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Livejournal: Difference between revisions
→Removal of "Unspecified" Gender Option
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== Removal of "Unspecified" Gender Option == | == Removal of "Unspecified" Gender Option == | ||
In 2009, many users reacted negatively to an upcoming change to Livejournal's account creation process that would force new users to choose between "Male" or "Female", removing the "Unspecified" option. | In 2009, many users reacted negatively to an upcoming change to Livejournal's account creation process that would force new users to choose between "Male" or "Female", removing the "Unspecified" option. Reasons for opposing the changed included a desire for privacy and a distaste for gendered advertising, in addition to concerns about the impact on those outside the binary.<ref>toujours̠nigel. Commenting on "wow. just .... wow." December 12 2009. | ||
https://synecdochic.dreamwidth.org/366609.html?thread=16650769#cmt16650769</ref><ref>spastasmagoria. Commenting on "wow. just .... wow." December 15 2009. | |||
https://synecdochic.dreamwidth.org/366609.html?thread=16648977#cmt16648977</ref> | |||
In response to a post on the queer̠rage community decrying Livejournal's decision, auburnamnesia remarked that "discriminating against a large portion of your userbase in order to get teh ad revenues is NOT good business practice".<ref>auburnamnesia. Comment on "oh, lj", queer̠rage Livejournal community. December 15th, 2009. https://queer-rage.livejournal.com/1404843.html?thread=16327851#t16327851 </ref> raenbow expressed a general opposition to limiting users to a ""drop down box' list of choices for gender" and asserted that "[n]ot everyone is male or female".<ref>raenbow. Comment on "oh, lj" on queer̠rage Livejournal community. https://queer-rage.livejournal.com/1404843.html?thread=16329387#t16329387 </ref> | In response to a post on the queer̠rage community decrying Livejournal's decision, auburnamnesia remarked that "discriminating against a large portion of your userbase in order to get teh ad revenues is NOT good business practice".<ref>auburnamnesia. Comment on "oh, lj", queer̠rage Livejournal community. December 15th, 2009. https://queer-rage.livejournal.com/1404843.html?thread=16327851#t16327851 </ref> raenbow expressed a general opposition to limiting users to a ""drop down box' list of choices for gender" and asserted that "[n]ot everyone is male or female".<ref>raenbow. Comment on "oh, lj" on queer̠rage Livejournal community. https://queer-rage.livejournal.com/1404843.html?thread=16329387#t16329387 </ref> | ||
synecdochic posted a call to action on Dreamwidth, asking other disgruntled users to change their gender fields to "Unspecified" and to contact Livejournal to make their disapproval known.<ref>synecdochic. "wow. just .... wow." December 14 2009.https://synecdochic.dreamwidth.org/366609.html</ref> She argued that implementing a mandatory, binary gender field was oppressive towards transgender and genderqueer people, and noted that genderqueer users had already advocated expanding gender options to include "Other".<ref name=": | synecdochic posted a call to action on Dreamwidth, asking other disgruntled users to change their gender fields to "Unspecified" and to contact Livejournal to make their disapproval known.<ref name=":2">synecdochic. "wow. just .... wow." December 14 2009.https://synecdochic.dreamwidth.org/366609.html</ref> She argued that implementing a mandatory, binary gender field was oppressive towards transgender and genderqueer people, and noted that genderqueer users had already advocated expanding gender options to include "Other". Her post received 332 comments.<ref name=":2" /> | ||
In response to this community pushback, Livejournal staff clarified that they understood gender was not binary and announced that they had dropped their plans to change the sign-up process.<ref name=":1">LiveJournal Community Care Team. Quoted by montrealais. queer | In response to this community pushback, Livejournal staff clarified that they understood gender was not binary and announced that they had dropped their plans to change the sign-up process.<ref name=":1">LiveJournal Community Care Team. Quoted by montrealais. queer | ||