Kotaku - Nerds and Male Privilege.
The idea that perhaps the way women are portrayed in fandom is aleetle sexist is regularly met with denials, justifications and outright dismissal of the issue. So regularly, in fact, that there's a Bingo card covering the most common responses. Part of the notion of male privilege in fandom is that nothing is wrong with fandom and that suggestions that it might benefit from some diversity is treated as a threat.
But what is that threat, exactly?
Yaogun wrote on Dec 19, 2011, 05:05:
Wow, that "men's rights" website is sad. Whenever I read stuff like that, or see people so vehemently dismissing the idea that men enjoy some privilege compared to women (like many in this thread), they just come across as pathetic frightened man-children whimpering at the thought that they might have to someday compete on their merits instead of having everything handed to them. Poor babies. And ironically they're often the ones putting on the internet tough guy act.
Guys, it's not a war. Women aren't the enemy. You don't lose anything if they get more equality or rights or respect. Gaming won't cease to be fun if it's not catered to white guys 100% of the time. I just don't get how this stuff can be so terrifying.