Blog & Company News
Aug 3, 2015
Male Trolls Threaten Women Across The Internet
For some, it’s hard to believe that gender inequality still exists in today’s society. With Hillary Clinton running for President, and many women holding CEO, CFO, and other high-ranking positions within the workforce, it is concerning that men are given undue superiority to women. Yes, men and women have their differences, but that should not affect the fields in which they work.
Brenna Wu, a video game developer, has endured hundreds of threats via vicious internet trolls all because of her occupation. According to CNN, a group called Gamergate feels Wu - simply by being a female - is disrupting what is, “traditionally a male gaming industry.” Wu routinely faced graphic and violent threats, for example, she received a video of a man in a skill mask describing a plot to murder her and taunts to blow her up with an improvised explosive device. Unfortunately, Brenna Wu is not alone in this, as, “anyone deemed to be a feminist crusader – or a threat to gaming’s status quo,” have also been targeted.
Let's face the facts, message boards and comment sections on many popular sites have become a toxic, violent place for users, where respect and safety should have been a priority from the beginning. Waiting until now to attempt improvements will only lead to aggravated users, as constraints and new regulations will result in change – and change (in these circles) is never welcomed.
Wu told CNN that she believes, “this is the year technology hit rock bottom,” and she just may be right. If a woman of high authority is unable to do her job, this is clearly an issue that requires national attention. It is scary to hear that local law enforcement agencies, according to Wu, disregarded the situation and refused to take action. In the year 2015, maintaining a safe and equal working environment, in which both men and women feel empowered, should be a top priority.
http://money.cnn.com/2015/07/19/technology/brianna-wu-reddit-harassment/index.html