So, I still read Jezebel most days even though I'm not much of a fan (I really like one of the writers on there, she hardly posts anymore, but I keep looking, hoping that she does) Like most internetty places, they have their strengths and their weaknesses. Most people familiar with the site are either terrified of their commenting community or part of it themselves... or both.
Personally, I lean toward terrified.
A thing I've noticed though is that it's almost like they'd rather you not read any other lady-centric blogs. Or, at least a lot of their commenters (and contributors) really have their noses in the air about other websites. It's like because they've picked Jezebel to be their home-base, that makes other publications unworthy by-default. And they're mean about it!
When Jezebel wrote about the launch of xoJane, the commenters had lots of fun, calling the site "shallow" and "vapid" and making fun of editor Jane Pratt. Nice!
I've enjoyed most of what I've read on xoJane - it's filled with mostly-fun editorials by several writers, including Emily McCombs who used to do the amaze-balls A Woman's Perspective video series. Her post about being friended on Facebook by a man who raped her is, by the way, anything but vapid. And yes, there is a lot of articles on the site about bleaching your eyebrows and peeing while you run, but damn it, those are really fun to read!
People seem to like rolling their eyes at the newly launched Hello Giggles too. Now, nobody is going to be able to say the name of that site with a straight face (The Frisky is also burdened by a We-dare-you-to-be-too-embarrassed-by-our-name-to-read-us situation, and it survives) but some of the content is pretty cute. There is plenty of room on the internet for places that piss you off about the world AND simultaneously, a crafting feature with Zooey Deschanel. Right?
I guess that's all my point is... there is plenty of room! There should be lots of websites targeted toward women (and men, and trans people, and everyone!), and audiences should be free to visit as many of them as they like, without one of the other sites feeling threatened. I mean, who only looks at one site anyway? The wonders of the internet would be pretty boring if you just went one place and called it a day.
The great thing about all the blogs that I've mentioned is that they are each giving more women writers the opportunity to be published and read. The more sites dedicated to providing content more-or-less specific for women, then the more women's voices get heard. Ladies need the content, ladies make the content - and ladies with lots of different interests (as ladies are prone to have) get lots of different choices to pick from in many domains.
I'm also going to take this opportunity to link The Hairpin, because it's pretty much my favourite. They've got everything: rotating advice columnists, videos on how to do your hair that I find impossible to follow, terribly funny articles, and just lots of other good stuff. Go there. It can be your one site.
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