Tweeting Troll-Free Is A Form Of Male Privilege, And Alex Blank Millard Just Proved It

[boston bean]

Sick and tired of being called fat and ugly and receiving rape threats whenever she participated in conversations about injustice on social media, Alex Blank Millard decided to try an experiment. For a week, she changed her Twitter profile picture to a man’s headshot (which her name lent itself to) and continued tweeting about topics like sexism, racism, and fat-shaming. And the difference in her public reception after that simple change was staggering. Writing for XO Jane, Millard said:

For an entire week, I got to see what it is like to be treated with respect. As a man, I could use the same words and be met with discussion, with disagreement, or even nothing at all, instead of insults. I became an equal human being, one whose voice deserved to be heard.
While tweeting as a woman, Millard got replies like “You are fat, unattractive and a disgrace to the white race.” But as a man, she was able to tweet about rape culture with only favorites and retweets in response. Buzzfeed even used a screenshot of one of her tweets as the first example of public response to the shooting of a Latina girl by cops — a strange choice given that she appeared to be a white man, she noted.

Supporting Millard’s observation that trolls specifically go after women, fitness columnist James Fell recently wrote a piece about how he never receives online threats despite being “an MRA-bashing feminist.” Sure, he has received hate mail, but nobody has threatened violence against him, he said:

You want yet another example of male privilege? It’s being able to voice your opinion and not face death and rape threats as a result.

http://www.bustle.com/articles/74778-tweeting-troll-free-is-a-form-of-male-privilege-and-alex-blank-millard-just-proved-it

This is something most women who dare to discuss feminist viewpoints already know....

[Brickbat]

1. K&R.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

2. Keep in mind that a majority of white males vote Republican.

[boston bean]

7. Can you tell me why I need to keep that in mind?

[Adrahil]

24. Well, if you're a Democratic Liberal white male....

... like I am, you are a distinct minority among white men. I think the point is that most white men fall into the category of "idiot GOP thug," and sadly, that's true.

But yea for us who aren't!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

51. Exactumundo....

Keeping in mind also that the most Liberal nations in the world are Scandinavian so it's something about Americans.

[boston bean]

54. So, this is a variation on the "not all men" meme??

[Adrahil]

57. I have no idea what that means...

If it's some sort or MRA trash, then NO. I despise MRAs.

[boston bean]

61. It's the don't speak about this, cause not all men do that, and you speaking about it is

insulting and discriminatory toward men... why cause "not all men" are like that...

It's a well worn, and effective derailment tactic.

Sort of like what you and the poster you are agreeing with are saying...

[Adrahil]

66. OK, you lost me...

I didn't read the poster as saying anything like that. If they MEANT that, I don't agree with it.


The point I believe I was agreeing with is that most white American men are in line with the Republicans (whether registered as one or not). That's true.

The privileging of white male speech in our culture tends to favor conservative/republican viewpoints. That doesn't mean (at least to me) that white men cannot speak.

[boston bean]

67. So, again, not all men, right?

[Adrahil]

69. Like I said, you lost me....

I feel like I walked into the middle of an avant-garde play. I have no idea what's going on. I have no familiarity with that movement. I don't know what it implies.

I reiterate, I do not support, in any fashion, an MRA perspective.

We men (especiually white men) are not oppressed masses.

[boston bean]

70. I didn't mention the MRA movement in any responses to you.

You do seem to be pretty knowledgeable about it, all on your own and are distancing yourself from it... good.

However, you are basically saying over and over and over again that "not all men" are like this.

Fine... not all men are like that... anything else???

[Adrahil]

79. Actually... that wasn't my main point.

My main point was that MOST men ARE like that. The bit at the end was meant more as an aside.


I think men who aren't like that need to openly embrace feminism and support women's voices when they can, including in blogs. It's important that we support women's voices and not supplant them.

I am familiar with the MRA movement (encountered it in an online game I play... yikes!), but had not idea that "not all men" had become some kind of meme. My mistake. I would have been rather more careful if I had known it.

[thesquanderer]

82. I'm in the opposite situation

I've seen the "not all men" thing (at least here on DU), but have not heard of MRA. What's it stand for?

[F4lconF16]

65. This is not the thread to be celebrating how #notallmen are bad.

Please don't distract from the issues at hand--namely the fact that there is a male problem in this world, in our Party, and in this site.

