Althouse: Pinterest is a "female ghetto."

June 13, 2012

Pinterest is a "female ghetto."

Is that so wrong?

24 comments:

Fen said...: No, but if it was a Men's Club, the feminists would be trying to dilute it into something else.

I wonder if the author has the same pov re engineering schools... if it remains a men's field, let it be the women's loss?; 6/13/12, 9:30 AM
edutcher said...: These people probably hate man caves, garages, and breastaurants even more.

But, no, it's quite OK.

Men and women need to be able to express what makes their sexes unique with others of their kind without reproach from the other sex.

This is normal.

And why feminism really isn't.; 6/13/12, 9:31 AM
Joe said...: Isn't "female ghetto" a euphemism for "female porn"?; 6/13/12, 9:34 AM
tiger said...: I know four middle ages men on Pinterest and only one is gay (NTTIAWWT).

Two said I should join but farking allah! I know a TON of women on it - from a tween age neice to 50 yr old women so, no, but thanks for the invite.

I don't know what you call the opposite of a sausage fest but Pinterest is certainly it.; 6/13/12, 9:39 AM
Bob Ellison said...: I liken Pinterest to The Sims: both acquired huge female interest in male-dominated venues.

FaceBook is sort of in the same class.

But I'd like to own a piece of Pinterest.; 6/13/12, 9:51 AM
Unknown said...: "I don't know what you call the opposite of a sausage fest"

Clam rally.; 6/13/12, 10:00 AM
juliemarg said...: It's a feature, not a flaw. Pinterest is popular because men and feminists don't get it. You don't have to be cool or snarky, prefer exotic over comfy, maintain secular neutrality. The happy domestic is the dominant pinner.; 6/13/12, 10:04 AM
damikesc said...: Aren't colleges heading that exact same route?

Not to be mean, but they've made it where even college is not necessarily a good thing for a guy to deal with any longer.; 6/13/12, 10:13 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: I use Pinterest. Because they live rather far away, we don't get to see each other often, it is a great way to keep up with the styles and items that my daughter uses in her home. Her current likes, dislikes and wish list if you will. Also to keep on the things that my grandchild might be interested in gifts.

Instead of sending links of pictures back and forth or trying to describe stuff, Pinterest is handy.

For example. I wanted to knit a hat for my daughter and I 'pinned' several examples onto a page on my site and she 'pinned' styles that she liked. It helped me decide on a project. She has a page of 'stuff my child has'. This helps me not to buy a gift that is a duplicate.

I enjoy looking at some other people's sites who are into gardening and have gotten some great ideas.

So what if it is mostly women....What is the problem with this?; 6/13/12, 10:28 AM
Shanna said...: Isn't "female ghetto" a euphemism for "female porn"?

It seems like nothing more than a big recipe swap to me, but I haven't gotten very far into it yet.; 6/13/12, 10:34 AM
Craig said...: We read The Homecoming in a Modern British Lit course I took in 1978 that included the governor's daughter. Turned into a power struggle and the female prof who'd written the syllabus was gone after summer break. You really need tenure to assign Pinter.; 6/13/12, 10:43 AM
YoungHegelian said...: Of course there's nothing wrong with a "female ghetto"!

For God sakes, if the ladies want their beauty & nail parlors, what skin is it off any man's nose.

Just, please, please, don't ever make me go to a baby shower again.

Please.; 6/13/12, 11:27 AM
prairie wind said...: I'm not sure I know what Pinterest is or what it does but DBQ helped me understand a little more. So you pin up pictures? Is that all you can pin? Not links?; 6/13/12, 11:31 AM
Jennifer Whatnot said...: I read that Pinterest is only a female ghetto in the US. In other countries, it is dominated by males. http://totalpinterest.com/opinion/

Does that change the discussion any?; 6/13/12, 11:35 AM
michaele said...: What a tortured article...Pinterest is fine for those who like it.; 6/13/12, 12:06 PM
Anna said...: There's a male version.; 6/13/12, 12:07 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: @ Prairie

You create a bunch of tabs or pages on your site for categories that work for you. I have some that are 'knit and crochet' 'books I'm reading' 'styles I like' 'landscaping and gardening'...whatever floats your boat.

As you are cruising around on the net and you see something you like... for instance a nice pair of shoes that fit my stlye....you can "pin" that photo to your 'styles I like' tab. Once on the tab you can review the item or add a comment about the item or photo. The link to the original web site you snatched the photo from remains, so you can go back to it. And so can other people who are looking at the photos and links on your Pinterest page.

If you like something that someone else 'pinned' you can re-pin that to your site, so you don't have to download all those photos or ideas to your hard drive and be able to re-route yourself back to their Pinterest page. You can 'follow' certain people if you like what they are showing.

I find it good to preserve ideas for crafts, stuff I might want to buy, ideas for decorating, and as I said to understand what people that I may want to buy gifts for actually like. It also saves me time since I pinned these shoes to buy in July and now I don't have to go back and search for them again.

I think you need a facebook or twitter account to join.; 6/13/12, 12:12 PM
Darrell said...: Thanks, Anna!; 6/13/12, 12:20 PM
Bryan C said...: And his momma cries....

I have a pinterest account. It's mostly focused on vintage pinups, interesting graphic design work, and B&W photography.

But I've seldom used it because they apparently can't be bothered to make their site work properly on my Android devices. (That's typically male reasoning, isn't it?); 6/13/12, 1:54 PM
prairie wind said...: Thanks, DBQ. I think I will stay away...I don't need another reason to love the Internet.; 6/13/12, 2:26 PM
Christy said...: Could it be an artifact of the way the app grows?

I first came across Pintrest because I follow a bunch sewing blogs and it works well with discussions of fabric and style. So lots of sewers (excuse me, sewists is apparently the correct term these days) use it. So wouldn't those most interested in fabric and style find something of interest on Pinterest and join in the fun? So wouldn't whatever kind of special interest group first became excited about the use of the application drive it's participation?

Would it work equally well with guns and ammo?

I found Pintrest discombobulating, myself. Too much stuff, too little organization, demanding too much attention to enjoy.

Do you figure the address part of the word verification is from all those google street view pics?; 6/13/12, 3:50 PM
Known Unknown said...: I'm starting Pin-upterest for guys.; 6/13/12, 6:29 PM
Anonymous said...: I use Pinterest to follow my daughter and all the products and styles she wants to include in her wedding. Easier than her sending me numerous links.; 6/13/12, 6:35 PM
AlanKH said...: I thought Pinterest was a site for dweebs into Harold Pinter.; 6/14/12, 4:40 AM