Feminist pop culture critic Anita Sarkeesian canceled her scheduled talk at Utah State University on Wednesday after receiving terror threats warning of a mass shooting.
Sarkeesian is perhaps best known for her YouTube series “Tropes v Women in Video Games.” In her videos, Sarkeesian analyzes anti-feminism themes and trends in gaming.
The threat was sent as an unsigned email and claimed if the talk were not canceled the school would be attacked in a Montreal-massacre style. The Montreal massacre occurred in 1989 and resulted in the death of 14 women in the name of “fighting feminism.”
This is honestly getting ridiculous, people.
It is one thing to disagree with feminism, but to go so far as to threaten a video game commentator and her audience is another thing. Perhaps I’ve missed out on some new development in philosophy, but I certainly didn’t think YouTube personalities were the new leaders of social movements.
Saying that, I don’t believe Sarkeesian is wrong. Indeed, she makes a compelling case about the representation of women in video games, but I didn’t think the issue was such a sensitive topic that it would warrant threats of violence.
It’s not like anyone can deny that women are portrayed in sexist ways in video games. Just go and buy one, and you will see.
The entire point of feminism — and men should take note of this fact, too — is that men and women are to be treated equally and be given equal opportunities. That’s it.
Sometimes feminism shoots itself in the foot by labeling men as brutish, selfish and incapable of viewing women as anything beyond sexual objects.
Empowering women by demeaning men creates another unequal relationship and that should, in fact, be what feminism is trying to avoid.
We can’t generalize men because, believe it or not, some of us are actually not against you.
We don’t believe women should have equal rights as men because they are women. We believe they should just because they’re people.
By threatening Sarkeesian with violence, these would-be terrorists are not helping their case.
It’s a very immature, almost preteen, way to get attention. Video games are nothing to threaten to kill someone over.
I can imagine what happens next — somebody threatening a TED Talk speaker because he doesn’t agree climate change is an issue. Or somebody sending an email to a guest lecturer before she comes because he thinks her topic is stupid.
Honestly, grow up. Remember, many people don’t care what you think. Don’t be so self-important that you believe your point of view is so necessary, so right, that you, like anarchists, should make your perceived belief of vox populi heard no matter the cost.
If you care that much, write a letter to your congressman or congresswoman and lobby for your change.
That’s democracy. That’s how your voice can be heard, even if no one wants to hear it.
allenjo@indiana.edu
