Analysis of "Why Women Aren't Welcome on the Internet"

            Amanda Hess, the writer of “Why Women Aren’t Welcome on the Internet” illustrates the injustices of being a female on the Internet in this society and how hard it is to get justice for those who have been harassed via social media. She speaks about women in profession positions who have been emotionally and mentally abused by comments and threats from strangers online who intend on belittling their success and respect that they have worked so hard for. If these women look for help, they are turned away and are told to grow up.

            In the article she talks about her own experiences with an online stalker named “headlessfemalepig,” who wrote her vulgar emails, called her cell phone, and threatened to rape and kill her. However, because of the racy articles she writes for her job, she had become use to the rude comments and threats from viewers who disapproved of what she wrote. When she was finally told “You are going to die and I am the one who is going to kill you. I promise you this.”, she said she felt “disoriented and terrified” and reports it to the police. Unfortunately, she is turned away by police who don’t understand the danger because it has never happened to them before. The majority of the police department are men and have never been threatened that way that women have throughout their lives on social media. They didn’t even know what twitter was or how it worked. This lack of understanding or sympathy is heart wrenching and it is horrifying that women are expected to ignore these comments that so viciously stab at their self-esteem.

            As a female on social media, I am no stranger to these comments. Although they were never as extreme as a death threat, I would routinely get messages on Facebook and through text message that were quite vulgar and sexually explicit. Some would be as simple as “You’re really hot!” or “What are you wearing under that? Send me a picture!” Others weren’t as forgiving. When I would ask to be left alone, they would tell me that I should take it as a compliment or that I shouldn’t be such a bitch. Not only is this extremely rude and demoralizing, but I feel like the villain instead of the victim. We should not live in a society where women should be worried about going on the Internet and posting their ideas and opinions like so many men do. Equality and respect should exist everywhere, even on the Internet.