Rebecca Watson: Difference between revisions

Rebecca Watson
Rebecca Watson
	Watson in 2014
Born	Rebecca Watson; October 18, 1980 (age 44); United States
Alma mater	Boston University
Years active	2005–present
Known for	Science communication, atheism, feminism
	YouTube information
Channel	Rebecca Watson;
Years active	2006–present
Subscribers	163 thousand
Total views	27.7 million
	Last updated: 26 September 2024
Website	skepchick.org

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Rebecca Watson (born October 18, 1980^[1]) is an American atheist blogger^[3]^[4]^[5] and YouTuber. She is the founder of the blog Skepchick and former co-host of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast.

Early life and education

Born in 1980,^[6]^[1] Rebecca Watson grew up in New Jersey.^[7]^[8] She graduated from Boston University in 2002, where she majored in communications.^[7] She worked her way through college as a magician.^[9] Watson says she had little interest in science before meeting other skeptics, including magician James Randi, while at university.^[10]

Career

Watson blogs about atheism and feminist politics, and has been particularly active in critiquing the modern atheist movement (sometimes called "New Atheism") from within, especially regarding the lack of attention given to the role of women in the movement. Primarily active online, she was described by BuzzFeed as "the first major atheist whose rise has occurred on the web".^[11]

Skepchick

After attending James Randi's skeptic conference The Amaz!ng Meeting, Watson produced a pin-up calendar to support the cost for other women to attend the conference.^[12]^[13] She founded the website Skepchick in 2005^[11]^[14] as a place to distribute the calendars.^[13] New additions of the calendar featuring scientists and skeptics were produced each year^[15] until 2007.^[16]

The website originally consisted of a forum and a monthly e-zine, Skepchick Magazine, launched in 2006.^[17]^[13] The same year, Watson created a blog that would eventually replace the magazine.^[13] Skepchick's stated goal is to "discuss women’s issues from a skeptical standpoint".^[11]^[18] The site has a focus on science and skepticism in general rather than atheism in particular.^[11] Watson has also contributed articles on skepticism to the blog Bostonist.^[9]

In 2010, Skepchick partnered with the Women Thinking Free Foundation to host a vaccination drive with the help of the "Hug Me!" campaign at the Dragon*Con convention in Atlanta, Georgia.^[19]^{[self-published source]} Public health staff provided Tdap vaccinations free of charge, as well as educational literature promoting immunization.^[20] In 2011, Skepchick, the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), and the Women Thinking Free Foundation partnered to offer a similar vaccination clinic at The Amaz!ng Meeting 9 in Las Vegas.^[20]

Skepchick won an Ockham Award in 2012 for Best Skeptic Blog.^[21] In 2017, the site consisted of a network of over 20 bloggers from around the world.^[11] In 2023, Watson formally closed the blog network after most writers had moved on to other projects.^[13]

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Watson co-hosted the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast for nine years.^[22] Her first appearance was on episode 33 in March 2006, where she was interviewed about her work on Skepchick. She returned for episode 36 as a regular member of the panel.^[23]^{[not specific enough to verify]} In December 2014, she announced that she had recorded her final show prior to leaving the organization.^[24]

Public Radio Talent Quest

In May 2007, Watson entered the Public Radio Talent Quest, a contest aimed to find new public radio hosts.^[25] Watson's entries won the popular vote in every round,^[26] and she was selected along with two other winners to produce a pilot episode for presentation to executives of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.^[8]^[27]

Watson's pilot, Curiosity, Aroused,^[28] was an hour-long program focused on science and skepticism.^[27] It featured interviews with Richard Saunders of Australian Skeptics and Mystery Investigators, and Richard Wiseman, author of the book Quirkology and Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. She also investigated claims of poisonous amounts of lead in lipstick, went on a ghost tour in Boston and visited a Psychic Fair.^{[citation needed]} Her show was the only one among the three winners not to be awarded funds for production of a year-long radio program.^[29]^[30]

"Elevatorgate"

The controversy that came to be known as "Elevatorgate" originated with a video Watson made following the June 2011 World Atheist Convention in Dublin, Ireland, where she appeared on a panel about sexism within the atheist community.^[31]^[32] In the video, Watson described speaking at the convention about her experience of being sexualized as a woman within the movement,^[33]^[34] and said that a man from a group of conference attendees had later followed her from the hotel bar into an elevator and sexually propositioned her as she was returning to her room early in the morning.^[35] She advised her viewers, "Just a word to the wise here, guys, don't do that",^[36] and went on to say:

I was a single woman, in a foreign country, at 4 a.m., in a hotel elevator with you—just you—and don't invite me back to your hotel room, right after I have finished talking about how it creeps me out and makes me uncomfortable when men sexualize me in that manner.^[37]^[38]

Reactions to the video varied, with some supporting Watson's desire for privacy and others criticizing Watson for overreacting.^[31] Writer and biologist PZ Myers supported Watson with a post about the incident on his blog Pharyngula.^[31] A negative response by the online atheist community to Watson's account of the elevator incident, which was a brief part of a longer video about other topics,^[35] soon spread across several websites, including Reddit, and became highly polarized and heated.^[39]^[40]^{[further explanation needed]} The debate steadily grew to include the overall status of women within the secular movement, with most of the movements's prominent figures offering their opinion on whether the elevator incident was sexual harassment. The discussion spurred a continued backlash, with commenters online labeling women who spoke up on the subject as "feminazis" and other misogynistic slurs.^[35] Watson experienced death threats,^[37] with commenters on her blog saying in graphic terms how she should be raped and murdered^[35] and one man publishing a website threatening to kill her.^[4]

The controversy attracted mainstream media attention when biologist Richard Dawkins joined the debate.^[35] Although Watson had not compared the incident to sexism within Islam,^[41] Dawkins used the occasion to satirize the supposed indifference of Western feminists to the plight of oppressed Muslim women.^[42]^[43] In the comments section of Myers's blog, he wrote:

Dear Muslima
Stop whining, will you. Yes, yes, I know you had your genitals mutilated with a razor blade, and ... yawn ... .don't tell me yet again, I know you aren't allowed to drive a car, and you can't leave the house without a male relative, and your husband is allowed to beat you, and you'll be stoned to death if you commit adultery. But stop whining, will you. Think of the suffering your poor American sisters have to put up with.
Only this week I heard of one, she calls herself Skep 'chick', and do you know what happened to her? A man in a hotel elevator invited her back to his room for coffee. I am not exaggerating. He really did. He invited her back to his room for coffee. Of course she said no, and of course he didn't lay a finger on her, but even so...
And you, Muslima, think you have misogyny to complain about! For goodness sake grow up, or at least grow a thicker skin.
Richard^[35]

Dawkins' comments led to accusations of misogyny and Islamophobia.^[32] He explained that, in his view, Watson had not suffered any injury, comparing Watson's experience with the annoyance one might feel while riding an elevator with someone chewing gum.^[44]

Several commentators argued that the incident showed Dawkins' insensitivity to gender-related issues such as sexual violence.^[45]^[46] Religious scholar Stephen LeDrew writes that "For the first time since the New Atheism had risen to prominence, [Dawkins] found himself under attack by many of those who had viewed him as a respected leader".^[45] David Allen Green criticized Dawkins for dismissing lesser wrongs because bigger wrongs exist.^[47] Steven Tomlins and Lori G. Beaman argue that the incident highlights a schism within atheism over the role of feminism, some saying it should take a prominent place in the movement and others calling it divisive.^[48]