[Adrahil]

68. Please don't wrap me up in that movement.

I detest MRAs.

If anything, I agree with your point. I agree that we live in a patriarchal world, nation, and yes, even party to some extent. Nothing I said contradicts that or should be interpreting as supporting any MRA position which, again, I explicitly reject.

I'm a proud feminist.

[F4lconF16]

72. When you come into a thread discussing women

Saying, yay, isn't it great that some liberal men aren't like that? Yes, yes you are saying not all men. You are derailing the discussion. This wasn't about men who aren't the problem. This ignores all the people who are the problem.

You are also in essence saying that it is them, not us. You are placing the blame on someone else when it is a mens problem, not a everyone-but-some-liberal-men problem. That is derailment, intended or not.

Edit to add that I am not trying to attack you. I think you are a feminist, and that's great. But this was derailment. Hopefully you can see why other feminists here are frustrated with your posts--I will try and be more patient, because I don't have to deal with derailment constantly and have the privilege of doing so. I don't blame them for being irritated with you.

[Adrahil]

80. I didn't realize what I wrote would cause an issue.

My main point was to reinforce that most men (and most white men, in particular) ARE like that. I wasn't aware of the "not all men" meme, or I would have been more careful. I certainly did not mean to reinforce an MRA trope.

FWIW, I don't blame them either.

[Desert805]

84. it's ok, it's the "I art lefter than thou" outrage of the day

No group of anybody is "the same."

Semantic arguments are purely semantic.

[hack89]

83. It makes no difference. You are a man and thst israel that matters

best to drop the matter.

[seabeyond]

27. we get that here, on DU, with our democrats. it is a man issue, not a party issue.

i am tired of point the finger at a party. or religion, while the atheist community has their issue. or the nerds. or the athletes. or the frats.

it is not a group. it is a whole.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

41. exactly.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

50. Oh sure,...95% of the Republicans oppose women as equals but that's okay because 5% of Dems do too..

That's the "bipartisan because Holy Joe is with us" meme.

I have yet to see someone here say, "Shut up and go make me a sandwich!" like I see on YouTube and I'm pretty sure the ones on YouTube who post that crap voted for Bush TWICE. (Although, they wouldn't admit it now.)

[F4lconF16]

52. No, just rape threats, misogynist harrassment

Articles posted from hate sites by people who are still on this board, constant trolling by people with 1000+ post counts who are allowed to stay, etc..

Seabeyond is right. It is a male problem. I know many, many democratic men who are also misogynistic tools. Pretending that it matters less because there are fewer of them is wrong. And it's a whole lot more than 5% of Dems, as many of the women here would happily inform you if they thought you'd listen.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

56. Bill Clinton didn't win a majority of the white male vote in either election....

Whenever white male voters get what they want they crank up the testosterone to 11 and the rest of us have to tell the rest of the world to ignore us for a while.

You know,....places like Japan and England and France and Belgium and Lithuania and,....well,....everyone.

[F4lconF16]

63. Yes but...

Bill Clinton didn't win a majority of the white male vote in either election....

That doesn't mean that there aren't still serious issues with the white males in the Democratic Party.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

77. No kidding, Bill Clinton was a serious issue within the party.

[geek tragedy]

4. Lemme guess--white male?

And, no, people trying to silence women who speak out is not just a first world problem.

It is a problem that some men try to diminish because they do not see it as a problem, as it does not affect them, so they think.

I'm sure the women at DU who have gotten rape threats appreciate you telling them to stop complaining.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

9. ^ n/t

[oberliner]

16. Point taken

Lesson quickly learned. Insensitive post deleted.

[seabeyond]

29. wow. i can totally respect this. nt

[Tuesday Afternoon]

42. I missed the post but, good on you for taking action. wow. I just love

watching enlightenment/awareness/light-bulb moment happen on DU.

awesome.

Thanks.

[ieoeja]

6. Why are we not supposed to care about problems in our own country? n/t

[BlancheSplanchnik]

8. illustrative of the difference between living life...

Troll free,


Or, as a Woman.



Of course, you knew it's not just about about tweets.

[oberliner]

15. Well said

Comment deleted. Lesson learned.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

31. thank you. thanks

For showing how it's done.

[F4lconF16]

10. ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/online-feminists-increasingly-ask-are-the-psychic-costs-too-much-to-bear/2015/02/19/3dc4ca6c-b7dd-11e4-a200-c008a01a6692_story.html

http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/elevatorgate-storify-feminist-harassment/

PTSD a first-world problem?

