Open Source Boob Project

The Open Source Boob Project was a short-lived proposal for women at cons to wear buttons signaling "yes you can (grope my breasts)" or "no you can't (grope my breasts)". Furor ensued; poster recanted in the name of con safety.

Interesting discussions that came out of the furor:

• sexism (of course) - many, many posts
• geek male psychology - many posts
• geek female psychology - some posts
• con safety

A history in links

• The Open-Source Boob Project, theferrett (4/21): Ferrett puts his foot in it. (Original post is below the cut.)

Numerous blog reactions follow

• Open Source Swift Kick in the Balls Project, Misia
• CoffeeAndInk: "Because the way to an egalitarian and less body-conscious utopia is for women's bodies to default to public space. We just don't have enough sexualized treatment of women as bodies instead of whole social persons in public spaces! "

Including some excellent ones on TheFerrett's LJ thread

• tablesaw
• mswyrr

Ferrett tries to explain

• Clarification, theferrett: Ferrett tries to explain (4/22)

Discussion continues

Ferrett sort of apologizes

• The Open-Source Boob Project, TheFerrett: Ferrett recants on his original post with a long preface at the top. Ferrett removes the 1300 comments, then puts them back. This was deemed a heidipology by some.

... but doesn't end the discussion ...

• This is not a joke., Vito Excalibur, 4/23 - Vito proposes the "Open Source Women Back Each Other Up Program"
• Liz Henry, 4/22, Feminist SF blog

which breaks the fandom atmospheric barriers

• Women's bodies: Just like open-source software!, Feministing, 4/23 - breaking out of fandom into the mainstream feminist blogosphere

Other summaries

• Liz Henry, 4/22, Feminist SF blog

See also

• Harlan Ellison Breast Grab Incident (2006) - seriously, what is it with guys & women's breasts?

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