This weekend’s response to Elliot Rodger’s killing spree has been a strong and controversial online testimony to the how “yes, all women” have been harassed or made to feel unsafe by men around us. The Twitter #YesAllWomen hashtag has been opening up conversations in light of a tragedy perpetrated by someone who killed six people and then himself because women didn’t respond to him in a way he felt entitled to.
Unfortunately, here in geek culture, we have our own issues too. Here are some heartbreaking and eye-opening tweets.
#YesAllWomen bc game devs objectifying women is excused w “we grew up on comics” but women who grew up on comics “can’t” internalize sexism
— ReinaChingadaDeTodo (@MommysaurusRAWR) May 26, 2014
I’m too scared to write about comics, my passion, bc i don’t think I’m strong enough to handle the comments #YesAllWomen
— Ashley (@ashleyjperna) May 25, 2014
Because even after 20 years working in comics, that fucking undertone of “why are you even here?” hasn’t faded. #YesAllWomen
— Pia Guerra (@PiaGuerra) May 25, 2014
Because if you’re a girl gamer you’ve created at least 1 male char. to play so you weren’t repeatedly hit on (read: harassed). #YesAllWomen
— Keri Helen (@kerihelen) May 27, 2014
Because before she was even 9, my daughter was called a cunt by another gamer because she was better than he was #YesAllWomen
— Lauren Dane (@laurendane) May 25, 2014
#YesAllWomen because when I discussed video game representation of woman I received death/rape threats
— Kieley (@PharFaraway) May 27, 2014
#YesAllWomen because a boy in my video game programming class said no one will play his game unless there were half naked girls in it.
— Britney R. Poniris (@BritneyPoniris) May 26, 2014
I cosplay a man for every con because I’m tired of lewd comments about my body as a female character–and I still get them. #YesAllWomen
— Chajiko (@Chajiko) May 26, 2014
#YesAllWomen because I chose not to enter a cosplay contest because I was too afraid of what the online comments would be about my looks
— Christina Garrett (@gamerfaith) May 25, 2014
Fortunately, the outpouring of support has been phenomenal. #YESAllWomen has already been covered by the likes of The Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and more. Let’s hope this hashtag activism isn’t just a flash in the pan. Keep the conversation going to make it a safer place for everyone.