Not that I think you care. Gonna agree with Geek above: clueless white male who is annoyed that women dare to mouth off about their harassment.

[oberliner]

14. Lesson learned

Thank you.

[F4lconF16]

53. Thanks!

I am impressed.

[antigone382]

11. A. Social media is a powerful tool for political organizing and advocacy worldwide.

B. It has been instrumental in several major movements for social change which address "third world" issues.

C. Contempt for and devaluation of women's contributions to public discourse predates the First/Third World divide.

D. Regardless of this headline's insufficient gravitas, the fact that women using the internet as a vehicle for expressing their opinions routinely face extreme verbal abuse, harrassment, threats, and legitimate life-threatening situations (including having to flee your home, or actually having stalkers contact you via phone or at your address) are not trivial matters, as the FWP meme implies.

[oberliner]

13. Point taken

Insensitive post deleted.

[boston bean]

17. That is refreshing! Thank you! nt

[seabeyond]

30. lol. i thought so as well. coolest. nt

[boston bean]

33. great minds think alike!

Sure was nice to witness it... I'm not sure I've ever seen it! hahaha

[BlancheSplanchnik]

39. ^^^ this^^^ n/t

[Starry Messenger]

5. K&R

[oberliner]

18. Amazing and eye-opening DU learning experience

Thank you to those who called me out on my initial snarky response to this thread.

I had no idea to what extent this was a major problem for women - I know now.

This is one of the things I love about DU - there is always room to learn and grow.

[geek tragedy]

19. cheers to you for owning it and learning.

the temptation for many is to get defensive instead of listening.

thanks

[cyberswede]

20. Good on you!

[boston bean]

21. We're so use to the double down!

It's almost shocking!

[trumad]

23. Double down and the inevitable arrival of the small but vocal MRA gang.

I count maybe 3 to 5 that pop up in an Op like this every single time.

[boston bean]

28. You are underestimating the depth of their bench!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

48. lol ....

that really did make me chuckle.

it should be so clear to ..... tptb..... who/what/why they are here.

so few. so vocal.

there is a name for it.

It is in your OP.

[Starry Messenger]

26. Thank you sincerely.

My best friend stopped posting here because of a PMd rape threat from a current DUer.

[boston bean]

32. Really, Starry??

I didn't know that! Did the poster that sent it get the boot?

[Starry Messenger]

73. No, he's still here.

[boston bean]

74. For real??

If possible can you pm me the details... I would like to know what I am dealing with... if not, I completely understand!

[Starry Messenger]

75. I don't remember the particulars, sorry.

This was about three years ago.

[boston bean]

76. ah, ok Starry... Thanks!

[F4lconF16]

55. That is screwed up.

I am sorry to hear that. That should be an automatic ban. Did it ever get reported? I can understand if not, the admins here have been...less than responsive to the harassment of women and PoC on this board. And I've only seen what's happened in the last couple years.

[Recursion]

22. Male privilege is great. I wish women could have it too.

I love being able to speak my mind on Twitter without being threatened with violence. I wish women also had that option.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

34. ^^^ this^^^

I don't twitter, but there are SO many other realms where I wish I could or could have had that privilege.

Upsetting to think about, actually. But, can't change the past. Just speak out for others going forward.

[boston bean]

35. Who wants to invite crazies into their life... That's what it comes down to.

And that is what makes us modify our behavior and that is a culture that limits women in a way that men aren't.

Who wants to live with all that hate and fear? No one, so we give in and don't participate. Which I think is the end goal for many of the creeps who do this sort of crap.

[seabeyond]

37. sheeeit, if women even talk about it, or recognize the crap, they are emasculating male.

that is why men feel they are able to create their fantasy rape and snuff porn for women to "experience" with them. the mere awareness emasculates men, and that is women's sin. he is just getting ownership of his masculinity back with his rape threat.

[Recursion]

49. Yep

Gender roles are inherently tied up with the narcissistic injury. We won't get anywhere until we start addressing that.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

44. indeed. ...thought about end goals...

I don't think there's even an end goal in mind, at least in most instances.

I think it's more like herd mentality...everyone does it, no need to question.

Secondly, and here's how it feeds itself, the aggressor gets an immediate payoff: stomp someone who can't hurt you back, and instantly feel big and strong.

