I would very much like to get something positive at the end of this. In some ways I think the general anger is itself something happening to Harlan -- the statement has been made that this is not acceptable and it won't get acceptable. That's important stuff that's needed saying for a while.
I think, however, it would require some unconventional methods.
As a bookseller, I've noticed the issue with benefit anthologies or collections is the timeliness problem. Whether we like it or not, this'll likely just be another internet fight in three months' time. Publishing just doesn't move that fast, and inevitably, by the time things like Katrina benefits or tsunami benefits or such finally see print, the public attention has passed from that framing incident.
I think raising the status of women in fandom -- and professional SF -- is a tricky business. It pretty much involves changing attitudes. We're past the stage where exposure -- getting more women visible -- is going to make any changes: there's already lots of women at each and every con, enough that the subculture supports Wiscon. Now the point that needs to be addressed is that women are full and equal participating members of the society, and command respect, proper treatment, etc. We don't need safe spaces, we need the whole damn convention to be a safe space and a comfortable one.
I cannot say I'm sure how to make that point constructively. I think this is the Big Question (tm) of all rights movements: how to make the point without pounding so many heads that your hands get sore from pounding. How to make the point in a way that combines positive reinforcement and sharp applications of "NO." and not just the latter.
Either way, I'm leery of putting Connie Willis's name on a project -- or even taking step one on that sort of idea -- without explicit consent, and it's not a consent I would be personally comfortable asking for. I know I'd want to be remembered for my novel career, not that a guy groped me once at the Hugo Awards.
I will think on the constructive thing, though. Very hard.
no subject
I think, however, it would require some unconventional methods.
As a bookseller, I've noticed the issue with benefit anthologies or collections is the timeliness problem. Whether we like it or not, this'll likely just be another internet fight in three months' time. Publishing just doesn't move that fast, and inevitably, by the time things like Katrina benefits or tsunami benefits or such finally see print, the public attention has passed from that framing incident.
I think raising the status of women in fandom -- and professional SF -- is a tricky business. It pretty much involves changing attitudes. We're past the stage where exposure -- getting more women visible -- is going to make any changes: there's already lots of women at each and every con, enough that the subculture supports Wiscon. Now the point that needs to be addressed is that women are full and equal participating members of the society, and command respect, proper treatment, etc. We don't need safe spaces, we need the whole damn convention to be a safe space and a comfortable one.
I cannot say I'm sure how to make that point constructively. I think this is the Big Question (tm) of all rights movements: how to make the point without pounding so many heads that your hands get sore from pounding. How to make the point in a way that combines positive reinforcement and sharp applications of "NO." and not just the latter.
Either way, I'm leery of putting Connie Willis's name on a project -- or even taking step one on that sort of idea -- without explicit consent, and it's not a consent I would be personally comfortable asking for. I know I'd want to be remembered for my novel career, not that a guy groped me once at the Hugo Awards.
I will think on the constructive thing, though. Very hard.