Fear as a Way of Life: Why Women In Comics Don’t ‘Just Report’ Sexual Harassment

[Orrex]

51. I have a thought about this, from my own experience

I've participated in a number of group-organized events over the years, ranging from the "Society for Creative Anachronism" to local community organizations, to convention/event coordination, to in-office groups in charge of selecting a sympathy gift for a deceased coworker. What I've observed there is also true of the PTA, softball leagues, planning committees, and here on DU (many times over, in fact).

Even in sub-groups nominally claiming to be free of the preconceptions of society-at-large, once the sub-group becomes an entity unto itself and is free to set its own rules, the members of the group immediately start re-stratifying along the same lines as the larger society that the members claim to reject. As in society-at-large, the stratification is driven by those few who claim authority to do so and who stand to benefit from choosing the pecking order. And, once entrenched, the ones in power will work protect their position above all else.

Regarding the "nerdy men" in the venues described by the article, I have no doubt that the misogyny and abuse occur exactly as described because I've seen it happen online for decades. It's an arena in which they feel empowered, and they use that power to further their own interests while subjugating those they identify as challenges to their authority.

This doesn't mean that any particular individual in a sub-group must necessarily turn into (or self-reveal as) an authoritarian asshole, but rather that microcosms of society tend overwhelmingly to reflect society as a whole.

Much like the observation made by Christian Slater's character in Heathers during the film's climactic scene.

As above, so below.