Simple as that.

Women are the punching bags of the world.

[chervilant]

85. Isn't it ironic?

Women are the punching bags of the world.

Having been an advocate for survivors of relationship violence for more than thirty years, I can assure you that your statement is far too accurate.

Furthermore, many survivors will tell you that the VERBAL abuse they've survived is the most damaging, and the most difficult to overcome. Survivors will continue to hear the "mental tapes" to which their abusers have subjected them for months or years after they've escaped the relationship. In fact, while obtaining a graduate degree wherein I focused on relationship violence, I witnessed at least half of my female professors tolerate relentless condescension, sarcasm, and overt verbal hostility from their own husbands, without identifying or addressing the sexism and abuse inherent in these verbal assaults. This suggests to me that we're inured to such abuse, or conditioned to view it as "normal."

I've not witnessed a significant change in the incidence of relationship violence, and NO change in the incidence of verbal abuse directed towards women. We TALK about it more, but it's still pervasive.

And, it's still "not all men" and "women are whining" in far too many of these online discussions. I find this both frustrating and sad.

(BTW, I had a PM wherein a male DUer told me he wanted someone to "rip out my guts and strangle me with them." Admins either got rid of him, or he became more careful in spewing his misogyny...)

[niyad]

25. k and r

[Tuesday Afternoon]

36. one thing, boston bean -

This is something most women who dare to discuss feminist viewpoints already know....

let me rephrase that for thought/discussion/conversation/debate ....

This is something most women who dare to discuss humanist viewpoints already know....

because, we are human, after all.

but, Yes in order to be a Humanist one must also be a Feminist and I question anyone who claims otherwise.

Thanks for the OP. Good to see you

[boston bean]

38. There are reasons to call it "feminist viewpoints"... because

as you note above, many use the humanist label and they are pretty much not feminists.

So, to be acutely precise, I prefer to name it what it actually is.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

40. I understand. -- sea and I have had this conversation in the past.

it is the same reasoning why LGBT must be and Race must be.

and yet, they are all HUMAN conditions.

I just find it interesting is all ... and wish all humans would treat each other with dignity and respect and autonomy.

and I think it helps to point it out .... time and again .... to those who seem slow to grasp the concept.

[seabeyond]

43. first.. blacks, gays and women have got to be seen as human. they are not seen or treated that way

hence, why it does not work.

and ya.... i had a problem with that post, also, lol.... the same way BB does. funny you, and there you are.

it would be nice. but first we must convince these white, hetero, men.... that women, blacks and gays are human. there equal. hence, privilege and entitlement.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

45. because, sea ... I have a dream and I see the day ... when we have moved past it.

because I already see women/blacks/gays as the humans they are.

and people that don't .... well ... hell .... wake up. open your eyes.

and you know I don't take well to trying to convince an unenlightened white hetero male of anything.

they bore me and make me tired and I just move on.

Kudos to you all that keep taking the time. Because I absolutely refuse to acknowledge it.

my time is valuable to me and I find other ways to spend it.

[boston bean]

46. When I stop seeing the argument being put forth that

feminism is anathema to humanism, then, maybe...

I'm sure you've seen it before... you feminists are dividing people and are discriminatory towards men... we are all humans and we need to work for equality of all... putting it all on the same level and diminishing how our culture treats women....

[Tuesday Afternoon]

47. yes, exactly. thank you for understanding and saying it in a different way.

We are NOT the DIVIDERS.

We UNITE under OUR right as a HUMAN being.

[one_voice]

58. Hmmm...I'm not sure about this...

because, we are human, after all.

There are some I wonder about. I have a list...pretty sure you can guess some of the names on the list.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

60. trudat ...

[F4lconF16]

59. I disagree for now.

As BostonBean said, women and PoC are not seen as humans. We can't advance humanity until we advance their situations. This is why I say I am a feminist usually, and not a humanist--because I am specifically addressing those issues. Not humanity as a whole, though I think you are absolutely right that humanism must by definition include feminism.

When we say humanism, we lose the impact of the term feminist. We are no longer talking about specific problems. This is kinda like why people are so angry about the "All Lives Matter" movement--it bypasses the problem, and allows for people to ignore the problem while simultaneously criticizing people anyone who speaks up for a specific population. You'll notice that MRA's and racists love to use the term "humanist", because then they can hide their bigotry. Feminism forces them to acknowledge the lesser status of women and other issues as well.

