One of the issues I, and many others have been having lately, is that it’s hard to speak up about systemic issues due to the harassment and vitriolic reactions we get for doing so. Time and time again, it doesn’t matter who is saying that there are systemic issues we’re dealing with, that person often gets attacked for pointing them out–especially with respect to something as simple as representation or equal pay. Why? Well, it’s for the simple reason that the people who work in creative industries aren’t isolated from the rest of society. If misogyny, racism, and homophobia exist in society (along with the other -ists and -isms out there), then they are also part of working in any vertical, in any industry.

Why did I choose to speak up now? Part of it was timing. Part of it was the fact that I felt my silence was actively hurting my peers and predecessors in these creative industries, because I was fulfilling the stereotypical ideal of “just do the work and stay quiet” as I have for the past ten years. But, there’s a difference between staying quiet and acknowledging that there are systemic issues. They exist. Some people disagree, because they aren’t directly impacted by those issues or they don’t align with their political views. But, for those of us who do see a problem, we all have decisions to make about what to do next. What comes after we acknowledge an issue, the solutions we seek to implement, that’s the hard part. The least I can do is say: “You are not alone in feeling this way.”

To share my feelings, I wrote an essay in Uncanny Magazine for their November issue. Much of the reasons why misogyny, etc. continue to be a problem, is because there’s a perception within the geek community that your standard geek has a monolithic white male identity both as fans and as creators. That perception is fueled by a lack of visibility and PR for the work that folks are already doing, which then leads to more disbelief when people speak up. I used (one of) many examples that happened to me, because I felt that was the only way to highlight my point that I was hoping to be credited for the work that I actually did. The people who read the essay and experienced the same issues, then, understood what I was trying to say. In it, I pointed out that Geek & Sundry did not list my name on their Court of Shadows review, even though Jason Hardy and I co-developed this Shadowrun supplement and I was the lead writer penning 40,000+ words.

In response, Geek & Sundry acted with grace and aplomb by doing the following:

1) A different writer, Ben Riggs, followed up with me to get a statement for a new article they planned to write.

2) They did not roast the other writer over the coals, or get defensive(1). Geek & Sundry took responsibility for the oversight as an error on their part as a major media outlet–this is super important!

3) G&S apologized, and then featured my work in a new article–plus plugged my new anthology Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling which they did not have to do.

This is exactly how situations like this should be handled, and I really appreciate Geek & Sundry taking the time to not only listen and make it right(2) but go above and beyond by writing a feature article about it.

So thank you, Geek & Sundry, for reviving this discussion; I’m seeing a positive impact in my corner of the geekosphere to the extent that new discussions are happening as well. To those of you who are sensing there are systemic issues: yes, there are and yes, they do exist. Focusing on the work can help (and it is what I tend to do), but please do not be afraid to reach out to your peers and get the support you need. You are human, you have feelings, and self-care is extremely important. Your art, your voice–it matters. Now, go make some art!

(1) Alternatively, I’ve seen and experienced the exact opposite where the company a) denies there was a problem, b) tries to explain away or misplace blame, c) throws a freelancer under the bus, and d) goes on the offensive. That is how not to handle situations like this, because you’re operating your company from the assumption that the person speaking up is not credible.

(2) Most of the responses to this article have been positive, but if you want to get a taste of what many women experience for speaking up you can visit the Geek & Sundry Facebook page. It’s not the first time I’ve heard negative comments like these. They’re often said every damn time a woman tries to speak up. Every. Damn. Time.

Mood: Hump Day
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Going for Round Two.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Double argh.
In My Ears: Sister Rust by Damon Albarn
Game Last Played: Neko Atsume
Book Last Read: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Movie/TV Show Last Viewed: Game of Thrones
Latest Artistic Project: My sekrit project.
Latest Releases: Read my end-of-the-year list of releases for an overview of what I’ve put out for 2016.
Current State of Projects: Read my latest project update.