Mi carta a TED

Si no estabais ayer de vacaciones en Venus (o fuera de twitter, que está igual de lejos), probablemente os hayáis enterado de la polémica suscitada por las charlas TEDx Valencia Women.

A mí, como esto de los estereotipos que disfrazan a las mujeres de seres mágicos, emocionales y espirituales, incapaces de entender una fórmula o de tomar decisiones racionalmente… en fin, como la obligatoriedad de ser una «chica» me toca mucho los cojones (oh yeah), he decidido enviar mi queja a TED y procurar que los magufos y los machistas no puedan volver a empañar su buen nombre.

Este es el texto. Si quieren unirse a la queja son libres de utilizarlo, copiarlo o modificarlo como les parezca.

Hello,

My name is Almudena M. Castro and I write this message to complain about TEDx Valencia Women that took place yesterday, in Spain. Many Spanish TED followers were bewildered by the kind of talks that were offered and I think TED should do something about it.

In the first place, most of the ideas that were «spread» yesterday deal with spiritual or religious beliefs that have nothing to do with the «science, technology and enterprising spirit» promised by the event’s slogans. Many speakers talked about Jesus, the «cosmic energies», the laws of God, «plasmatic» inner healing powers (don’t even ask me what that is), Reiki, fairies and nonsense like that.

But worst of all, from my point of view, several talks insisted on relating what is «feminine» with what is emotional, irrational or magical. And that is profoundly male chauvinist. Indeed, that kind of ideas only build upon the stereotype that keeps women away from scientific careers, for example. Or that make us think of men as being emotionally incapable and irresponsable (boys don’t cry, you know?).

Women can be as rational, logical and intelligent as men, and we deserve interesting speakers that actually talk about «science, technology and enterprising spirit», not just magicians that walk on stage. For that reason, I think TED should take more care about what is spread under its trade-mark.

Thanks in advance for your attention and your excellent work. TED is the first idea that is worth spreading (and being protected).

Almudena M. Castro

Y para rematar, os recomiendo esta genial viñeta de La Pulga Snob, que resume a la perfección lo sucedido este sábado.