Blogging’s Glass Ceiling

New York Times ^ | July 27, 2008 | Kara Jesella

[reaganaut1]

For two days last week, many of the men’s bathrooms at the Westin St. Francis Hotel here were turned into women’s bathrooms. The stalls on the second floor were lined with note cards featuring nurturing messages like “You are perfect.” Nearby, women were being dusted with blush and eye shadow, or having the kinks in their necks massaged.

...

Other prominent female bloggers who did not attend the BlogHer conference agreed that there are unique challenges that women in the blogosphere face. “Women get dismissed in ways that men don’t,” said Megan McArdle, an associate editor at The Atlantic Monthly who writes a blog about economic issues. She added that women are taught not to be aggressive and analytical in the way that the political blogosphere demands, and are more likely to receive blog comments on how they look, rather than what they say.

[reaganaut1]

There is no "glass ceiling". Not enough people find what most female bloggers write to be interesting. I read Michelle Malkin occasionally, but she writes like a man. Someone who buys a "you are perfect" note card probably isn't too bright or good at handling a criticism that blogging entails.

[Cindy]

OPINION: There is no “glass ceiling” in blogging.

If you stay true to the theme of your blog, stay on topic, keep your content fresh; you’re well on your way to being one of the top blogs.

[CalvaryJohn]

I read the aricle. After supressing the urge to hurl, I was keenly aware of why The Old Gray Whore is going down the tubes. I don’t know which is worse, the writing or the subject matter. Not a single conservative female blogger was to be found in the whole bunch. If there were any, I am not surprised they didn’t feature them.

[Salman]

Upper middle class white women are so-o-o-o-o-o oppressed.

[Mark was here]

I thought there was a huge part of the net dedicated to women, that helped fuel the growth of the web, with lots of serious money to be made.

[Huntress]

There is no "glass ceiling".

I tend to agree. Plus, any female blogger who is truly worried about discrimination doesn't have to disclose her gender on her blog. She just needs to pick some generic nom de cyber and let her writing and ideas stand on their own.

[BooksForTheRight.com]

I see a big lack of self-esteem as the primary cause of their failure.

[backhoe]

OPINION: There is no “glass ceiling” in blogging. If you stay true to the theme of your blog, stay on topic, keep your content fresh; you’re well on your way to being one of the top blogs.

Absolutely.

I judge blogs ( and indeed, all sites ) by:

1- the quality of the writer
2- the usefulness of the links
3- the quality and usefulness of the comments section.

Nothing else matters- it's about as egalitarian a medium as it can be.

[raybbr]

"Kara Jesella and Marisa Meltzer "

Uhh... Maybe there's a reason there is no glass around you, Kara.

[rbg81]

She added that women are taught not to be aggressive and analytical in the way that the political blogosphere demands, and are more likely to receive blog comments on how they look, rather than what they say......

---

Yes, and women have NOTHING to do with fostering this attitude. To varying degrees, the majority of women rely on their looks and sex appeal to make things happen for them. Many time the heavy lifting is left to men while the girls go out to lunch. You gals can’t have it both ways.

[kidd]

She added that women are taught not to be aggressive and analytical in the way that the political blogosphere demands...

Complete crap.

Ann Coulter is perhaps THE most aggressive blogger. And is respected for it.

Michelle Malkin is also quite aggressive. And she covers things that no one else does. And is widely accepted.

So while liberal women bloggers are too busy assigning the "victims" title to themselves, conservative women bloggers have attained respect and equality.

[SlapHappyPappy]

You’ve nailed the problem with most blogs. The content isn’t fresh.

There is a reason I don’t have a blog to talk about my work and son. The fact is, it just isn’t interesting to many people that don’t know you. If you browse Blogger and hit the “next blog” link you’ll see exactly what I mean. Heck, we all secretly hated seeing other people’s slide shows from their travels, but blogs are full of that kind of thing.

Lots of bloggers want to be the next Dooce, but how many of them really have a life that many people will find interesting?

[CodeToad]

The only females who complain about glass ceilings are the freak show feminists who think looking like and acting like a freak should be made acceptable under penalty of law.