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October 13, 2006
Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs, insurgent49

A Way of Knowing

     I have been an i49 columnist for almost five months now, and have been contributing stories since the beginning. Why? Well, I have many reasons, but one of them is based on the fact that our ‘progressive chick’ community is not clickity-clackiting on the old computer enough. We, along with the rest of the journalism world, need more lady writers. This is not a desperate plea, but rather a curious question as to why women do not equally share the bylines.

     Women are underrepresented in journalism, and not just in the ‘insurgent’ realm. In a recent study, numbers prove that America’s leading magazines have a 3-to-1 man-to-women byline ratio. This is the sad fact.

     Yes, women dominate in some fields … such as elementary school teaching, nursing, and prostitution. But, from my perspective, the field of journalism is like a blank canvas where women’s colorful voices can’t afford to be lost. The fact is that women have a different perspective than men, because women were ultimately socialized differently. It has been said that women are more in touch with their emotions, and although this is a generalization, there is an ounce of truth to this statement. For little girls it is okay to cry but, for little boys, they are often told to toughen up.

     In other words, women are socially allowed to be emotional and therefore, more in touch with their feelings. Right or wrong, good or bad, this is a different way of knowing that is often illustrated through music and writing. This way of knowing represents approximately 50% of the population, which of course should be heard.

     Even men close to me, as well as a few women, have stated that they don’t like women’s style of writing, their music, or how they direct movies. I don’t believe that this is a form of pure sexism (i.e. they don’t like it simply because a woman did it) but more so the result of personal tastes. Their perception may not always be tapped into a perspective that represents emotion and fluidity. And yeah, sometimes it just sucks, but not based on the fact that a woman created it. 

     Unfortunately, women also often get stuck with the stereotypical women’s pieces, even in leading newspapers such as the Washington Post and the New York Times. Subjects such as housekeeping, fashion, and the occasional feminist issue are where women have the market cornered, but only there.

     Yes, I am the insurgent who most often writes about women’s issues. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy it, however, but I do wish that other women and men would step up to the feminist plate, so that I didn’t always have to.

     Another reason as to why women may be underrepresented in this field is based on a socialized self-confidence issue. Women are generally not socialized to have public opinions because they are meant to be quiet, meek, and sweet like apple pie. The field of journalism is a public forum where opinions fly … and men are dominant.

     Don’t get me wrong … women have broken into journalism and done a damn good job at it as well. They don’t have to depend on their fashion sense, their strong feminist convictions, or their grandma’s recipe for cookies. In fact, most of my favorite Anchorage journalists are women.

     The ADN, the Press, and of course i49 have produced some spectacular women writers: women who are confident, heard, and above all … knowing.        

   
 

     



      Nova Stubbs is a freelance writer and activist, and is co-founder of Insurgent49. Nova resides in an undisclosed location in downtown Anchorage and may be contacted at nova@insurgent49.com.
- Columnists -

Editor's Desk
by Aaron Selbig

Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs

Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

Alaskan In Exile
by Neil Zawicki

The
Bramble Bush
by Kevin Morford






Copyright 2005 Insurgent Media. All Rights Reserved.
in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.