Comments for the jarah tree http://thejarahtree.com the artwork and theory of jarah moesch Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:01:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on say no to gender drop-down boxes! by jarah http://thejarahtree.com/2011/07/say-no-to-gender-drop-down-boxes/#comment-603 jarah Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:01:31 +0000 http://thejarahtree.com/?p=556#comment-603 Anton- thanks for pointing out Fetlife. It does give more options under 'gender,' provides a 'sexual orientation category' and in both gives a choice of 'non-applicable.' These of course, are still limited to the options that the site developers thought to include, and are still very western ideas of what gender encompasses. But it is interesting to look at how typifications become standards. As you pointed out, there is still identifying oneself, choosing an identity, and the complications that go along with them. This poses a larger question as to why these categories of distinction become necessary for a site to function. Anton- thanks for pointing out Fetlife. It does give more options under ‘gender,’ provides a ‘sexual orientation category’ and in both gives a choice of ‘non-applicable.’ These of course, are still limited to the options that the site developers thought to include, and are still very western ideas of what gender encompasses. But it is interesting to look at how typifications become standards.

As you pointed out, there is still identifying oneself, choosing an identity, and the complications that go along with them. This poses a larger question as to why these categories of distinction become necessary for a site to function.

]]> Comment on say no to gender drop-down boxes! by Anton http://thejarahtree.com/2011/07/say-no-to-gender-drop-down-boxes/#comment-602 Anton Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:30:16 +0000 http://thejarahtree.com/?p=556#comment-602 I wonder how much gender choices have to do with marketing. One of my friends decided to switch from Female to Male on their Pandora account. Previously, they were barraged by ads for diet foods, hair care products, and other related things. After switching, they received technology-related marketing and updates on environmental activism. Pandora is not as interest-centered as Google+ or Facebook is, but gender probably serves a similar function on both. Fetlife presents an interesting alternative in that it incorporates a variety of gender identities and sexual orientations into their drop down menu boxes. However, I'm not sure that does much to solve the fundamental problem of identifying oneself vs. choosing an identity. Also, dating websites and gender is a whole other bag. I wonder how much gender choices have to do with marketing. One of my friends decided to switch from Female to Male on their Pandora account. Previously, they were barraged by ads for diet foods, hair care products, and other related things. After switching, they received technology-related marketing and updates on environmental activism. Pandora is not as interest-centered as Google+ or Facebook is, but gender probably serves a similar function on both.

Fetlife presents an interesting alternative in that it incorporates a variety of gender identities and sexual orientations into their drop down menu boxes. However, I’m not sure that does much to solve the fundamental problem of identifying oneself vs. choosing an identity. Also, dating websites and gender is a whole other bag.

]]> Comment on say no to gender drop-down boxes! by jarah http://thejarahtree.com/2011/07/say-no-to-gender-drop-down-boxes/#comment-601 jarah Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:57:01 +0000 http://thejarahtree.com/?p=556#comment-601 Mickey - you are so right about the bio/chrom status vs. gender issue. This should also be considered in a larger analysis of web standards and practices (which is what I am currently working on). The drop-down is a standard for site design because it is useful for categorizing a limited number of items. It does max-out pretty quickly - I'm sure you've seen the drop-downs that list every country in the world. It's annoying to use (type M to get Maryland, and you still have to scroll down past Maine). But site designers use it because out of the existing options, it is the easiest solution. In terms of gender, if people don't think beyond male and female, the drop-down seems to be the logical choice- 2 options, kept in an easily understandable interface. Google+ has (belatedly) thought beyond 2 genders, and is trying to be accommodating- but 'other' is not an acceptable choice, even though I've personally chosen it as my gender option. (I wonder what the numbers are on its use...) This is a case where the standard prevents other kinds of thinking. I used the word belated before because if they had thought about gender beyond the idea of drop-down earlier on in their development process, they would have realized that coming up with an appropriate list would be difficult at best, and perhaps rethought the drop down entirely. Mickey – you are so right about the bio/chrom status vs. gender issue. This should also be considered in a larger analysis of web standards and practices (which is what I am currently working on).

The drop-down is a standard for site design because it is useful for categorizing a limited number of items. It does max-out pretty quickly – I’m sure you’ve seen the drop-downs that list every country in the world. It’s annoying to use (type M to get Maryland, and you still have to scroll down past Maine). But site designers use it because out of the existing options, it is the easiest solution.

In terms of gender, if people don’t think beyond male and female, the drop-down seems to be the logical choice- 2 options, kept in an easily understandable interface.

Google+ has (belatedly) thought beyond 2 genders, and is trying to be accommodating- but ‘other’ is not an acceptable choice, even though I’ve personally chosen it as my gender option. (I wonder what the numbers are on its use…)

This is a case where the standard prevents other kinds of thinking. I used the word belated before because if they had thought about gender beyond the idea of drop-down earlier on in their development process, they would have realized that coming up with an appropriate list would be difficult at best, and perhaps rethought the drop down entirely.

]]> Comment on say no to gender drop-down boxes! by jarah http://thejarahtree.com/2011/07/say-no-to-gender-drop-down-boxes/#comment-600 jarah Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:23:26 +0000 http://thejarahtree.com/?p=556#comment-600 UPDATE: (7/13/11) you will soon be able to HIDE your gender in your public profile, turning your pronoun to an automatic 'their' like on facebook. Here's the video announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wzsHdwmuxE&feature=player_embedded UPDATE: (7/13/11)

you will soon be able to HIDE your gender in your public profile, turning your pronoun to an automatic ‘their’ like on facebook.

Here’s the video announcement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wzsHdwmuxE&feature=player_embedded

]]> Comment on say no to gender drop-down boxes! by Mickey http://thejarahtree.com/2011/07/say-no-to-gender-drop-down-boxes/#comment-599 Mickey Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:00:53 +0000 http://thejarahtree.com/?p=556#comment-599 This is a really great point. As I have been following the Google+ issue, my first response was that Google didn't actually provide me with gender choices/options at all but rather sexed ones. I was miffed that I was asked how I identify but then asked about my biological/choromosomal status. In my mind it felt jarring and disconnected. The issue the you point out here is another matter entirely--and one that I appreciate. Developers are saying that they have no options but when we look at what is already in existence we see that there are already probably solutions in place--the need is for people to look at what is and transfer it to new areas; case and point: write in boxes. I saw that Google has responded to people's concerns on another site and it seems that they are at least actively seeking to remedy this situation. I suppose that's something. This is a really great point. As I have been following the Google+ issue, my first response was that Google didn’t actually provide me with gender choices/options at all but rather sexed ones. I was miffed that I was asked how I identify but then asked about my biological/choromosomal status. In my mind it felt jarring and disconnected. The issue the you point out here is another matter entirely–and one that I appreciate. Developers are saying that they have no options but when we look at what is already in existence we see that there are already probably solutions in place–the need is for people to look at what is and transfer it to new areas; case and point: write in boxes. I saw that Google has responded to people’s concerns on another site and it seems that they are at least actively seeking to remedy this situation. I suppose that’s something.

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