go away any time soon, so there really isn't a way to stop it. There are ways to prevent such matters, however.

I don't post pictures of myself online for a reason: Because I want to just be me, without people making assumptions based upon my appearance. This is one way to prevent sexual discrimination: Don't post photos of yourself. Do state your gender, but be wary of those trying to take advantage of it.

 

[Fomalhaut]

Im confused. Isnt your anima an aspect of your masculinity, not some kind of alternate personality? And what is "gender fluid"? Sounds disgusting.

The Anima can be thought of as the female part of the male soul. While far from a separate personality, it can be used as a "Persona", if you are well-tuned with yourself, or know a thing or two about deconstructing your Psyche. Think of it as the tiny part of the male Psyche where everything that the male regards as "female" or "feminine", excels at.

"Gender Fluid" is a term used to refer to a person who, while biologically is one set gender, can sift from male to female to suit the mood (i.e. their environment, their partner, dealing with stress, et cetera). I personally see nothing "disgusting" about it, although if you do, by all means you are entitled to that opinion.

...

Assuming I was male, then I can see someone else, another male especially, looking at this and thinking "disgusting", however, assuming I were female, I get the feeling that the male's that would look on the male me as disgusting would be more lenient in their judgement... This is on-topic, perhaps it should be fleshed out.

 

[AChipOffTheOldBrock]

The Anima can be thought of as the female part of the male soul. While far from a separate personality, it can be used as a "Persona", if you are well-tuned with yourself, or know a thing or two about deconstructing your Psyche. Think of it as the tiny part of the male Psyche where everything that the male regards as "female" or "feminine", excels at.

"Gender Fluid" is a term used to refer to a person who, while biologically is one set gender, can sift from male to female to suit the mood (i.e. their environment, their partner, dealing with stress, et cetera). I personally see nothing "disgusting" about it, although if you do, by all means you are entitled to that opinion.

...

Assuming I was male, then I can see someone else, another male especially, looking at this and thinking "disgusting", however, assuming I were female, I get the feeling that the male's that would look on the male me as disgusting would be more lenient in their judgement... This is on-topic, perhaps it should be fleshed out.

Thats an interesting idea. And by disgusting I was thinking of "gender fluid" as some kind of vaginal or penal excretion. (Eh.. I cringe just typing that.) Im not digusted by the true definition of gender fluid at all. Im relieved honestly.

 

[Fomalhaut]

Thats an interesting idea. And by disgusting I was thinking of "gender fluid" as some kind of vaginal or penal excretion. (Eh.. I cringe just typing that.) Im not digusted by the true definition of gender fluid at all. Im relieved honestly.

Ah... AH! I see, you were thinking of it in a biological sense... XD

Also, neither of them are mere "ideas", the Anima is a valid Psychological concept, widely accepted by the Psychology community as a whole, in particular, those who adhere to Jungian theory... I'm excluding those nutcase Freudian supporters, by the way. And many people, particularly those who are bisexual or pansexual *cough* readily identify themselves as being "Gender Fluid", particularly in the S&M community... But, I get the feeling that such topics could be better discussed elsewhere.

 

[Overlord Drakow]

Recently I've been thinking about how much your gender actually matters online. Whether if you're a girl, males are more likely to talk to you (or if you post a picture, even if you're average EVERYONE thinks you're good looking), or if you're a guy people are more likely to assume you're "tough" and therefore have to be macho, in an Internet sense.

People treat others differently in the real world based on gender so it's to be expected that they would do so on the internet too. The ways in which they are treated may vary online and offline however.

 

[AChipOffTheOldBrock]

Ah... AH! I see, you were thinking of it in a biological sense... XD

Also, neither of them are mere "ideas", the Anima is a valid Psychological concept, widely accepted by the Psychology community as a whole, in particular, those who adhere to Jungian theory... I'm excluding those nutcase Freudian supporters, by the way. And many people, particularly those who are bisexual or pansexual *cough* readily identify themselves as being "Gender Fluid", particularly in the S&M community... But, I get the feeling that such topics could be better discussed elsewhere.

A concept is an idea. Its a noun but its not a person or place or thing. Im pretty sure if a noun doesnt exist physically then its an idea. And I wasnt trying to demean the concept of the Anima in any way.

 

[Altairis]

I see it online but not so much on this forum, but definitely others. I don't mind it myself and occasionally joke about my gender (A girl on the internet? No way!) but sometimes people take the jokes too far but by then it's easy to ignore them. Most of the time when I go online people assume I'm a guy (which isn't that big of a deal), but still, it's there!

 

[Livewire]

Stereotypes and generalizations exist on the Internet, just like they do in the real world. Personally, I know plenty of girls that use the Internet, specifically this site. I don't really put much stock into the 'male until proven otherwise' thing.

 

[Khawill]

Lol go into an MMO make a female and ask for crap, it is so much more easy to get things as a female