Watson said of Dawkins, "to have my concerns—and more so the concerns of other women who have survived rape and sexual assault—dismissed thanks to a rich white man comparing them to the plight of women who have been mutilated, is insulting to all of us".^[45] She stated that she would no longer buy or endorse his books and lectures.^[49]

The result of this exchange led to an extended internet flame war^[37] that several reports dubbed "Elevatorgate"^[50]^[51] and which has been the subject of Internet memes.^[32] In the wake of this and an incident at a Center for Inquiry-sponsored event, where female atheists reported gender bias and inappropriate behavior, organizations including the Richard Dawkins Foundation have reviewed their policies regarding sexual harassment and non-discrimination.^[39] Dawkins later apologized,^[32]^[46] stating, "There should be no rivalry in victimhood, and I'm sorry I once said something similar to American women complaining of harassment, inviting them to contemplate the suffering of Muslim women by comparison".^[52] Watson tweeted in response, "Richard Dawkins just did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling 'sorry' to me. Eh, I'll take it."^[53]

Personal life

Watson married Sid Rodrigues in a surprise ceremony during The Amaz!ng Meeting in July 2009.^[54] In April 2011, she announced that she and Rodrigues were separated and seeking a divorce.^[55] She later remarried.^[56]

Honors

An outer main-belt asteroid discovered by David H. Healy on March 22, 2001 was named 153289 Rebeccawatson in her honor.^[6]^[57]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Watson, Rebecca [@rebeccawatson] (October 19, 2018). "yesterday I turned 38 and I'm not into the idea of plastic surgery so feeling pretty blessed to live in the same time period as the iphone X camera" (Tweet). Retrieved June 23, 2021 – via Twitter.
^ ^a ^b "About Rebecca Watson". YouTube.
^ Scheidt, Hannah K. (2021). Practicing Atheism: Culture, Media, and Ritual in the Contemporary Atheist Network. Oxford University Press. pp. 73, 90. ISBN 978-0-19-753696-4.
^ ^a ^b Hess, Amanda (2015). "Women Aren't Welcome Here". In Holt, Sid (ed.). The Best American Magazine Writing 2015. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 57. doi:10.7312/asme16959. ISBN 978-0-231-54071-1. JSTOR 10.7312/asme16959.6.
^ Brewster, Melanie Elyse; Motulsky, Wei; Chan, Andy (2021). "Intersectional Atheisms: Race, Gender, and Sexuality". In Bullivant, Stephen; Ruse, Michael (eds.). The Cambridge History of Atheism. Cambridge University Press. p. 1070. doi:10.1017/9781108562324.058. ISBN 978-1-0090-4021-1.
^ ^a ^b Schmadel, Lutz D. (2012). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1271. ISBN 978-3-642-29718-2.
^ ^a ^b Potash, Larry (March 31, 2006). "Be skeptical or be an April fool". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Simpson, Neal (September 27, 2007). "Blogger looks to take her war on pseudoscience to the airwaves". Wicked Local. Brookline TAB. Framingham, Mass. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Cohen, Georgiana (March 19, 2009). "Not-so-sure guys". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
^ Watson, Rebecca (September 29, 2011). "Mom, don't read this". Skepchick. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Meagher, Richard J. (2018). Atheists in American Politics: Social Movement Organizing from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Centuries. Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books. pp. 96–97. ISBN 978-1-4985-5858-7.
^ Plait, Phil (September 19, 2005). "Skepchicks". Bad Astronomy. Discover. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Watson, Rebecca (January 20, 2023). "The Skepchick Network is Dead and I Killed It". Skepchick. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
^ Huff, Peter A. (2021). Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. xxxi. ISBN 978-1-4408-7083-5.
^ Johnstone-Louis, Mary (2013). "No Gods. No Masters?: The 'New Atheist' Movement and the Commercialization of Unbelief". In Rinallo, Diego; Scott, Linda M.; Maclaran, Pauline (eds.). Consumption and Spirituality. New York: Routledge. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-415-88911-7.
^ Watson, Rebecca (September 24, 2012). "Please Stop Making Calendars". Skepchick. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
^ Plait, Phil (June 15, 2006). "The new SkepChick magazine is up". Bad Astronomy. Slate. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
^ "About Us (and You)". Skepchick. n.d. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
^ Saunders, Richard; Dunlop, Rachael; Atkinson, Bill (September 10, 2010). "The Skeptic Zone #99 - 10.Sep.2010". The Skeptic Zone (Podcast). No. 99. Event occurs at 0:30:20. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
^ ^a ^b "News archives". Hug Me! I'm Vaccinated!. Women Thinking Free Foundation. July 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013.
^ "The Ockhams 2012". The Skeptic. June 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019.
^ Novella, Steven (2018). "Acknowledgements". The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake. New York: Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5387-6051-2.^{[page needed]}
^ "Archive of Shows". The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. Archived from the original on October 18, 2008.
^ Watson, Rebecca (December 27, 2014). "Why I've Left SGU". Skepchick. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
^ Watson, Rebecca (May 15, 2007). "A very special audio blog posting. Vote for me!". Skepchick.
^ "PRX Announces Winners of Public Radio Talent Quest". Public Radio Exchange. October 27, 2007. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012.
^ ^a ^b Simon, Clea (January 11, 2008). "Showing a talent for radio". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 30, 2008.
^ Watson, Rebecca (December 16, 2007). "Curiosity, Aroused: The Pilot". Retrieved November 6, 2008 – via WordPress.
^ "Big News from PRX and CPB" (Press release). Public Radio Exchange. June 26, 2008. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012.
^ Simon, Clea (July 2008). "At WCRB, it's a grand old tradition". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 30, 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c Scheidt (2021), pp. 90–91.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Huff, Peter A. (2021). "Dawkins, Richard". Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-4408-7083-5.
^ Meagher (2018), pp. 100–101.
^ Watson, Rebecca (October 24, 2012). "It Stands to Reason, Skeptics Can Be Sexist Too". Slate. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f LeDrew, Stephen (2016). The Evolution of Atheism: The Politics of a Modern Movement. Oxford University Press. pp. 198–199. ISBN 978-0-19-022517-9.
^ Scheidt (2021), p. 91.
^ ^a ^b ^c Meagher (2018), p. 101.
^ Watson, Rebecca (June 29, 2011). "About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes". Event occurs at 5:19 – via YouTube.
^ ^a ^b Miller, Ashley F. (June 2013). "The non-religious patriarchy: why losing religion HAS NOT meant losing white male dominance". CrossCurrents. 63 (2): 211–226. doi:10.1111/cros.12025. S2CID 170686171.
^ Winston, Kimberly (September 15, 2011). "Atheists address sexism issues". USA Today. Religion News Service. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
^ Klug, Petra (2022). "America Versus the Atheist". Anti-Atheist Nation: Religion and Secularism in the United States. New York: Routledge. Endnote 47. ISBN 978-1-000-80442-3.
^ Scheidt (2021), pp. 91–92.
^ Hussein, Shakira (2019). From Victims to Suspects: Muslim Women Since 9/11. Yale University Press. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-300-23042-0.
^ LeDrew (2016), pp. 199–200.
^ ^a ^b ^c LeDrew (2016), p. 200.
^ ^a ^b McAnulla, Stuart; Kettell, Steven; Schulzke, Marcus (2018). The Politics of New Atheism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-19833-8.^{[page needed]}
^ Green, David Allen (July 6, 2011). "Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins". New Statesman. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
^ Beaman, Lori G.; Tomlins, Steven, eds. (2015). Atheist Identities – Spaces and Social Contexts. Springer. p. 6. ISBN 978-3-319-09602-5.
^ Watson, Rebecca (July 5, 2011). "The Privilege Delusion". Skepchick.
^ Rousseau, Jacques (July 14, 2011). "Elevatorgate and the power of words". Synapses.
^ Band, Emily (July 24, 2011). "Richard Dawkins, check the evidence on the 'chilly climate' for women". The Guardian. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
^ Dawkins, Richard (August 6, 2014). "Who is 'belittling' what?". Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science; Center for Inquiry. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
^ Watson, Rebecca [@rebeccawatson] (August 6, 2014). "Richard Dawkins just did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling 'sorry' to me. Eh I'll take it. http://ow.ly/A2aVW" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ Bug_girl (July 11, 2009). "Congrats Becca and Sid". Skepchick.
^ Watson, Rebecca (April 8, 2011). "A Note About My Personal Life". Skepchick.
^ Watson, Rebecca (May 26, 2023). "Why Losers Like Steven Crowder Hate No-Fault Divorce". Skepchick. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
^ "News and Comment | Asteroids Named for Skeptics, Authors, Science Educators" (PDF). Skeptical Inquirer. Vol. 32, no. 6. November 2008. p. 9. ISSN 0194-6730.

