Women are becoming the victims of sexist messages on LinkedIn. Out of all the places on the Internet, I mean, seriously – you chose LinkedIn to spew your sexist garbage? Think about it, guys. LinkedIn is supposed to be about professionalism and furthering your career, yet, somehow, you think it’s appropriate to privately message women about their appearance?
I’ll fight each and every one of you who thinks this is appropriate. It’s not and never will be.
Charlotte Proudman is a barrister and a Cambridge University graduate. Not only is she currently studying for her Ph.D. in sociology, she has written for the New Statesman and The Independent about taking action against female genital mutilation, revenge porn, and more. It’s very clear that she’s an incredibly accomplished individual and will only continue to achieve more in the future.
However, on LinkedIn, a fellow legal professional, Alexander Carter-Silk, contacted her on the recruitment network. It was not her long list of achievements that caught his eye, but rather her “stunning” profile picture. Proudman posted his message to her personal Twitter account, including her succinct reply back to Carter-Silk. She doesn’t even entertain his nonsense—she calls it out, as she should.
How many women @LinkedIn are contacted re physical appearance rather than prof skills? @Jessica_Asato @ObjectUpdate pic.twitter.com/YglDA1JdEX
— Charlotte Proudman (@CRProudman) September 7, 2015
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For a legal professional, Carter-Silk, I’m shocked and appalled by how poorly written your message is to Proudman. A space between your punctuation? Further, a general lack of proper punctuation? You’re always “interest” to “understant” people’s skills and you don’t even have the decency to put a period at the end of the sentence? As an English major, I’m horrified to every extent of the word.
I personally love how he calls himself out, saying that his message is “probably horrendously politically incorrect” as if that’s somehow supposed to make Proudman feel better. If you even have the slightest doubt that what you plan on saying might come across as “horrendously politically incorrect,” perhaps you should think again before you send your message. Internet 101, people.
Proudman called the message “offensive,” sexist,” and described it as “unacceptable, misogynistic behavior.” According to the Evening Standard, she has requested a public apology from Carter-Silk. Carter-Silk has since defended himself, saying that he was complimenting the “professional quality” of the photograph. And yet, drawing attention to the “professional quality” of the photo ran the risk of being “horrendously politically incorrect?” I call shenanigans.
When Proudman shared Carter-Silk’s message on Twitter, many other women came forth with similar stories of how they, too, received and continue to receive unwanted, sexist attention on LinkedIn. These messages have nothing to do with the women’s professional qualifications! How could anyone ever deem this kind of activity appropriate? What is going through your heads!? Proudman has encouraged other women to highlight this behavior by using the hashtag #CallingOutSexism, but, like so many other times before, the hashtag and its users has received negative backlash from men. Some examples include:
@CRProudman read @standardnews this morning. Just received this via LinkedIn! Thinking appt. reply to this man :-/ pic.twitter.com/Fr5HYYi2My
— Jay Virdee (@jay_virdee) September 9, 2015
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@CRProudman @LinkedIn @Jessica_Asato @ObjectUpdate “you have a nice smile . . . can give me your email . . . ” pic.twitter.com/sOIFxXaaH9
— Jessica Cross (@JFayeSF) September 9, 2015
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Trolls on Twitter have chosen to mirror the Daily Mail in calling Proudman a “feminazi” and have accused women of not being able to take a compliment.
If we do not want a compliment, we’re being serious. It’s black and white with no fine print. Please explain to me why we still have to have this conversation in a so-called progressive era?
Darain Faraz, a spokesman for LinkedIn, said that the website backs Proudman in her plea to have this kind of behavior called out. Faraz continued, stating that the website requires its users to behave in a “professional manner” and it encourages its members to “flag any behavior they consider to be inappropriate.”
Proudman said in The Independent that “[she is] prepared to accept the misogynistic backlash that inevitable accompanies taking a stand in the hope that it empowers at least one other woman to feel she doesn’t need to sit back and accept sexist ‘banter’.” She continued, stating that “if women and men support each other in calling out sexism wherever and whenever it exists, then change becomes inevitable.”
I stand behind Proudman.
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[Lead image via Shutterstock]
