Daniel B. Holzman-Tweed (holzman) wrote,
Daniel B. Holzman-Tweed
holzman

How to avoid misogynyfail: tips for the aspiring helpful man

This list inspired by the recent behavior of software developer Stefanos Harhalakis. I include his name here so that he can find it via Google search lest he feel I am talking behind his back, a thing about which he is sensitive. Mr. Harhalakis is the author of a tool that I am not linking to here lest someone think I endorse misogyny in software applications.


  1. If writing an application to track a woman's menstrual cycles for use by men and women, be proactive in making it clear that you are designing a tool for cooperative use, not a tool for predicting when one's female SO will turn into the EVIL PMS MONSTER.
  2. If moved to include a disclaimer about the usefulness of the application in making such predictions, be sure to use a joke that makes light of the variable nature of human bodies, not just female ones.
  3. If releasing software containing misogynist statements to the public, be prepared to be held accountable for them in public forums of the public's choosing, not just the ones you find convenient or private.
  4. If informed that your actions are sexist or misogynist, don't complain that you didn't get praise for your efforts first.
  5. If informed that your actions are sexist or misogynist, don't inform your critics about your lack of misogynist intent.  It is the impact of your action under discussion.  This is physics:  Force = mass times acceleration.  Intention is simply not a part of the equation.
  6. If informed that your actions are sexist of misogynist, don't call your critic a "bitch."  Even if your prior claim of a lack of misogynist intention mattered, using misogynist language with clear intent to insult utterly discredits it.
  7. If informed that your actions are sexist or misogynist, don't decide to persist in the sexist or misogynist action because you want to be funny.  Prioritizing "funny" over "misogynist" is misogyny, and deliberately chosen.  (See prior point about discrediting one's prior claims about not intending to be misogynist.)
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