Growing up as a member of nerd culture, I have experienced many things. Communities coming together, aspiring artists meeting their inspirations...people coming together under the wide umbrella of commonality. But, I have also experienced the bad: the hate, the harassment, and the judgements. The base behaviors of members of the nerd community that have scarily become the norm.
Perverts groping cosplayers because they were "showing a lot of skin."
Gamers discrediting female gamers because it's widely know that "chicks are filthy casuals."
People quieting women nerds because "they aren't really fans."
The list goes on.
You may be wondering why I'm writing about this broad, worn subject. Well, my friends, I'll tell you why.
I have experienced this harassment first hand. I have been the target of those comments. I have been judged, quizzed, and scrutinized all because of my gender. But, instead of sitting in a corner and remaining silent, I'm speaking out. That's my reason. That's my credibility.
Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be diving headfirst into tumultuous relationship of nerd culture and gender. And this blog will be my little blue book whose pages will fill with my experiences. I'd tell you more, but spoilers.
Perverts groping cosplayers because they were "showing a lot of skin."
Gamers discrediting female gamers because it's widely know that "chicks are filthy casuals."
People quieting women nerds because "they aren't really fans."
The list goes on.
You may be wondering why I'm writing about this broad, worn subject. Well, my friends, I'll tell you why.
I have experienced this harassment first hand. I have been the target of those comments. I have been judged, quizzed, and scrutinized all because of my gender. But, instead of sitting in a corner and remaining silent, I'm speaking out. That's my reason. That's my credibility.
Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be diving headfirst into tumultuous relationship of nerd culture and gender. And this blog will be my little blue book whose pages will fill with my experiences. I'd tell you more, but spoilers.
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your topic. I'm totally intrigued! I also consider myself a nerd. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan and a gamer haha. I've honestly never really thought much about the inequality issue so I'm excited to read more of your thoughts and research.
Do you happen to be a nerdfighter? x)
Good work, Undercover. Now that you went through the exercise, do you understand the points I made in the lecture? Your autobiography, while charming, is also indulgent. It is long and goes into every detail of your life. It is a useful document and writing exercise for you, for understanding yourself, but an audience wants you to be more selective.
ReplyDeleteYour beat defense of nerd culture is more focused. It is on one subject for one audience. It still talks about you, but it concentrates on what makes you credible to write about your topic. I like your passion here, especially the specific details about you. Your organization and narrative are strong.
However, this is still too long. Or it is long because it is a rant about “the cause.” I’m fine with the cause, but this fails to connect you to the cause in the ways you want. In the beginning, you give me those specific details about you “the nerd,” and I cling to those. Then you quickly move on to the subculture community as a whole.
This is supposed to be about your credibility. Where did you go in the piece?
“As I grew up, the members of the subculture that I had come to love as family had started to turn on me. My voice was silenced. My opinions (were) thrown out the window. It seemed that I now had to fight to validate my part of the community. And after a while, I got sick and tired of this treatment, pushing me to scream at the top of my lungs: why?”
This is where you lose me. How was your voice silenced? When were your opinions thrown out the window? What treatment made you sick and tired? Without details, these statements are meaningless.
Often, a great About page is just a story, a single story that shows the reader how and when your subject became a big part of your life. Tell me about the moment you were silenced. Was it at a particular cosplay convention or just chatting online?
One or two of your personal experiences will speak to your credibility far better than anything else.
Lastly, please justify your text to the left. Don’t center it.
Thank you for posting.
Hi Undercover!
ReplyDeleteFirst off - great piece. In the beginning, I really felt like I got a perfect picture of who you are and what you stand for.
During the week's reading, we learned a little about the author who tries to become a tour guide and regurgitates travel facts, as opposed to being the tourist and telling us about his experiences as they are happening. I felt the middle of your post felt a little that way. I, too, am a woman I can certainly relate to what sexism feels like, so the sexism you described didn't really feel that unique to the nerd culture. From my perspective, all women face similar issues regardless of circumstance. For that reason, I wish that the middle section had you in there, telling me some of your first-hand experiences. Did you say, "Han shot first," and someone criticized you for this comment on the basis that you're a woman?
On a positive note couldn't get enough of the "nerd" references sprinkled throughout. They were simply awesome. For example, "Catcalls and lude comments making women nerds sink more into their shells, wishing they could just disappear under an invisibility cloak." As a Harry Potter fan and a woman who understands the type of environment you're describing, this sentence really stood out to me as exceptional. Great job!
By the end of the piece, I really only have one question... why is your name the "Undercover Hipster?" From my vantage point, don't seem to be either undercover (in this piece you talk about girls wearing themed t-shirts and in your autobiography you talk about being into cosplay) or a hipster (this could by my ignorance because to me a hipster is different from being a nerd, but I could be wrong). Perhaps it's worth addressing in the future?
Can't wait to read more!
~Twin B
Hello Undercover. First off, great hook!! Love that you go to the "Nerd" place right off the bat! I am big on imagery so when you wrote about staying up late hunkered down in your covers watching the Poke-Man....What kid-turned-adult couldn't identify with that? Here is another great use of imagery: "Yet, as I grew, my rose tinted glasses that clouded my vision started to slide down." Really like that!
ReplyDeleteStrengthen the 'Why' in your cause and it should give you a little better focus. Are you wishing for more equality in the sexes in this community? About women in general? You mention catcalls and such. Narrow your thoughts, lead us on a path to who you are, why you care. I can tell you're passionate about about Nerd Culture, but tell us why and how that translates to you as the the Undercover Hipster. Or maybe it doesn't. Tel us why.
I live in Portland and there are tons of hipsters. Locally, hipsters here are men with thick-rimmed glasses, full-on beards, who drink microbrews and listen to the Decemberists. Female hipsters here wear the same thick-rimmed glasses, dress like Carrie Brownstein, drink fair trade coffee, obsess about their dogs and drive Subarus.
Feminist Nerd, perhaps? Really looking forward to find out!
-Mad Mom
I really like this piece, Undercover – it definitely speaks to the other girl geeks out there! That said, I do agree with Professor Kalm, that this piece serves far better as an autobiography for your blog than your originally written autobiography. I think that this gives a background and taste of you, while still acknowledging why you're the gal to write this.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that this piece is far more maturely written and better thought out. While I did enjoy your biography, your age was very apparent – this piece shows thought and depth that was not as visible in your original autobiography, which is interesting to see.
As for the writing in this, there are a couple bumpy points:
"The Weeping Angel" and "There and Back Again" metaphors may go over some people's heads. They're cute, but I would suggest something plainer, or perhaps even explain them as you go. You already have a paragraph that proves you're part of this community – I think the body doesn't need further anchors in that territory.
You get swept up in your railing against the problems of the community – and there are a lot. I feel that you could (and very well may!) make a post for each issue. Here I would recommend you boil it down to highlight the issues you plan to address, without necessarily arguing them yet. It's important that we know your stance on the community as a whole, but not necessarily the individual issues.
Hope this helps,
VM