LYCHEE: Here come two more, Steve

Alizarin, I am honored to be invited as a guest writing on Loser Takes All. I think this is an appropriate first every blog entry:

Recently,

I read an article where Steven Levy asked, “Since anyone can write a Weblog, why is the blogosphere dominated by white males?”

Well, Steven, a better question is why are white men so blind to all that is non-white or non-male? Although Levy does address this in his article and challenges the top 100 bloggers (mostly white and male) to link to a non-white or non-male blog, is this not just another way to appease their guilt and put the blame back in the laps of those whose voices are being squashed?

To deconstruct how trite this question is let’s look at things that are not dominated by white males: poverty, homelessness, being victims of rape, being victims of discrimination, yoga classes and peace movements (had to include something no one could argue is undesirable), elementary and secondary school teachers (generally underpaid professions), child care workers, nurses, caretakers, feminism, sub-standard healthcare, anorexia, bulimia, prostitution (except, maybe, as clients?) . . .

True, I have not done any research to support this (besides my time spent as a social work, teacher and activist). It is a hunch. Maybe some white male corporation will pay to do the research to prove me wrong. Then again, with all their money and control and free time, they probably will put it all into contorting reality enough to show me that somehow they are the true victims rather than actually attempting to transform our world for the better.

Back to Mr. Levy’s question. If you look at the factors above that plague mostly women and non-whites, blogging is not as easy and simple as sitting at a computer and writing. We could blog until we are blue in the face (or fingertips) and for most women that will not help them feed their children or pay for healthcare on their own. Who is going to pay for the computer or internet access when the family does not have proper clothing? Who is going to cook, clean, pay the bills, shop, play with the kids while I blog? Even if I do write, unless it is about my private orgasms, I will only be called a virago. White men may think they are dominating the blogosphere because they are smarter, hipper, or otherwise more valuable; however, in reality, they are the only ones who have the time, have all their basic needs met providing endless hours wondering where all the women are online, and have a lack of initiative or awareness to pursue anything other than what reflects your life and beliefs.

Disclaimer: I am not a single mom, or mom of any sort, or living in poverty, though I am a teacher and feminist. I do have full healthcare and would never be mistaken for anorexic or bulimic and have never received money for sex . . . the point is I know that I know this computer on which I type and my lovely apartment where I work and the time I have to sit and type this is a privilege many do not have in our country. So, rather than asking where are all the other women bloggers, the poor, the weary, the underprivileged, the black, Latino/a, Hispanic, Asian, Jewish, Middle-Eastern, and any other non-white-male bloggers waiting to partake in democracy, I will seek out the ones who are there (easier said than done, true) and I will at least try, as an educator, to bring this option to more people. Finally, if I ask questions they will be real ones, like why the hell do we have computers labs at school if they are never open for students to use? (see future entries for links to women bloggers)