External links

Skepchick.org
Rebecca Watson on Public Radio Exchange (includes pilot episode "Curiosity Aroused")

[Watson_2018-1] Watson, Rebecca [@rebeccawatson] (October 19, 2018). "yesterday I turned 38 and I'm not into the idea of plastic surgery so feeling pretty blessed to live in the same time period as the iphone X camera" (Tweet). Retrieved June 23, 2021 – via Twitter.

[YouTubeStatsRebecca_Watson-2] "About Rebecca Watson". YouTube.

[Scheidt_p73-3] Scheidt, Hannah K. (2021). Practicing Atheism: Culture, Media, and Ritual in the Contemporary Atheist Network. Oxford University Press. pp. 73, 90. ISBN 978-0-19-753696-4.

[Hess_2015-4] Hess, Amanda (2015). "Women Aren't Welcome Here". In Holt, Sid (ed.). The Best American Magazine Writing 2015. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 57. doi:10.7312/asme16959. ISBN 978-0-231-54071-1. JSTOR 10.7312/asme16959.6.

[Brewster_2021-5] Brewster, Melanie Elyse; Motulsky, Wei; Chan, Andy (2021). "Intersectional Atheisms: Race, Gender, and Sexuality". In Bullivant, Stephen; Ruse, Michael (eds.). The Cambridge History of Atheism. Cambridge University Press. p. 1070. doi:10.1017/9781108562324.058. ISBN 978-1-0090-4021-1.

[Schmadel_2012-6] Schmadel, Lutz D. (2012). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1271. ISBN 978-3-642-29718-2.

[Potash_2006-7] Potash, Larry (March 31, 2006). "Be skeptical or be an April fool". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 24, 2013.

[Simpson_2007-8] Simpson, Neal (September 27, 2007). "Blogger looks to take her war on pseudoscience to the airwaves". Wicked Local. Brookline TAB. Framingham, Mass. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

[Cohen_2009-9] Cohen, Georgiana (March 19, 2009). "Not-so-sure guys". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

[Watson_2011a-10] Watson, Rebecca (September 29, 2011). "Mom, don't read this". Skepchick. Retrieved August 24, 2013.

[Meagher_p96-11] Meagher, Richard J. (2018). Atheists in American Politics: Social Movement Organizing from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Centuries. Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books. pp. 96–97. ISBN 978-1-4985-5858-7.

[Plait_2005-12] Plait, Phil (September 19, 2005). "Skepchicks". Bad Astronomy. Discover. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012.

[Watson_2023a-13] Watson, Rebecca (January 20, 2023). "The Skepchick Network is Dead and I Killed It". Skepchick. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

[Huff_pxxxi-14] Huff, Peter A. (2021). Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. xxxi. ISBN 978-1-4408-7083-5.

[Johnstone-Louis_2013-15] Johnstone-Louis, Mary (2013). "No Gods. No Masters?: The 'New Atheist' Movement and the Commercialization of Unbelief". In Rinallo, Diego; Scott, Linda M.; Maclaran, Pauline (eds.). Consumption and Spirituality. New York: Routledge. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-415-88911-7.

[Watson_2012a-16] Watson, Rebecca (September 24, 2012). "Please Stop Making Calendars". Skepchick. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

[Plait_2006-17] Plait, Phil (June 15, 2006). "The new SkepChick magazine is up". Bad Astronomy. Slate. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

[Skepchick_About-18] "About Us (and You)". Skepchick. n.d. Retrieved October 28, 2024.

[Saunders_2010-19] Saunders, Richard; Dunlop, Rachael; Atkinson, Bill (September 10, 2010). "The Skeptic Zone #99 - 10.Sep.2010". The Skeptic Zone (Podcast). No. 99. Event occurs at 0:30:20. Retrieved August 20, 2013.

[WTFF_2011-20] "News archives". Hug Me! I'm Vaccinated!. Women Thinking Free Foundation. July 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013.

[Ockhams_2012-21] "The Ockhams 2012". The Skeptic. June 27, 2017. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019.

[Novella_2018-22] Novella, Steven (2018). "Acknowledgements". The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake. New York: Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5387-6051-2.^{[page needed]}

[Skeptics'_Guide-23] "Archive of Shows". The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe. Archived from the original on October 18, 2008.

[Watson_2014a-24] Watson, Rebecca (December 27, 2014). "Why I've Left SGU". Skepchick. Retrieved December 31, 2014.

[Watson_2007a-25] Watson, Rebecca (May 15, 2007). "A very special audio blog posting. Vote for me!". Skepchick.

[PRX_2007-26] "PRX Announces Winners of Public Radio Talent Quest". Public Radio Exchange. October 27, 2007. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012.

[Simon_2008a-27] Simon, Clea (January 11, 2008). "Showing a talent for radio". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 30, 2008.

[Watson_2007b-28] Watson, Rebecca (December 16, 2007). "Curiosity, Aroused: The Pilot". Retrieved November 6, 2008 – via WordPress.

[PRX_2008-29] "Big News from PRX and CPB" (Press release). Public Radio Exchange. June 26, 2008. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012.

[Simon_2008b-30] Simon, Clea (July 2008). "At WCRB, it's a grand old tradition". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 30, 2008.

[FOOTNOTEScheidt202190–91-31] Scheidt (2021), pp. 90–91.

[Huff_p66-32] Huff, Peter A. (2021). "Dawkins, Richard". Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-4408-7083-5.

[FOOTNOTEMeagher2018100–101-33] Meagher (2018), pp. 100–101.

[Watson_2012b-34] Watson, Rebecca (October 24, 2012). "It Stands to Reason, Skeptics Can Be Sexist Too". Slate. Retrieved August 22, 2020.

