Elevatorgate

Elevatorgate is the common name for a controversy in 2011 that touched on feminism, privilege, conference creeps, and the social makeup of the skepticsphere. It started with a video by Rebecca Watson about sexism in the atheist community and caused criticism of Richard Dawkins after he wrote a blog comment in response titled "Dear Muslima". It was a watershed moment that exposed the third major rift within the Anglophone skeptical movement (the first two being religion and politics).
==The initial video==
In June 2011, Rebecca Watson, the founder of the website Skepchick, mentioned in a vlog an experience she'd had at a recent conference where she spoke about sexism in the atheist community. At 4 in the morning, after a night at the hotel bar, a man followed her to the elevator and invited her to his hotel room for coffee. The invitation made Watson uncomfortable, and she suggested to her audience that they not behave in a similar manner (from 4:30 in):"About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes". YouTube. 20 June 2011. Retrieved on 13 October 2015.An elevator is an uncomfortable setting for a sexual proposition, especially from a stranger; there are no witnesses and getting away is impossible until the elevator stops. Yes, a person stuck in such a situation can press a button and get out early, but that would mean, at the least, admitting fear, and creating a socially-awkward situation. At worst, if the person initiating the proposal is thinking of anything nasty, such a move may trigger them attacking.
As it was just a note in a longer video about the conference, it unfortunately went mostly unnoticed, except for two other female atheists who disagreed with Watson and believed the man's comment wasn't aggressive, and ended up devolving into the typical nasty YouTube comment fare.SUIRAUQA. "Oh, the humanity of it all!". ohthehumanityofitall.blogspot.ca. Retrieved on 13 October 2015. Even this did not cause anyone else to care. 
Seriously, watch the original video. No shaming, no naming, no ranting. She did not accuse the man who approached her of rape, she hasn't given any more details about him (and nor has anyone else), so no doxxing either. It probably would have been fine if it ended here, but instead this was the impetus for years of hate.
==The reaction==
A week later, while presenting at a Center for Inquiry conference, Watson discussed the response to her video, citing some alarming comments and emails directed at her."Blogger". aratina.blogspot.com. Retrieved on 13 October 2015. PZ Myers, a friend of Watson's, would later defend Watson, arguing in a blog post that the insults and slurs directed at Watson were evidence of the sexism within the atheist community."Always name names!". Pharyngula. Retrieved on 13 October 2015.
The post's comment thread was full of trolling and flames, when Richard Dawkins decided to interject with a comment letter headed "Dear Muslima." Dawkins accused Watson of overreacting and compared her experience to those of women being forced to wear burkas or undergo genital mutilation (a classic example of the not as bad as fallacy):Remy Stern. [Gawker.com: archive.is, web.archive.org "Richard Dawkins Torn Limb From Limb—By Atheists"]. Gawker (Gawker Media). Retrieved on 13 October 2015.
Dawkins identifies as a strong supporter of women's rights and is a vocal opponent of the mistreatment of women by religious bigots;"National Secular Society". secularism.org.uk. Retrieved on 13 October 2015. however, his comments drew the ire of many within the atheist movement. Many feminists also disagree with his characterisation of himself as supportive of women's rights, especially after he said rape victims who had consumed alcohol should be considered untrustworthy and shouldn't be allowed to testify against their attackersRichard Dawkins has lost it: ignorant sexism gives atheists a bad name and insisted that date rape is not as bad as being raped by a stranger at knifepoint. Richard Dawkins is wrong to suggest that there can be varying degrees of severity involved in rape
Things generally devolved from there with some of Watson's defenders repeatedly calling Dawkins a misogynist."Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved on 13 October 2015."Richard Dawkins is a Sexist Jerk". YouTube. 20 July 2011. Retrieved on 13 October 2015."Richard Dawkins is a misogynist? Really?". democraticunderground.com. Retrieved on 13 October 2015. A lot of big names, attempting to show off their credentials, came out in support of either Watson or Dawkins. The opinion of the lowly peon commenters was mixed, and sometimes quite sexist. Most of those involved agreed people were overreacting, but each blamed the opposite side.
He was also disinvited from a conference after sharing a video mocking feminists. Richard Dawkins dropped from science event for tweeting video mocking feminists and Islamists He has also been criticised for "mansplaining" feminism to Muslim women, who have assured him they have things in hand. Richard Dawkins mansplains feminism to Muslim women, Bhutto hits back
==The resolution==
In a show of good faith, Dawkins arranged to provide childcare at future atheist meetings, a move generally praised by the community."Dawkins coup de grâce in Vegas"Dawkins Announces Funding for Childcare, Blaghag
Three years after, Dawkins apologised for the "Dear Muslima" letter, in passing, on another blog post.https://richarddawkins.net/2014/08/who-is-belittling-what/ Watson accepted the apology as better than nothing, saying "Eh I'll take it"."Rebecca Watson". Twitter. Retrieved on 13 October 2015.
==See also==
* Slymepit
==References==
==Notes==
Category:Social justice
Category:Feminism
Category:Sexism