Is it gendered? You're damn right it is...and I can only imagine how much worse it is for women of color.
Back on the birdsite I changed my profile pic to a nondescript white dude for a few weeks last winter and OMG the difference. No harassment. People respected what I had to say, engaged constructively, and generally made me feel appreciated.
I changed my pic back and POOF the harassment and 'lol just playing devil's advocate, honey' came zooming back.
@DrTCombs Excellent post, I hate this idea that
1. Women are more emotional than men.
2. Being emotional somehow stops you from understanding facts and using common sense.
3. Men have a terrible track record as far as running things, so I'm going to need them to cite at least 6 sources as to why they should be allowed in positions of power, no Wikipedia.
People who say, 'oh, it'll be better on mastodon don't really get it.' They don't get that this shit happens to us every day, on every platform, on every street, in every faculty/staff/board meeting, at every family gathering, in every courtroom.
Women are automatically assumed to be coming from a place of emotion, hysteresis, sensationalism, and must be questioned. Usually (but not always!) by men.
When you see this happen, call it out. Please.