[LeDrew_p198-35] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f LeDrew, Stephen (2016). The Evolution of Atheism: The Politics of a Modern Movement. Oxford University Press. pp. 198–199. ISBN 978-0-19-022517-9.

[FOOTNOTEScheidt202191-36] Scheidt (2021), p. 91.

[FOOTNOTEMeagher2018101-37] Meagher (2018), p. 101.

[Watson_2011b-38] Watson, Rebecca (June 29, 2011). "About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes". Event occurs at 5:19 – via YouTube.

[Miller_2013-39] Miller, Ashley F. (June 2013). "The non-religious patriarchy: why losing religion HAS NOT meant losing white male dominance". CrossCurrents. 63 (2): 211–226. doi:10.1111/cros.12025. S2CID 170686171.

[Winston_2011-40] Winston, Kimberly (September 15, 2011). "Atheists address sexism issues". USA Today. Religion News Service. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.

[Klug_2022-41] Klug, Petra (2022). "America Versus the Atheist". Anti-Atheist Nation: Religion and Secularism in the United States. New York: Routledge. Endnote 47. ISBN 978-1-000-80442-3.

[FOOTNOTEScheidt202191–92-42] Scheidt (2021), pp. 91–92.

[Hussein_2019-43] Hussein, Shakira (2019). From Victims to Suspects: Muslim Women Since 9/11. Yale University Press. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-300-23042-0.

[FOOTNOTELeDrew2016199–200-44] LeDrew (2016), pp. 199–200.

[FOOTNOTELeDrew2016200-45] LeDrew (2016), p. 200.

[McAnulla_2018-46] McAnulla, Stuart; Kettell, Steven; Schulzke, Marcus (2018). The Politics of New Atheism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-19833-8.^{[page needed]}

[Green_2011-47] Green, David Allen (July 6, 2011). "Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins". New Statesman. Retrieved March 14, 2023.

[Beaman_2015-48] Beaman, Lori G.; Tomlins, Steven, eds. (2015). Atheist Identities – Spaces and Social Contexts. Springer. p. 6. ISBN 978-3-319-09602-5.

[Watson_2011c-49] Watson, Rebecca (July 5, 2011). "The Privilege Delusion". Skepchick.

[Rousseau_2011-50] Rousseau, Jacques (July 14, 2011). "Elevatorgate and the power of words". Synapses.

[Band_2011-51] Band, Emily (July 24, 2011). "Richard Dawkins, check the evidence on the 'chilly climate' for women". The Guardian. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

[Dawkins_2014-52] Dawkins, Richard (August 6, 2014). "Who is 'belittling' what?". Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science; Center for Inquiry. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.

[Watson_2014b-53] Watson, Rebecca [@rebeccawatson] (August 6, 2014). "Richard Dawkins just did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling 'sorry' to me. Eh I'll take it. http://ow.ly/A2aVW" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[Bug_girl_2009-54] Bug_girl (July 11, 2009). "Congrats Becca and Sid". Skepchick.

[Watson_2011d-55] Watson, Rebecca (April 8, 2011). "A Note About My Personal Life". Skepchick.

[Watson_2023b-56] Watson, Rebecca (May 26, 2023). "Why Losers Like Steven Crowder Hate No-Fault Divorce". Skepchick. Retrieved May 28, 2023.

[Skeptical_Inquirer_2008-57] "News and Comment | Asteroids Named for Skeptics, Authors, Science Educators" (PDF). Skeptical Inquirer. Vol. 32, no. 6. November 2008. p. 9. ISSN 0194-6730.