But I understand what you are saying. It is an all of us problem, not a women's problem.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

62. I understand. A lot of feminists disagree with me about this philosophy. it's all good -

[seabeyond]

64. +1, well said.

and thank you for the post above, clarifying/addressing what i said. again, well said. lol.

[progressoid]

71. Reminds me of Yolanda Spivey's experiment.

This woman got a lot of job offers when she pretended to be white

For two years, I have been unemployed. In the beginning, I applied to more than three hundred open positions in the insurance industry—an industry that I’ve worked in for the previous ten years. Not one employer responded to my resume. So, I enrolled back into college to finish my degree. After completing school this past May, I resumed my search for employment and was quite shocked that I wasn’t getting a single response. I usually applied for positions advertised on the popular website Monster.com. I’d used it in the past and have been successful in obtaining jobs through it.

Two years ago, I noticed that Monster.com had added a “diversity questionnaire” to the site. This gives an applicant the opportunity to identify their sex and race to potential employers. Monster.com guarantees that this “option” will not jeopardize your chances of gaining employment. You must answer this questionnaire in order to apply to a posted position—it cannot be skipped. At times, I would mark off that I was a Black female, but then I thought, this might be hurting my chances of getting employed, so I started selecting the “decline to identify” option instead. That still had no effect on my getting a job. So I decided to try an experiment: I created a fake job applicant and called her Bianca White.

First, I created an email account and resume for Bianca. I kept the same employment history and educational background on her resume that was listed on my own. But I removed my home phone number, kept my listed cell phone number, and changed my cell phone greeting to say, “You have reached Bianca White. Please leave a message.” Then I created an online Monster.com account, listed Bianca as a White woman on the diversity questionnaire, and activated the account.

That very same day, I received a phone call. The next day, my phone line and Bianca’s email address, were packed with potential employers calling for an interview. I was stunned. More shocking was that some employers, mostly Caucasian-sounding women, were calling Bianca more than once, desperate to get an interview with her. All along, my real Monster.com account was open and active; but, despite having the same background as Bianca, I received no phone calls. Two jobs actually did email me and Bianca at the same time. But they were commission only sales positions. Potential positions offering a competitive salary and benefits all went to Bianca.

At the end of my little experiment, (which lasted a week), Bianca White had received nine phone calls—I received none. Bianca had received a total of seven emails, while I’d only received two, which again happen to have been the same emails Bianca received. Let me also point out that one of the emails that contacted Bianca for a job wanted her to relocate to a different state, all expenses paid, should she be willing to make that commitment. In the end, a total of twenty-four employers looked at Bianca’s resume while only ten looked at mines.

http://financialjuneteenth.com/this-woman-got-a-lot-of-job-offers-when-she-pretended-to-be-white/

[boston bean]

78. Yes, it is very similar...

But I do wonder about Monster requiring an applicant to fill out a Diversity Questionnaire...

I do not think that is the case... according to their website it states this:

Q: What is Monster Diversity and Inclusion? Top
A: Monster Diversity and Inclusion is a section of Monster.com for job seekers who are members of specific communities, such as women, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans/Pacific Islanders, workers with disabilities, gay/bisexual and lesbian workers, and older workers.

The Monster Diversity and Inclusion site allows employers to reach these diverse communities by placing their job postings on the Diversity & Inclusion Network (i.e., the Diversity and Inclusion site and partner sites such as NAACP.com, BET, Hispanic online, Essence, Gaywork.com, and the Community Connect Inc. sites , as well as on Monster.com, and to reach these groups via targeted advertising on the Monster Diversity and Inclusion site and on the Community Connect Inc. sites.

Promoting diversity is an important aspect of many companies' overall recruitment strategies, in order to build a workforce based on equal opportunities given to qualified job seekers of all nationalities and backgrounds. The Diversity and Inclusion Site and related products were created in response to feedback from many companies nationwide that are seeking ways to expand diversity in the workplace, while complying with legal requirements. Companies also wanted to hire an employee base that was reflective of their customers in the global marketplace.

Note: All jobs on the Monster Diversity and Inclusion Network are also posted in Monster's regular Job Search area. Seekers can view and apply for these jobs from both areas.

http://help.monster.com/my20/faq.aspx#help_1_211541

[raven mad]

81. Dark ages here -

what's tweeting?