The power law distribution of the blogosphere in terms of links and traffic has been a thorn in the side of all those who hate the “A-list” that everybody and their sisters keep on mentioning. And?
Daniel Drezner had a survey for which he has been getting heat because none in the top ten were *gasp* female.
Here’s the deal. I don’t like writing about gender dynamics because I know that it’s a bitter subject for the ones who make it an issue. There are excellent women bloggers out there and you know what they do? They blog, and they blog well. Do they get as much attention and power Drezner outlines? No. And? What should be done about this? Women kvetching about the state of women in the blogosphere does not a good blogger make.
Perhaps the best word on this subject comes from Miss Venomous Kate, who wrote in April 22, and quoted in full:
I’m getting mighty tired of the ol’ “sexism in the blogosphere†debate. Isn’t there news to focus on?
Look, if “feminism†was all about women being viewed as the equals of men, then it ultimately boils down to gender being irrelevant. Period. In any way. So why do capital-F feminists keep counting the number of men versus women in various things? If it’s irrelevant, then it’s irrelevant.
All this counting and complaining smacks of victimology. And I hate that.
Doc J replied with a classic response: Venomous Kate notes that she is female. I, of course, didn’t notice because that would be wrong.
Honestly, there seems to be something more to this topic. Dan Drezner observed in his post that a female critic of his survey noted that this happens every three or so months. Correct, but I don’t have the time nor the patience to note and keep track of the news cycle every three or so months. I have a hunch that when bloggers get bored, when there is no bad news to counter, when good news becomes boring to write about on a daily basis, bloggers write about gender dynamics.
Maybe talk of sexism in the blogosphere is the biggest boredom killer out there.
1
At the risk of being de-linked en masse, I’d have to wonder if the 3-month cyclical nature of this topic has less to do with the lack of news and more to do with the coinciding of a few dozen cases of PMS.
Comment by Venomous Kate — Jun 2, 2004 @ 11:45 pm
2
Ha! Kate, have I told you lately that I love you? You had the same thought I did
Comment by Chelle — Jun 3, 2004 @ 5:13 pm
3
I love you too, Chelle. And now I guess we’ll get mass delinked together!
Comment by Venomous Kate — Jun 3, 2004 @ 10:27 pm