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+{{Third-party|date=October 2024}}
 {{Infobox person
 | name               = Rebecca Watson
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 | known_for          = [[Science communication]], [[atheism]], [[feminism]]
 | website            = {{URL|skepchick.org}}
+| module=
 {{Infobox YouTube personality
 | embed = yes
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 | occupation           =
 | pseudonym            =
-| subscribers          = 143 thousand <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
+| subscribers          = 163 thousand <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
-| views                = 23.7 million <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
+| views                = 27.7 million <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
 | silver_button        =
 | gold_button          =
-| stats_update         = 16 February 2024
+| stats_update         = 26 September 2024
 | channel_direct_url   = @RebeccaWatson
 | channel_display_name = Rebecca Watson
 }}
 }}
-'''Rebecca Watson''' (born October 18, 1980<ref name="Watson 2018"/>) is an American [[atheist]] [[blogger]]<ref name="Scheidt 2021">{{cite book |last1=Scheidt |first1=Hannah K. |title=Practicing Atheism: Culture, Media, and Ritual in the Contemporary Atheist Network |date=2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-753696-4 |pages=73, 90}}</ref>{{r|Hess 2015}}<ref name="Brewster 2021">{{cite book |last1=Brewster |first1=Melanie Elyse |last2=Motulsky |first2=Wei |last3=Chan |first3=Andy |editor1-last=Bullivant |editor1-first=Stephen |editor2-last=Ruse |editor2-first=Michael |title=The Cambridge History of Atheism |date=2021 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-0090-4021-1 |page=1070 |doi=10.1017/9781108562324.058 |chapter=Intersectional Atheisms: Race, Gender, and Sexuality}}</ref> and [[YouTuber]]. She is the founder of the blog '''''Skepchick''''' and former co-host of ''[[The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe]]'' podcast. She also previously co-hosted the ''[[Little Atoms]]'' podcast.<ref name="Simpson 2007">{{cite news |last=Simpson |first=Neal |date=September 27, 2007 |title=Blogger looks to take her war on pseudoscience to the airwaves |department=Wicked Local |work=Brookline TAB |location=Framingham, Mass. |url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/brookline/archive/x1429055418 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209120521/http://www.wickedlocal.com/brookline/archive/x1429055418 |archive-date=February 9, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Mouallem 2008">{{cite news |last=Mouallem |first=Omar |author-link=Omar Mouallem |date=August 2008 |title=Making a Living of Bullshit Detecting |work=[[Vue Weekly]] |publication-place=Edmonton, Alberta |issue=671 |url=http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=9429 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912125609/http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=9429 |archive-date=September 12, 2008}}</ref>
+'''Rebecca Watson''' (born October 18, 1980<ref name="Watson 2018"/>) is an American [[atheist]] [[blogger]]<ref name="Scheidt p73">{{cite book |last1=Scheidt |first1=Hannah K. |title=Practicing Atheism: Culture, Media, and Ritual in the Contemporary Atheist Network |date=2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-753696-4 |pages=73, 90}}</ref>{{r|Hess 2015}}<ref name="Brewster 2021">{{cite book |last1=Brewster |first1=Melanie Elyse |last2=Motulsky |first2=Wei |last3=Chan |first3=Andy |editor1-last=Bullivant |editor1-first=Stephen |editor2-last=Ruse |editor2-first=Michael |title=The Cambridge History of Atheism |date=2021 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-0090-4021-1 |page=1070 |doi=10.1017/9781108562324.058 |chapter=Intersectional Atheisms: Race, Gender, and Sexuality}}</ref> and [[YouTuber]]. She is the founder of the blog '''''Skepchick''''' and former co-host of ''[[The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe]]'' podcast.
-==Early life and education==
+== Early life and education ==
-Born in 1980,{{r|Schmadel 2012|Watson 2018}} Rebecca Watson grew up in New Jersey.<ref name="Potash 2006">{{cite news |last=Potash |first=Larry |title=Be skeptical or be an April fool |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-03-31/news/0603310344_1_fools-day-fool-s-errand-magician |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 24, 2013 |date=March 31, 2006}}</ref>{{r|Simpson 2007}}
+Born in 1980,{{r|Schmadel 2012|Watson 2018}} Rebecca Watson grew up in New Jersey.<ref name="Potash 2006">{{cite news |last=Potash |first=Larry |title=Be skeptical or be an April fool |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/03/31/be-skeptical-or-be-an-april-fool/ |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 24, 2013 |date=March 31, 2006}}</ref><ref name="Simpson 2007">{{cite news |last=Simpson |first=Neal |date=September 27, 2007 |title=Blogger looks to take her war on pseudoscience to the airwaves |department=Wicked Local |work=Brookline TAB |location=Framingham, Mass. |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/brookline-tab/2007/09/27/blogger-looks-to-take-her/40769711007/ |access-date=28 October 2024}}</ref>
-She graduated from [[Boston University]] in 2002, where she majored in [[Communication studies|communications]].{{r|Potash 2006|Simpson 2007}}
+She graduated from [[Boston University]] in 2002, where she majored in [[Communication studies|communications]].{{r|Potash 2006}}
-Watson says she had little interest in science until she began working as a [[Magic (illusion)|magician]] while at university and meeting other skeptics including magician [[James Randi]].<ref name="Watson Sep 2011">{{cite web |author=Watson, Rebecca |title=Mom, don't read this |url=http://skepchick.org/2011/09/mom-dont-read-this/ |work=Skepchick |date=September 29, 2011 |access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>
+She worked her way through college as a [[Magic (illusion)|magician]].<ref name="Cohen 2009">{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Georgiana |title=Not-so-sure guys |url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/life/78548-not-so-sure-guys/ |access-date=28 October 2024 |newspaper=The Boston Phoenix |date=March 19, 2009 |archive-date=4 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104013336/https://thephoenix.com/Boston/life/78548-not-so-sure-guys/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
+Watson says she had little interest in science before meeting other skeptics, including magician [[James Randi]], while at university.<ref name="Watson 2011a">{{cite web |author=Watson, Rebecca |title=Mom, don't read this |url=http://skepchick.org/2011/09/mom-dont-read-this/ |work=Skepchick |date=September 29, 2011 |access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>
-==Career==
+== Career ==
-Watson blogs about [[atheism]] and [[feminist]] politics, and has been particularly active in critiquing the modern atheist movement (sometimes called "[[New Atheism]]") from within, especially regarding the lack of attention given to the role of women in the movement. Primarily active online, she was described by ''[[BuzzFeed]]'' as "the first major atheist whose rise has occurred on the [[World Wide Web|web]]".<ref name="Meagher 2018">{{cite book |last=Meagher |first=Richard J. |title=Atheists in American Politics: Social Movement Organizing from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Centuries |date=2018 |publisher=Lexington Books |location=Lanham, Md. |isbn=978-1-4985-5858-7 |pages=96–97}}</ref>
+Watson blogs about [[atheism]] and [[feminist]] politics, and has been particularly active in critiquing the modern atheist movement (sometimes called "[[New Atheism]]") from within, especially regarding the lack of attention given to the role of women in the movement. Primarily active online, she was described by ''[[BuzzFeed]]'' as "the first major atheist whose rise has occurred on the [[World Wide Web|web]]".<ref name="Meagher p96">{{cite book |last=Meagher |first=Richard J. |title=Atheists in American Politics: Social Movement Organizing from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Centuries |date=2018 |publisher=Lexington Books |location=Lanham, Md. |isbn=978-1-4985-5858-7 |pages=96–97}}</ref>
-===''Skepchick''===
+=== ''Skepchick'' ===
