“Do you think that if you were a man you’d have less critical comments or that they would be less vulgar and sexualized? In other words, the criticism level is the same, but it’s nastier because you are a woman. Would that be accurate?
“I think that the criticism towards women is different. You’re right, I don’t know that there is any more, but it’s more harsh and like you said, vulgar and sexualized. I don’t think men get that at all….
“Ericka shared some of her hate mail with me. Here are a few examples to give you a feel for it.
* “Some stupid dame who writes a stupid column in a neanderthal publication has about as much credibility as a Mississippi high school journalism C student.”
* “Soon, the conservative death march will come to an and. God willing. Stop writing, you amateur little prig. Stay in the kitchen where the Baptists think you belong. Please. Stop writing, because you suck.”
* “I just saw you against John Soltz, How about you show your support for the war, and sign up… Hopefully you would get shot in the head. dumb slag.”
PLUS: Girl on the Right reacts…
Although she’s not interviewed for this piece, my pal Kathy Shaidle is often subjected to rape threats… “If you just got properly laid… I’ll take one for the team…” that sort of rubbush.
As much as I am loath to admit that there has to be a difference between men and women bloggers posting about the very same subjects (in this case politics), sadly there is. Take liberal Canadian blogger Canadian Cynic. He used to have a whole category labeled “Cunt”, where he viciously maligned females in the news, and female bloggers. He has since removed categories from his blog, probably because of the flack he was taking, though really, he never seemed to mind. Believe me, it hasn’t stopped him from using the word, or maligning females. Former blogger Ian Scott of Ianisms (now defunct) had been banned from more than one blog for being downright creepy in a way that he certainly wouldn’t behave toward other men. Chances are he wouldn’t send a male blogger a pornographic description of what he would like to do to him!!
