Ms. Magazine has an irresponsibly put-together piece about the supposed lack of women in the “New Atheism” movement:
Given the immense harm many organized religions inflict on women through outright violence and institutional oppression, it seems women may have more to gain than men from exiting their faith. Yet no women are currently recognized as leaders or even mentioned as a force within the movement.
Apparently, reporter Monica Shores didn’t have any time while writing her 750+ word piece to speak to anyone in the atheist movement who could have easily provided counterexamples to her claim.
But Jen McCreight is quick to respond with actual names:
Um… what? No leaders in the movement? How about Ayaan Hirsi Ali, highly successful author and woman’s right activist? Or Lori Lipman Brown, founding director of Secular Coalition for America? Or Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-founder and current co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation? Or Debbie Goddard, campus coordinator at the Center for Inquiry? Or Susan Jacoby, director of New York’s Center for Inquiry? Or Wendy Kaminer, Secular Coalition for America Advisory Board Member? Or Lyz Liddell, campus organizer for the Secular Student Alliance? Or Amanda Metskas, Head Director of Camp Quest? Or Ariane Sherine, creator of the Atheist Bus Campaign?
And those are just some of the “official” leaders. You just wanted forces within the movement? How about the dozens and dozens of female authors, journalists, bloggers, videobloggers, podcasters, and comedians who you just conveniently forgot about?
Ms. Magazine could always make up for publishing this lousy piece by commissioning an actual article on atheist women — who they are and what they’ve contributed to our movement. (A guest post by Jen is a nice offer… but they could offer something bigger than that.)
And Monica Shores could always apologize for not doing her homework.