Calling All Female Hackers

[eris]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

I dont know if my opinion counts since I'm not technically a hacker. Not in the computer sense anyway. Call me a life hacker I suppose with a major in people hacking and a minor in mind hacking. I have always been a "woman in a mans's world" sort of person so I guess I don't really notice it much.
It is fun to be One of Few in a Borg hive now and again. It can get irritating when it is supposed I am only someone's girl rather than a person with a mind of my own in a conversation now and again. But it can be lots of fun to turn those people on their heads.

[violet]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

Eris' comment about "being someone's girl" is a phenomena I always run into at Defcon. Since I STARTED coming to Defcon, if I bring a boyfriend or I'm in a group with other guys - people address their questions and comments to the guys, and then I get asked who's girlfriend I am. It even happened this year with my fiance - and he hasn't been to a con since DC11!

Though you are right, it's WAAAAAY too much fun to turn those people on their heads.

[Z^2]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

I'm in a group with other guys - people address their questions and comments to the guys, and then I get asked who's girlfriend I am.

That happens in reality, too.
I'm sure it'll come back to bite me in the ass, but I just start walking away and ignoring the conversations when that happens.

[streaker69]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

That happens in reality, too.
I'm sure it'll come back to bite me in the ass, but I just start walking away and ignoring the conversations when that happens.

I'd say that anyone that does that around you would be missing out on a lot. I always enjoy talking to you at Shmoo.

[6_Bl4ck9_f0x6]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

I once took an aerobics class and ended up being the only guy there, (In a Barry White voice) it was alright.

So what is it like for our female counter parts as well as our gay men. Is Defcon like Man Fest, is it like "it's raining men alleluia". Being surrounded by so much testosterone do you want to vomit, or just rip your clothes off, or vomit and rip your clothes off?

Just curious.

xor

Well, Well, Well great Xor! We need of more hacker girls, female are important in we life. We (men) can teach something to them

[s]

[violet]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

That happens in reality, too.
I'm sure it'll come back to bite me in the ass, but I just start walking away and ignoring the conversations when that happens.

I usually do the same thing - whether at DC or IRL. I hate it. I have no time for people who are going to be disrespectful or judgmental.

[bjaming]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

I really don't understand why some of the girls where dressed the way they were, I mean you don't have to look like a tramp to look good ladies.

seriously.

[xor]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

I really don't understand why some of the girls where dressed the way they were, I mean you don't have to look like a tramp to look good ladies.

seriously.

Forgive him, he knows not what he states

xor

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

I really don't understand why some of the girls where dressed the way they were, I mean you don't have to look like a tramp to look good ladies.

i think it's all in how people carry themselves. two individuals (guy or gal) can be in the exact same outfit and you can often tell pretty easily if they have any lights on in their noggin or if they're vapid and just there as a scenewhore.

interestingly, i find it amusing that people who don't know some of our scene's more prominent women might dismiss them at first glance, when in fact some of the most deliciously dressed females this year are ones who have a lot going for them and are not tramps or otherwise unwanted.

[Z^2]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

I'd say that anyone that does that around you would be missing out on a lot. I always enjoy talking to you at Shmoo.

Heh...clearly you must be thinking of someone else other than me.

[tequilastrapple]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

This was my 8th Defcon. I think that in many ways, the attitude toward women at Defcon has improved. Or maybe I've just gotten better at standing up for myself. Going from age 23 to age 30 has probably also helped make me less of a target for objectification.

But that didn't keep some drunk a-hole I had never met from slapping my ass this year. When I told him off, I suggested that he apologize not just to me, but to every woman he meets at Defcon. It probably didn't work, but it felt good.

At my third or fourth Defcon, someone grabbed my breast hard (it hurt) as I was working my way through a crowded path next to an Alexis Park pool. I turned around and yelled about it, but due to the crowd chaos, I had no way of knowing who it was.

And at the first Defcon at the Riv, the year when I finally got up the nerve to join a Scavenger Hunt team, the team I sort-of joined (none of my usual Defcon posse was interested, so I joined up with some guys that were looking for more teammembers) didn't take long to show that they only valued me for my body and not for my ideas and creativity.

So... only three sorta humiliating objectification/dehumanization incidents in eight years. I think that's actually pretty good odds, given what a sausagefest Defcon is. There are bound to be occasional jerks like these I've encountered. No matter how much the general attitude toward women improves, it's not going to keep random a-holes from being random a-holes.

[DaKahuna]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

Heh...clearly you must be thinking of someone else other than me.

I think is he. No one can get you to sit still or stay in one place long enough to have a decent conversation, unless it's talking you into taking a ham radio exam.

[Z^2]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

I think is he. No one can get you to sit still or stay in one place long enough to have a decent conversation, unless it's talking you into taking a ham radio exam.

Ooops...with the wireless village noticeably absent this year, there were no not-jam-packed rooms to sit around in during the day and chat with other people. I swear I'm boring in any case after the first five minutes so you're not missing out on much .

[calypso]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

I really don't understand why some of the girls where dressed the way they were, I mean you don't have to look like a tramp to look good ladies.

seriously.

I think for some, it's a self esteem issue, they feel like the only way they can stand out is through their dress. It's sad that some people feel this way, but I think there will always be people who do have esteem issues.

On the other hand I've been rather lucky in that I think most people don't think of me as 'some girl' and respect my intelligence. This could also be a mistake as I'm apparently oblivious to when men are hitting on me and not actually talking to me. I mean I think there is still a lot of male chauvinism at Def, but for the most part I think there is a bit of mutually assured destruction going on as well. There are some seriously skilled women hackers who would destroy a chauvinist's system and I know no one would ever let them live it down. SO I think that sort of keeps them in check, the fear of getting pwned by a woman.

[Ne0nRa1n]

Re: Calling All Female Hackers

So... only three sorta humiliating objectification/dehumanization incidents in eight years. I think that's actually pretty good odds, given what a sausagefest Defcon is. There are bound to be occasional jerks like these I've encountered. No matter how much the general attitude toward women improves, it's not going to keep random a-holes from being random a-holes.

You have a really great point there. I have had a few really bad objectification/dehumanization incidents at DEFCON, and one of those literally brought me to tears - but for the amount of time I have been going, those are really good odds.

On a side note, is it just me or does anyone else have a hard time with the whole smart/sexy balance thing when it comes to being a girl in the hacker scene. I mean, the unspoken rule seems to be that you are allowed to be sexy, but goodness not TOO sexy or else you will ruin everyone's illusions of what a 'good' girl you are.