The skeptic conference this weekend in Las Vegas has reportedly seen a drop in attendance by women, and the reason may be due to sexual harassment allegations. Several atheist groups have put policies in place in the last few weeks to combat the growing problem of unwanted sexual advances occurring at conferences.
The annual conference, includes panels and workshops with such names as "Promoting Skepticism at the Local Level," "The Future of Skepticism Online: Crowd-Sourced Activism" and "Promoting Skepticism in Classroom Settings." Interestingly, these types of discussions are clearly looking to promote the "religion" of skepticism, and even works to indoctrinate high school kids.
Last year, women made up 40 percent of the attendees at The Amazing Meeting (TAM), and this year it is expected to be at 31 percent of the 1,200 attendees. Although the organizers of the skeptics, atheists and humanist gathering point to other possible reasons, like the fact that women are "caretakers" and cannot get away, some believe women are shying away from the conference due to unwanted sexual advances.
Several female skeptic bloggers have made it clear that they will not be attending, as reported by the Washington Post. Rebecca Watson, for example, canceled her TAM appearance because "she does 'not feel welcome or safe.'"
When Watson wrote about an unwelcome sexual advance made at a previous conference, British biologist Richard Dawkins, the best-selling author of "The God Delusion," wrote that Watson should "stop whining" and "grow a thicker skin." The article notes that atheist blogger Jennifer McCreight, said "women speakers at nontheist events warn each other privately about male speakers who make unwanted sexual advances."
Perhaps they should look to the "Penn Party" being advertised on the The Amazing Meeting website that states that in addition to "all the blasphemy possible (including unfair ad hominem attacks on god and religion)," the party encourages "people of all sexes, genders, orientations and kinks scantily clad (within the law)" and describes the gathering as "a celebration of love, and sex."
This year, TAM has hired an outside consultant to deal with harassment incidents at the skeptic conference.
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Comments: 25
I do question advances by someone in a position of economic authority over a subject - such as by an employer. But tend to disagree with punishing say - a doctor in a sexual relationships with a patient.
I think it is fine to verbally thank an aggressor for the compliment, but very briefly note a disinterest. And not gossip/identify the aggressor to others. A second attempt ends with a firm warning that if s/he repeats similar behavior a third time, the subject will take X action.
An attempt after these - or with physical force that refuses to immediately stop - I agree there is an issue.
In every job I've had, I have been 'hit on'. Most of the time, I took it as a compliment.
I wonder why it would be worse at a skeptic conference. Hmmm.
And lets face it TAM is a is an annual celebration of science, skepticism and critical thinking and that above all not your article is the one thing that bugs this person.
As it says on their web page.
People come to TAM to learn, to be entertained, and to enjoy the community of hundreds of like-minded skeptical people.
You see Renee this person is an activist on the other side and he just could not wait to put the boot into what he saw as the enemy.
He was in so much of a hurry to stick the knife between the ribs in what I am sure he thought was a witty article he missed the link where you said you got it from the Washington Post. Or perhaps he did not, these sort of people muddy the waters.
Don't worry though I am sure if he does not come on to your post to comment he will send along a few of his mates, the usual crowd of malcontents that we see popping up now and then insult and to to sooth each others breasts :-)
Although I must say I have never had that problem no one has ever come up to me in a conference and touched me inappropriate manner or even asked me for sex. I must have lived a right sheltered live, its like all those school boys who have had sexual relations with their teachers!!!! what the heck did I miss out on :-)
The first thing that I knew about it was when the Military Police came and interviewed me. Fortunately for me I could show them that I did this with everyone as in my office I had a security camera that showed me doing it to everyone male and female and any rank and it was just for a second.
It just goes to show how something innocent as that can get you into trouble though in this day and age. And it makes you wary of what you are doing. After that incident it changed me a little bit instead of it being a friendly atmosphere in my office which I had always maintained it became a far more rigid atmosphere where instead of getting up from my table and going over to a person with what I wanted them to do to help them out, I would make them come to me and I would hand it over to them or tell them what I wanted from a sitting position with them standing across from me