-Inspired after attending the James Randi's [[The Amaz!ng Meeting]],<ref name="Cohen 2009">{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Georgiana |title=Not-so-sure guys |url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/life/78548-not-so-sure-guys/ |access-date=August 24, 2013 |newspaper=The Boston Phoenix |date=March 19, 2009}}</ref> Watson founded the blog ''Skepchick'' in 2005,{{r|Meagher 2018}}<ref name="Huff pxxxi">{{cite book |last1=Huff |first1=Peter A. |title=Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues |date=2021 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |isbn=978-1-4408-7083-5 |page=xxxi}}</ref> describing it as "an organization dedicated to promoting skepticism and critical thinking among women around the world".<ref name="Skepchick Index">{{cite web |title=Index |url=http://www.skepchick.org/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124160701/http://www.skepchick.org/index.html |website=Skepchick |archive-date=November 24, 2005}}</ref> The same year, Watson released ''The Skepchick Calendar'', a [[pin-up]] calendar featuring pictures of [[Philosophical skepticism|skeptical]]  women for every month. Proceeds provided the attendance fee for several female applicants to attend The Amaz!ng Meeting.<ref name="Plait 2005">{{cite web |last=Plait |first=Phil |author-link=Phil Plait |date=September 19, 2005 |url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/09/18/skepchicks/ |title=Skepchicks |work=Discover |department=Bad Astronomy |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019220425/http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/09/18/skepchicks/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
+After attending James Randi's skeptic conference [[The Amaz!ng Meeting]], Watson produced a [[pin-up]] calendar to support the cost for other women to attend the conference.<ref name="Plait 2005">{{cite web |last=Plait |first=Phil |author-link=Phil Plait |date=September 19, 2005 |url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/09/18/skepchicks/ |title=Skepchicks |work=Discover |department=Bad Astronomy |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019220425/http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/09/18/skepchicks/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Watson 2023a">{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Rebecca |title=The Skepchick Network is Dead and I Killed It |url=https://skepchick.org/2023/01/the-skepchick-network-is-dead-and-i-killed-it/ |access-date=28 October 2024 |work=Skepchick |date=20 January 2023}}</ref> She founded the website ''Skepchick'' in 2005{{r|Meagher p96}}<ref name="Huff pxxxi">{{cite book |last1=Huff |first1=Peter A. |title=Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues |date=2021 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |isbn=978-1-4408-7083-5 |page=xxxi}}</ref> as a place to distribute the calendars.{{r|Watson 2023a}}  New additions of the calendar featuring scientists and skeptics were produced each year<ref name="Johnstone-Louis 2013">{{cite book |last1=Johnstone-Louis |first1=Mary |editor1-last=Rinallo |editor1-first=Diego |editor2-last=Scott |editor2-first=Linda M. |editor3-last=Maclaran |editor3-first=Pauline |title=Consumption and Spirituality |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=978-0-415-88911-7 |page=57 |chapter=No Gods. No Masters?: The 'New Atheist' Movement and the Commercialization of Unbelief}}</ref> until 2007.<ref name="Watson 2012a">{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Rebecca |title=Please Stop Making Calendars |url=https://skepchick.org/2012/09/please-stop-making-calendars/ |access-date=28 October 2024 |work=Skepchick |date=24 September 2012}}</ref>
-Originally the site consisted of a forum and a monthly online magazine, ''Skepchick Magazine'', which was launched in January 2006.<ref name="Skepchick Home">{{cite web |title=Home page |url=http://www.skepchick.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223110704/http://www.skepchick.org/ |website=Skepchick |archive-date=December 23, 2005}}</ref> In February 2006, Watson created a blog titled ''Memoirs of a Skepchick'', as an addition to the magazine.<ref name="Watson 2006">{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Rebecca |url=http://skepchick.org/2006/02/hello-world/ |title=It's snowing, so I started a blog. |date=February 12, 2006 |website=Skepchick}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2020}} Eventually the blog, now simply titled ''Skepchick'', became the main site, as Skepchick Magazine was discontinued in July 2006. ''Skepchick'' has a focus on science and skepticism in general rather than atheism in particular. {{As of|2017}}, the site, whose stated goal is "to discuss women's issues from a skeptical standpoint", hosts over 20 bloggers from around the world.{{r|Meagher 2018}}
+The website originally consisted of a forum and a monthly [[e-zine]], ''Skepchick Magazine'', launched in 2006.<ref name="Plait 2006">{{cite news |last1=Plait |first1=Phil |title=The new SkepChick magazine is up |url=https://slate.com/technology/2006/06/the-new-skepchick-magazine-is-up.html |access-date=28 October 2024 |work=Slate |department=Bad Astronomy |date=15 June 2006}}</ref>{{r|Watson 2023a}} The same year, Watson created a [[blog]] that would eventually replace the magazine.{{r|Watson 2023a}} ''Skepchick''{{'}}s stated goal is to "discuss women’s issues from a skeptical standpoint".{{r|Meagher p96}}<ref name="Skepchick About">{{cite web |title=About Us (and You) |url=https://skepchick.org/about-2/ |website=Skepchick |access-date=28 October 2024 |date=n.d.}}</ref> The site has a focus on science and skepticism in general rather than atheism in particular.{{r|Meagher p96}} Watson has also contributed articles on skepticism to the blog ''[[Bostonist]]''.{{r|Cohen 2009}}
-In 2010, ''Skepchick'' partnered with the Women Thinking Free Foundation to host a vaccination drive with the help of the "Hug Me!" campaign at the [[Dragon*Con]] convention in [[Atlanta, Georgia]].<ref name="Saunders 2010">{{Cite podcast |number=99 |last1=Saunders |first1=Richard |author-link1=Richard Saunders (skeptic) |last2=Dunlop |first2=Rachael |author-link2=Rachael Dunlop |last3=Atkinson |first3=Bill |title=The Skeptic Zone #99 - 10.Sep.2010 |website=The Skeptic Zone |time=0:30:20 |url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-99-10-sep-2010 |date=10 September 2010 |access-date=August 20, 2013}}</ref>{{self-published source|date=March 2023}} Public health staff allowed members of the public to receive a [[DPT vaccine|TDAP]] vaccination free of charge, as well as educational literature promoting immunization.<ref name="Hug Me">{{Cite web |author=<!--anonymous author(s), no byline--> |date=July 2011 |title=News archives |website=Hug Me! I'm Vaccinated! |publisher=Women Thinking Free Foundation |url=http://hugmeimvaccinated.org/newsarchives.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919031446/http://hugmeimvaccinated.org/newsarchives.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-09-19}}</ref> In 2011, ''Skepchick'', the [[James Randi Educational Foundation]] (JREF), and the Women Thinking Free Foundation partnered to offer a similar vaccination clinic at The Amaz!ng Meeting 9 in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref name="Hug Me" />
+In 2010, ''Skepchick'' partnered with the Women Thinking Free Foundation to host a vaccination drive with the help of the "Hug Me!" campaign at the [[Dragon*Con]] convention in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref name="Saunders 2010">{{Cite podcast |number=99 |last1=Saunders |first1=Richard |author-link1=Richard Saunders (skeptic) |last2=Dunlop |first2=Rachael |author-link2=Rachael Dunlop |last3=Atkinson |first3=Bill |title=The Skeptic Zone #99 - 10.Sep.2010 |website=The Skeptic Zone |time=0:30:20 |url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/the-skeptic-zone-99-10-sep-2010 |date=10 September 2010 |access-date=August 20, 2013}}</ref>{{self-published source|date=March 2023}} Public health staff provided [[Tdap]] vaccinations free of charge, as well as educational literature promoting immunization.<ref name="WTFF 2011">{{Cite web |author=<!--anonymous author(s), no byline--> |date=July 2011 |title=News archives |website=Hug Me! I'm Vaccinated! |publisher=Women Thinking Free Foundation |url=http://hugmeimvaccinated.org/newsarchives.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919031446/http://hugmeimvaccinated.org/newsarchives.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-09-19}}</ref> In 2011, ''Skepchick'', the [[James Randi Educational Foundation]] (JREF), and the Women Thinking Free Foundation partnered to offer a similar vaccination clinic at The Amaz!ng Meeting 9 in Las Vegas.<ref name="WTFF 2011" />
-The site was the 2012 winner of The [[Ockham Awards]] for Best Skeptic Blog.<ref name="Ockhams 2012">{{cite news |title=The Ockhams 2012 |url=https://www.skeptic.org.uk/the-ockham-awards/the-ockhams-2012/ |work=[[The Skeptic (UK magazine)|The Skeptic]] |date=June 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216061314/https://www.skeptic.org.uk/the-ockham-awards/the-ockhams-2012/ |url-status=live |archive-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
+''Skepchick'' won an [[Ockham Award]] in 2012 for Best Skeptic Blog.<ref name="Ockhams 2012">{{cite news |title=The Ockhams 2012 |url=https://www.skeptic.org.uk/the-ockham-awards/the-ockhams-2012/ |work=[[The Skeptic (UK magazine)|The Skeptic]] |date=June 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216061314/https://www.skeptic.org.uk/the-ockham-awards/the-ockhams-2012/ |url-status=live |archive-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> In 2017, the site consisted of a network of over 20 bloggers from around the world.{{r|Meagher p96}} In 2023, Watson formally closed the blog network after most writers had moved on to other projects.{{r|Watson 2023a}}
