I rather agree with Tinco. Women who choose to be porn stars aren’t necessarily victims, and its a bit condescending to suggest otherwise. The real issue here has less to do with gender equality I feel, then it has to do with our puritanical western culture that has historically found the subject of sex somewhat uncomfortable.

As for Matts judgment, I believe it was poor. Given that he is well aware of the social sensitivities he should have found another device other then sex to provide his audience a cheap thrill. He should of also have apologised unreservedly.

As a man, I would not be offending in the least if a female colleague chose to wear a T-shirt to work with a figure of a half naked male hunk on it. I may feel a little inadequate, but definitely not offended.

Female sexuality has been controlled for decades. In many ways our attempts to marginalise and control porn is yet another way of controlling women and how they choose to utilise their bodies. After all if men are stupid enough to pay, then I would say that the men are the victims not the women.

The feminist movement managed to some how find themselves on the same side as the puritanicals. There are many post feminists who see this as a mistake. Both Male and female sexuality are legitimate, and whilst I agree that the workplace or a software conference aren’t the right place to explore our sexual urges, I don’t believe that sex itself should some how be taboo.

Interestingly, naked women are used to sell all sorts of things all the time, beamed into our homes and in the media at large. The strength of the reaction in this context does point to something interesting, but I don’t believe that it has anything to do with psychology, I would put it down to culture and our social taboos on what is acceptable in the workplace.

Paul.

Using the words “I’m sorry” in a sentence does not make an apology. Neither does saying “I didn’t mean to offend and I’m sorry if I did”. An apology has to accept that the behavior was wrong on its face and won’t be repeated. I have yet to see such an apology.

Your arguments about focusing on professionalism and respecting ability etc. would be great, if we actually had that equality to start with. We don’t. Measurements suggest we’re still lagging behind men in pay, promotion and respect.

However, your thoughts regarding the technical insights and their presentation can still be valid – it’s possible to support each “agenda”, if that term is even applicable, without discounting the other. (And it may not only be men who agree with you there.)

I don’t know exactly, but the majority of posts from female writers on the issue have been overtly feminist? I guess? I’m just trying to say that some people are turning this into a woman’s suffrage thing, which is fine, you don’t need my permission to do it. But I don’t think that’s where the majority of disapproval against his behavior is coming from. Obvioulsy, you are free to use any issue to push your own agenda.

@dgou
I believe focusing on professionalism, and respecting professional ability regardless of the source, would keep the field open to women without explicitly mentioning women. I’m not a big fan of ‘the first woman in bla’ awards, though I believe ‘greatest person in bla’ should be handed to anyone with the qualification. Dealing with professionals in the field with respect and courtesy also follow naturally, and that too shouldn’t be contingent on your race or gender. Just be nice :p

Computer science already has far too few women participating in the field. I believe this kind of presentation and its defense by its author will discourage women further.

Speaking for myself, I do know that this presentation will make me think twice about attending a Rails conference, or a conference where Matt Amionetti is speaking. And if it affects other women in the same way, I think that’s a shame.

I enjoyed and admired your post for a number of reasons.
1) I learned something new – the way you linked the issue to a psychological truth put something I felt vaguely into clear context.
2) You present your discussion of the issue with clarity and simplicity
3) You state facts about a mechanism you have seen operate in the past with examples. No value judgements.

As a woman who has worked in computing, mostly with Unix/Linux and involved in internet discussion since Usenet , you put something I have sensed for along time into a sharp focus.

One thing occurred to me. Imagine that the entire audience at the event had been female, and the presenter had presented the same thing. It would have been bizarre. Could he have done it? The presentation was obviously targeted to an audience of straight men.

In a room of men, or where men are the overwhelming majority. this type of presentation tells the women in the room that they don’t exist (as equal technical minds, developers) they are not part of his desired audience.)

When I was younger I found it very hard to be taken seriously in the Unix/Linux hacker world.
Some men have a real problem with having a woman know more than them on a “macho” topic like hardware configurations, etc. I learned to sugarcoat suggestions, to get used to having my suggestions ignored until a man said the same thing, etc. In my current job I have an “old school” boss – And I find myself telling a male colleague my ideas so he can present them – so that they are not ignored.
sigh.

It’s not a question of sex or sexuality – two of my favorite things. But I want to have sex and watch porn when and where I choose to – by my choice and not as a choice of someone who is my boss at work – or a technical presenter.