Comments on: Sexism thrives in portrayal of librarians http://www.radicalpatron.com/sexism-thrives-in-portrayal-of-librarians/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:11:26 +0000 hourly 1 By: Josh Hanagarne http://www.radicalpatron.com/sexism-thrives-in-portrayal-of-librarians/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Josh Hanagarne Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:45:39 +0000 http://www.radicalpatron.com/?p=742#comment-20 Wonderful insights, my friend. As a man working among many, many females in the profession, I am always stunned by how many patrons seem surprised to see a male working behind the desk. I am just as annoyed by the impression that I'm some lunatic because I want to work in a library, as many women I know are irritated by the fact that they can't get any respect BECAUSE they are librarians. I mean, of course they are! They're smart women with glasses! Sadly, for all the talk about enlightenment and reeducation and how the profession is becoming less female-dominated, people see what they expect to see. The interview that led to the article I was featured in mentioned the fact that I am a man a million times--it just didn't make it into print. What you did not read were my statements that librarians are librarians--gender shouldn't be the issue. Well...I'll stop now or I'll be up all night. Thanks for pointing this out. As a male librarian who is increasingly high-profile, I am constantly recommitting myself to making gender peripheral to our profession. Thanks for thinking this through and writing a well-thought-out post. You rant in a very civilized way, my friend:) Josh Wonderful insights, my friend. As a man working among many, many females in the profession, I am always stunned by how many patrons seem surprised to see a male working behind the desk.

I am just as annoyed by the impression that I’m some lunatic because I want to work in a library, as many women I know are irritated by the fact that they can’t get any respect BECAUSE they are librarians. I mean, of course they are! They’re smart women with glasses!

Sadly, for all the talk about enlightenment and reeducation and how the profession is becoming less female-dominated, people see what they expect to see.

The interview that led to the article I was featured in mentioned the fact that I am a man a million times–it just didn’t make it into print. What you did not read were my statements that librarians are librarians–gender shouldn’t be the issue.

Well…I’ll stop now or I’ll be up all night. Thanks for pointing this out. As a male librarian who is increasingly high-profile, I am constantly recommitting myself to making gender peripheral to our profession.

Thanks for thinking this through and writing a well-thought-out post. You rant in a very civilized way, my friend:)

Josh

]]>