http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/10/09/the-war-on-science-fiction-and-marvin-minsky/
thanks to www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com
...Yeah. Read that, and then you can read this post.
This is unfair, because none of the men I know would ever talk in the way the writer of the article in question talks. In fact, this article is doing a disservice for men, as it is painting them as afraid of women’s achievements in both science and science fiction writing. It is also painting men as assholes, plain and simple. It’s easy to think fondly of “days of yore” when men were men, and women were happy to stay at home and greet their husbands cheerfully at the end of a workday with a full three-course meal served.
I prefer today, where a friend of mine (she’s young- only 20) came to me worriedly and asked me if it was ok that she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I told her that it was fine, as long as her partner was also in favour of it, and if she was willing to help out and get a job if her partner ever lost his job and the family was in financial straits. It’s all a matter of choice, in my opinion. Some women just want to stay at home, take care of that home and raise the children. And that’s completely fine. Conversely, if a man’s ambition is to stay at home, take care of that home and raise the children, that also needs to be ok. Equality runs both ways, kiddies.
Back to the article. The writer goes on to mention that because of casting strong females in science fiction shows, this will result in fewer boys pursuing science related careers. In the writer’s mind, this will also lead to fewer scientific breakthroughs and discoveries.... because, obviously, only men are capable of these discoveries and they can only come by these discoveries with proper encouragement from male role models on science fiction television. Was Richard Dean Anderson on Stargate SG-1 not enough for you? How about Malcolm Reynolds? Captain Kirk? Picard? Richard Deckard? George Jetson? Even Mad Max can be considered science fiction and yet... simply having a female protagonist on a science fiction show has become a threat upon men entering the field of science. I call shenanigans.
If someone finds chemistry, biology, physics, etc. compelling, he/she is going enter into a field that involves that subject. If someone has been affected by cancer and wants to find a cure for it, they are going to go into a field that allows them to do so. Gender has nothing to do with it. Also, whether a woman is the leading character of a popular science fiction show or not, that has nothing to do with it. The bottom line is, men and women in this world are going into fields and careers that they feel strongly about, regardless of what they’ve watched on television.
Believe me. This is coming from a generation raised on The Simpsons. Let’s use The Simpsons as an example. Homer could well be considered a role model for male youth. We all laugh and shrug off his antics, but how many young men are watching and thinking that this is an ok way to act? Or how about... I don’t know... try any other main male role on tv today?! TV is not the thing to blame, and if you’re that concerned, just admit you’re sexist and be done with it. Don’t try to hide behind television stations. In fact, you’re downright misogynistic. Science fiction has had nothing but male writers for a long time. And suddenly, because girls are getting in on it and *gasp* making it more compelling and interesting, you’re all up in arms to get them to stop? How dare you. How dare you try to say that women are what’s wrong with today’s science fiction.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Frank Herbert. I love Robert Heinlein. But I also love Lois McMaster Bujold. I’m about equality in the genders, and it pisses me off when someone tries to put forth something so anti-female. I’m an easy-going person, and this offends me.