-===''The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe''===
-Watson co-hosted the ''[[Skeptics' Guide to the Universe]]'' podcast for nine years.<ref name="Novella 2018">{{cite book |last1=Novella |first1=Steven |title=The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake |date=2018 |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |location=New York |isbn=978-1-5387-6051-2 |chapter=Acknowledgements}}</ref> Her first appearance was on episode 33 (March 9, 2006), where she was interviewed about her work on ''Skepchick''. She returned on episode 36 (March 29, 2006) as a regular member of the panel.<ref name="Skeptics' Guide">{{cite web |url=http://www.theskepticsguide.org/archive.asp |work=The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe |title=Archive of Shows |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018180403/http://www.theskepticsguide.org/archive.asp |archive-date=October 18, 2008}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2020}} On December 27, 2014, she announced that she had recorded her final show prior to leaving the organization.<ref name="Watson Dec 2014">{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Rebecca |title=Why I've Left SGU |date=December 27, 2014 |url=http://skepchick.org/2014/12/why-ive-left-sgu/ |website=Skepchick |access-date=31 December 2014}}</ref>
+=== ''The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe'' ===
-===Public Radio Talent Quest===
-In May 2007, Watson entered the Public Radio Talent Quest, a contest aimed to find new public radio hosts.<ref name="Watson May 2007">{{cite news |last=Watson |first=Rebecca |date=May 15, 2007 |url=http://skepchick.org/2007/05/a-very-special-audio-blog-posting-vote-for-me/ |title=A very special audio blog posting. Vote for me! |website=Skepchick}}</ref> The contest reported receiving more than 1,400 entries.<ref name="PRX Projects">{{cite web |title=PRX Projects |url=https://exchange.prx.org/projects |publisher=Public Radio Exchange |access-date=22 August 2020}}</ref> Watson's entries won the popular vote in every round,<ref name="PRX Announces">{{cite web |url=http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/2640 |title=PRX Announces Winners of Public Radio Talent Quest |date=October 27, 2007 |publisher=Public Radio Exchange |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330211748/http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/2640}}</ref> and she was declared one of three winners who each would receive $10,000 to produce a public radio pilot.<ref name="Simon Jan 2008">{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Clea |date=January 11, 2008 |title=Showing a talent for radio |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/01/11/showing_a_talent_for_radio/ |access-date=October 30, 2008}}</ref>
+Watson co-hosted the ''[[Skeptics' Guide to the Universe]]'' podcast for nine years.<ref name="Novella 2018">{{cite book |last1=Novella |first1=Steven |title=The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: How to Know What's Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake |date=2018 |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |location=New York |isbn=978-1-5387-6051-2 |chapter=Acknowledgements}}{{page needed|date=October 2024}}</ref> Her first appearance was on episode 33 in March 2006, where she was interviewed about her work on ''Skepchick''. She returned for episode 36 as a regular member of the panel.<ref name="Skeptics' Guide">{{cite web |url=http://www.theskepticsguide.org/archive.asp |work=The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe |title=Archive of Shows |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018180403/http://www.theskepticsguide.org/archive.asp |archive-date=October 18, 2008}}</ref>{{Nonspecific|date=October 2024}} In December 2014, she announced that she had recorded her final show prior to leaving the organization.<ref name="Watson 2014a">{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Rebecca |title=Why I've Left SGU |date=December 27, 2014 |url=http://skepchick.org/2014/12/why-ive-left-sgu/ |website=Skepchick |access-date=31 December 2014}}</ref>
+=== Public Radio Talent Quest ===
-Watson's pilot, ''Curiosity, Aroused'',<ref name="Watson Dec 2007">{{cite web |url=http://curiosityaroused.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/hello-world/ |title=Curiosity, Aroused: The Pilot |date=December 16, 2007 |last=Watson |first=Rebecca |via=[[WordPress]] |access-date=November 6, 2008}}</ref> was an hour-long program focused on science and skepticism.<ref name="Simon Jan 2008" /> It featured interviews with [[Richard Saunders (skeptic)|Richard Saunders]] of Australian Skeptics and Mystery Investigators, and [[Richard Wiseman]], author of the book ''Quirkology'' and Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the [[University of Hertfordshire]]. She also investigated claims of poisonous amounts of lead in lipstick, went on a ghost tour in [[Boston]] and visited a Psychic Fair.
+In May 2007, Watson entered the [[Public Radio Talent Quest]], a contest aimed to find new public radio hosts.<ref name="Watson 2007a">{{cite news |last=Watson |first=Rebecca |date=May 15, 2007 |url=http://skepchick.org/2007/05/a-very-special-audio-blog-posting-vote-for-me/ |title=A very special audio blog posting. Vote for me! |website=Skepchick}}</ref> Watson's entries won the popular vote in every round,<ref name="PRX 2007">{{cite web |url=http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/2640 |title=PRX Announces Winners of Public Radio Talent Quest |date=October 27, 2007 |publisher=Public Radio Exchange |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330211748/http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/2640}}</ref> and she was selected along with two other winners to produce a pilot episode for presentation to executives of the [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]].{{r|Simpson 2007}}<ref name="Simon 2008a">{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Clea |date=January 11, 2008 |title=Showing a talent for radio |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/01/11/showing_a_talent_for_radio/ |access-date=October 30, 2008}}</ref>
+Watson's pilot, ''Curiosity, Aroused'',<ref name="Watson 2007b">{{cite web |url=http://curiosityaroused.wordpress.com/2007/12/16/hello-world/ |title=Curiosity, Aroused: The Pilot |date=December 16, 2007 |last=Watson |first=Rebecca |via=[[WordPress]] |access-date=November 6, 2008}}</ref> was an hour-long program focused on science and skepticism.<ref name="Simon 2008a" /> It featured interviews with [[Richard Saunders (skeptic)|Richard Saunders]] of Australian Skeptics and Mystery Investigators, and [[Richard Wiseman]], author of the book ''Quirkology'' and Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the [[University of Hertfordshire]]. She also investigated claims of poisonous amounts of lead in lipstick, went on a ghost tour in [[Boston]] and visited a Psychic Fair.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
-Her show was the only one among the three winners not to receive funding by the [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]] for being turned into a one-year show.<ref name="Big News">{{cite press release |url=http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/2710 |title=Big News from PRX and CPB |date=June 26, 2008 |publisher=Public Radio Exchange |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418145719/http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/2710 |archive-date=April 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Simon Jul 2008">{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Clea |date=July 2008 |title=At WCRB, it's a grand old tradition |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/07/03/at_wcrb_its_a_grand_old_tradition/ |access-date=October 30, 2008}}</ref>
+Her show was the only one among the three winners not to be awarded funds for production of a year-long radio program.<ref name="PRX 2008">{{cite press release |url=http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/2710 |title=Big News from PRX and CPB |date=June 26, 2008 |publisher=Public Radio Exchange |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418145719/http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/2710 |archive-date=April 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Simon 2008b">{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Clea |date=July 2008 |title=At WCRB, it's a grand old tradition |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/07/03/at_wcrb_its_a_grand_old_tradition/ |access-date=October 30, 2008}}</ref>
-===<span class="anchor" id="Elevatorgate"></span>"Elevatorgate"===
+=== <span class="anchor" id="Elevatorgate"></span>"Elevatorgate" ===
 <!-- linked from redirect [[Elevatorgate]] -->
 {{Over-quotation|section|date=August 2020}}
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 [[file:Rebecca Watson NECSS 2011.jpg|thumb|Watson speaking at [[Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism|NECSS]] 2011]]
