[Phpwomen] PHPWomen Merchandise: Good Idea?

[Elizabeth Naramore]

On Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 10:54 AM, Elizabeth M Smith <
auroraeosrose at shitennou.com> wrote:

> > Just a few comments about reinforcing 'girly' stereotypes in a group's
> > emblem.
> >
> > * Pink: This has been the stereotyped 'girl colour' since around
> > WWII[0]. Not all girls like pink, and some girls and women will get
> > quite offended if it's suggested they wear it, let alone be represented
> > by it.
> >
> > * Make up, nail polish: Some girls and women do not wear make up or nail
> > polish as they not feeling comfortable about having to alter their
> > appearance to be accepted, or resent the idea that they are expected to
> > decorate themselves for the viewing pleasure of men.
> >
> > * Bows: Without the lipstick, the bow on Ms Pacman would make her look
> > like a 5 year old. (With the lipstick, she looks like those 50 year old
> > women you see in the mall with caked-on makeup, wearing the latest tween
> > fashions)
> >
> > * Jewellery: Of all the girly stereotypes, this is probably the least
> > girly one. Jewellery such as rings, chains and piercings are commonplace
> > for both genders.
> >
> > The Gnome Women project had the dilemma where their members did not feel
> > like they'd be taken seriously if they used such stereotypes[1].
> > Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to make a footprint girly,
> > without resorting to nail polish, high-heels, flowers or jewellery, and
> > afaik they ended up not getting anywhere.
> >
> > Personally, I would react unfavourably to a pink or made-up elePHPant.
> > It just would not speak to me at all.
> >
> > Taking the above into account, what I would react well to would be a
> > chain or leather thread around the elePHPant's neck, with a little
> > female emblem pendant. You could even do this *separately*, for the
> > existing elePHPants! Just get the chain/thread size right, and voila!
>
> And quite frankly I would find THIS offensive - to each their own I
> guess.  I find it silly to walk on eggshells all over the place to not
> offend this group or that group.  You won't find something that makes
> everyone happy.


I tend to agree with this, and while I understand where Melissa is also
coming from, I think that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being
feminine and a geek at the same time.  Yes, I wear makeup and nail polish ..
but it's not for the viewing pleasure of men (hell, I've been married for 11
years and I work at home - I have no one to impress ;) ) , I do it because
it makes me feel good and the makeup covers up my blemishes :). Does that
make me less of a geek? Does that make people not take me seriously? I'd
like to think not.

I think putting the elephpant in a big frilly dress with a parasol might be
a bit over the top, but I also think it's okay to give her a little bit of a
feminine bling. :)

I also think that there's nothing wrong with breaking the "typical female
geek" stereotype either :)  Xeni Jardin seems to be doing okay.

Just my 2 cents.. if this is something we feel strongly about, maybe we
could open up discussion on the forums. I think there are some deeper issues
here that are interesting to discuss besides *just* the color of the
elephpant- for me, at least, it's interesting to talk about what being a
geek girl means to each one of us.

Cheers!
E.
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