I'm irritated about an article I just read on MSN about a new robot called, "The FemiSapien." She's a robot, obviously, but her main functions are dancing for you, blowing kisses and "being affectionate."
Some might say that the leaps and bounds being made in robotics and other technologies are great for furthering knowledge of what we can do (ie, medical technology, etc), but I think this is gross. It irritates me that these fields are so male-dominated that the things they've managed to accomplish include finding yet more ways to be sexist.
Some of you may be thinking, "But Jamie. This is a good way for men to get rid of some of their more sexist inclinations by having a robot to function as an outlet." That's the violent porno excuse if ever I heard one. This shit only encourages the belief that these are primary functions for all things female. Why not create a Data? I love that guy.
I realize that Lauren and I are the only Buffy geeks among us, but the show is really well-written. There's an episode where this nerd boy (who exhibits every trait that Erica had blogged about in her "nice guy" syndrome) creates a "girlfriend" robot. He claims that he was lonely, and her only function was to "love" him. However, we get a shot of things through robotia's eyes later, and it's all sex programming (different, kinky sex positions, lap dances, servitude, etc). The character also goes on to be a woman-hating motherfucker. Obviously, this is just a television show. But it does exhibit something I believe to be true--utilization of technology in a sexist manner only creates more animosity towards the reality of women, and furthers the belief that women have certain functions...and when those functions do not exist in a woman (ie, servitude, sexual slavery, etc), more and more men act like pigs towards them. This grosses me out. I can only imagine how much it cost to design the fucker.
1.18.2008
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12 comments:
Gross. You're right-on in your assessment. The whole idea of this simultaneously makes me ill and pisses me off.
her main functions are dancing for you, blowing kisses and "being affectionate."
Way to go! You've found a way to *really* dehumanize women! All of the sexy with none of that pesky "free will" or "personality" to get in the way. Thank god, because that shit was getting downright annoying.
Ugh. Gross.
Jamie, this is what I love about you. You are so smart -- and so articulate. You are one of the keenest (and most creative) observers I know. Remember that "salesmen are like rapists" rant? Yeah.
That is why I am coming the believe/see that the nerd culture is extremely misogynistic, but they use their "oppression" from jocks, etc as a cover for it.
This robot creeps me out in the same way that Real Dolls creep me out. If the person is using the dolls specifically for masturbation and doesn't pretend they're people, well ok. It's weird and not my thing, but to each their own. But if the dude is using the doll as a substitute for a relationship with a real person, that's indicative of some very real problems and a deep-seated misogyny.
Nerd culture can be misogynistic. The reason behind this could be that nerdy guys don't get to fully exercise their male privilege the way jocks do. They feel they are entitled to attractive women, just as jocks do, but unlike jocks are unable to obtain attractive women. This makes them resentful. But instead of being resentful at the real culprit - the patriarchy - many of them instead choose to be resentful towards women. But many of my nerdy male friends, despite never having had a girlfriend, have managed to avoid becoming Nice Guys(TM).
at least it creates a healthy alternative to blow job week
Only douchebags celebrate blowjob week.
Ignore. That's Jon trying to antagonize you guys. He didn't even know what blow job week was until recently, when *I* made reference to it, he gave me a blank look, and I had to explain the concept.
So I'm clueless - fill me in on blow job week
Come on, Lise...blow job week. When the boy gets blow jobs instead of sex because his lady friend has her period and he doesn't want his wiener to get bloody.
The entitlement of "blowjob week" is mind boggling. I don't tolerate men who are afraid of a little blood. I'm the one cramping and bloating and leaking and THEY'RE bitching? Eat my ass.
This brings to mind one of Lauren's classic high school comments: "Penises don't have noses!" Can you believe we've been talking about this for 10 years?
Totally never heard of that before. I guess when it's been a few years since I've had a period! One nice thing about being pregnant and/or breast feeding :)
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