Paul Cornell is looking for gender parity at Con panels...

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From Paul Cornell's website



"Okay, so this was something I came up with yesterday, and it's mad, and is, frankly, a rod for my own back, but what the hell, it's going to make this coming year a lot more interesting.

I think there should be gender parity on every panel at every convention. I'm after 50/50, all the time. I want that in place as an expectation, as a rule. Now, to make that happen, what really should be done is a ground-up examination of society, huge changes at the heart of things which would automatically lead to women being equally represented everywhere, not just on convention panels. Well, we've all wanted that and worked for that for decades, especially those of us in fandom, and it just hasn't happened. So, this year, I've decided that I'm going to approach this problem via the only moral unit I'm in charge of: me. I'm going to approach this problem from the other end. And this approach is going to be very much that of a blunt instrument.

If I'm on, at any convention this year, a panel that doesn't have a 50/50 gender split (I'll settle for two out of five), I'll hop off that panel, and find a woman to take my place. "

There's more text at the website, but I'm impressed by his initiative.

So, thoughts people? :)


For legality, the cover to Demon Knights 7 by Mike Choi, which includes a rather impressive outfit for the Questing Queen, a little action-figure-y perhaps, but given my Saint Seiya tastes, that's not really a problem for me! :)

Comments

[valtyr]

Yeah, I think you may be underestimating the extent to which sexism is ingrained - even people who don't want to be sexist can act from sexist preconceptions, and subconsciously discriminate. It's a tough problem, no lie.

[gerardotejada]

No one wants to be sexist, no one does It because they want (exept trolls). Its complicated and no one should never acuse some one of beign sexist but explain how something in a particular context can be seen as sexist by audience/society/wathever.

[valtyr]

Plenty of people want to be sexist, because they have a vested interest in the perpetuation of the sexist status quo. There are plenty of men out there who are actively interested in subjugating women.

no one should never acuse some one of beign sexist but explain how something in a particular context can be seen as sexist by audience/society/wathever.

You don't get to make that decision. Decide how you react to sexism, and let others decide how they react to sexism. As it is, this is a completely irrelevant comment as no person has been accused of sexism in this post.

[gerardotejada]

First I dont know no one tnat would say he is sexist, I think the active pursuit of sexism is a paranoic stance. There are men that try to protect the status quo because that is a safe place.

I was adressing a way in wich to react to sexism if It present to some one, Is my right to say that I dont want people calling names obiously I dont have a gun in your head, I can only say what I think is apropiated,

Your post is extreamly bitter, I really think you are beign offensive, please rest and answer my post when you are more calmed.

[valtyr]

You do realise that you cannot trust people to self-report on whether or not they are sexist, right?

I think the active pursuit of sexism is a paranoic stance.

Yes, I too believe that sexist men are sexist out of paranoid fear, I'm glad we've found this common ground.

I was adressing a way in wich to react to sexism if It present to some one, Is my right to say that I dont want people calling names obiously I dont have a gun in your head, I can only say what I think is apropiated,

Where does calling names come into this? And why do you think it's appropriate for you to tell other people how they should react to sexism? Why is it your business?

Your post is extreamly bitter, I really think you are beign offensive, please rest and answer my post when you are more calmed.

So you are lecturing people on how to behave, and when you are told it's a) not your business and b) irrelevant to the conversation as no-one is doing the things you disapprove of here, you accuse them of being bitter, offensive, and not calm? What an interesting point of view.

[gerardotejada]

People are told that being sexist is bad, they have a predisposition to not want to be sexist.

Is my bussines because I care

I was given a sort of advice at how things should be, I did nothing wrong yet I have the feeling you were really pissed off with me because of my comment.

You said people act subconciously I was refering to that, if people is being sexist sunconsiously you cant say he is sexist just he is acting in a sexist way.

I really feel you are atacking me, I should have said I felt your post was extrimly bitter.

I cant know if you are, but Im suspicious if you, There is something that make me feel you are attacking me, anyway It is pointless to discuss about how I would like sexism to be adressed. I find It the better way, thats all.

[valtyr]

People are told that being sexist is bad, they have a predisposition to not want to be sexist.

And yet many men personally benefit from sexism, and so have reasons to want it to continue.

Is my bussines because I care

The Catholic Church cares who I have sex with. And yet! It's none of their business. Pro-lifers care if I have an abortion. And yet! It's none of their business. Caring about something does not make it your business.

I was given a sort of advice at how things should be, I did nothing wrong yet I have the feeling you were really pissed off with me because of my comment.

It's none of your business, and I told you so. I'm sorry if that feels like an attack, but it is none of your business how other people respond to sexism.

if people is being sexist sunconsiously you cant say he is sexist just he is acting in a sexist way.

Sure I can. And as it's almost impossible to tell whether someone's being deliberately or subconsciously sexist - as people cannot be trusted to accurately self-report - it would be silly if we couldn't.

It is pointless to discuss about how I would like sexism to be adressed.

Then why did you decide to bring it into the conversation?

(frozen)

[gerardotejada]

Because I thought some one could find It usefull, I didnt think It actually thirgger a discussion. Look if you want I can erase It

(frozen)

[greenmask]

This thread is frozen whilst under discussion by the mod team