-The controversy that came to be known as "Elevatorgate" originated with a video Watson made following the June 2011 [[World Atheist Convention (2011)|World Atheist Convention]] in Dublin, Ireland, where she appeared on a panel about [[sexism]] within the atheist community.{{r|Scheidt 2021|pp=90–91}}<ref name="Huff p66">{{cite book |last1=Huff |first1=Peter A. |title=Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues |date=2021 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |isbn=978-1-4408-7083-5 |page=66 |chapter=Dawkins, Richard}}</ref> In the video, Watson described speaking at the convention about her experience of being [[sexualized]] as a woman within the movement,{{r|Meagher 2018|pp=100–101}}<ref name="Watson 2012">{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Rebecca |title=It Stands to Reason, Skeptics Can Be Sexist Too |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/10/sexism_in_the_skeptic_community_i_spoke_out_then_came_the_rape_threats.single.html |website=Slate |access-date=August 22, 2020 |date=24 October 2012}}</ref> and said that a man from a group of conference attendees had later followed her from the hotel bar into an elevator and sexually propositioned her as she was returning to her room early in the morning.<ref name="LeDrew 2016">{{cite book |last=LeDrew |first=Stephen |title=The Evolution of Atheism: The Politics of a Modern Movement |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-022517-9 |pages=198–199}}</ref> She advised her viewers, "Just a word to the wise here, guys, don't do that",{{r|Scheidt 2021|p=91}} and went on to say:
+The controversy that came to be known as "Elevatorgate" originated with a video Watson made following the June 2011 [[World Atheist Convention (2011)|World Atheist Convention]] in Dublin, Ireland, where she appeared on a panel about [[sexism]] within the atheist community.{{sfnp|Scheidt|2021|pp=90–91}}<ref name="Huff p66">{{cite book |last1=Huff |first1=Peter A. |title=Atheism and Agnosticism: Exploring the Issues |date=2021 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |isbn=978-1-4408-7083-5 |page=66 |chapter=Dawkins, Richard}}</ref> In the video, Watson described speaking at the convention about her experience of being [[sexualized]] as a woman within the movement,{{sfnp|Meagher|2018|pp=100–101}}<ref name="Watson 2012b">{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Rebecca |title=It Stands to Reason, Skeptics Can Be Sexist Too |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/10/sexism_in_the_skeptic_community_i_spoke_out_then_came_the_rape_threats.single.html |website=Slate |access-date=August 22, 2020 |date=24 October 2012}}</ref> and said that a man from a group of conference attendees had later followed her from the hotel bar into an elevator and sexually propositioned her as she was returning to her room early in the morning.<ref name="LeDrew p198">{{cite book |last=LeDrew |first=Stephen |title=The Evolution of Atheism: The Politics of a Modern Movement |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-022517-9 |pages=198–199}}</ref> She advised her viewers, "Just a word to the wise here, guys, don't do that",{{sfnp|Scheidt|2021|p=91}} and went on to say:
-{{blockquote |I was a single woman, in a foreign country, at {{nowrap|4 a.m.}}, in a hotel elevator with you{{mdash}}just you{{mdash}}and don't invite me back to your hotel room, right after I have finished talking about how it creeps me out and makes me uncomfortable when men sexualize me in that manner.{{r|Meagher 2018|p=101}}<ref name="Watson Jun 2011">{{cite web |author=Watson, Rebecca |date=June 29, 2011 |title=About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKHwduG1Frk?t=319 |time=5:19 |via=YouTube}}</ref>}}
+{{blockquote |I was a single woman, in a foreign country, at {{nowrap|4 a.m.}}, in a hotel elevator with you{{mdash}}just you{{mdash}}and don't invite me back to your hotel room, right after I have finished talking about how it creeps me out and makes me uncomfortable when men sexualize me in that manner.{{sfnp|Meagher|2018|p=101}}<ref name="Watson 2011b">{{cite web |author=Watson, Rebecca |date=June 29, 2011 |title=About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKHwduG1Frk?t=319 |time=5:19 |via=YouTube}}</ref>}}
-Reactions to the video varied, with some supporting Watson's desire for privacy and others criticizing Watson for overreacting.{{r|Scheidt 2021|pp=90–91}} Writer and biologist [[PZ Myers]] supported Watson with a post about the incident on his blog ''[[Pharyngula (blog)|Pharyngula]]''.{{r|Scheidt 2021|pp=90–91}} A negative response by the online atheist community to Watson's account of the elevator incident, which was a brief part of a longer video about other topics,{{r|LeDrew 2016}} soon spread across several websites, including [[Reddit]], and became highly polarized and heated.<ref name="Miller 2013">{{cite journal |last=Miller |first=Ashley F. |title=The non-religious patriarchy: why losing religion HAS NOT meant losing white male dominance |journal=CrossCurrents |volume=63 |issue=2 |date=June 2013 |doi=10.1111/cros.12025 |pages=211–226 |s2cid=170686171}}</ref><ref name="Winston 2011">{{cite news |last=Winston |first=Kimberly |title=Atheists address sexism issues |date=September 15, 2011 |work=USA Today |agency=Religion News Service |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-15/atheist-sexism-women/50416454/1 |access-date=August 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031164637/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-15/atheist-sexism-women/50416454/1 |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Explain|date=August 2020}} The debate steadily grew to include the overall status of women within the secular movement, with most of the movements's prominent figures offering their opinion on whether the elevator incident was [[sexual harassment]]. The discussion spurred a continued backlash, with commenters online labeling women who spoke up on the subject as "[[feminazi]]s" and other misogynistic slurs.{{r|LeDrew 2016}} Watson experienced death threats,{{r|Meagher 2018|p=101}} with commenters on her blog saying in graphic terms how she should be raped and murdered{{r|LeDrew 2016}} and one man publishing a [[website]] threatening to kill her.<ref name="Hess 2015">{{cite book |last1=Hess |first1=Amanda |editor1-last=Holt |editor1-first=Sid |title=The Best American Magazine Writing 2015 |date=2015 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-231-54071-1 |jstor=10.7312/asme16959.6 |page=57 |chapter=Women Aren't Welcome Here |doi=10.7312/asme16959}}</ref>
+Reactions to the video varied, with some supporting Watson's desire for privacy and others criticizing Watson for overreacting.{{sfnp|Scheidt|2021|pp=90–91}} Writer and biologist [[PZ Myers]] supported Watson with a post about the incident on his blog ''[[Pharyngula (blog)|Pharyngula]]''.{{sfnp|Scheidt|2021|pp=90–91}} A negative response by the online atheist community to Watson's account of the elevator incident, which was a brief part of a longer video about other topics,{{r|LeDrew p198}} soon spread across several websites, including [[Reddit]], and became highly polarized and heated.<ref name="Miller 2013">{{cite journal |last=Miller |first=Ashley F. |title=The non-religious patriarchy: why losing religion HAS NOT meant losing white male dominance |journal=CrossCurrents |volume=63 |issue=2 |date=June 2013 |doi=10.1111/cros.12025 |pages=211–226 |s2cid=170686171}}</ref><ref name="Winston 2011">{{cite news |last=Winston |first=Kimberly |title=Atheists address sexism issues |date=September 15, 2011 |work=USA Today |agency=Religion News Service |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-15/atheist-sexism-women/50416454/1 |access-date=August 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031164637/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-15/atheist-sexism-women/50416454/1 |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Explain|date=August 2020}} The debate steadily grew to include the overall status of women within the secular movement, with most of the movements's prominent figures offering their opinion on whether the elevator incident was [[sexual harassment]]. The discussion spurred a continued backlash, with commenters online labeling women who spoke up on the subject as "[[feminazi]]s" and other misogynistic slurs.{{r|LeDrew p198}} Watson experienced death threats,{{sfnp|Meagher|2018|p=101}} with commenters on her blog saying in graphic terms how she should be raped and murdered{{r|LeDrew p198}} and one man publishing a [[website]] threatening to kill her.<ref name="Hess 2015">{{cite book |last1=Hess |first1=Amanda |editor1-last=Holt |editor1-first=Sid |title=The Best American Magazine Writing 2015 |date=2015 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-231-54071-1 |jstor=10.7312/asme16959.6 |page=57 |chapter=Women Aren't Welcome Here |doi=10.7312/asme16959}}</ref>
-The controversy attracted mainstream media attention when biologist [[Richard Dawkins]] joined the debate.{{r|LeDrew 2016}} Although Watson had not compared the incident to sexism within [[Islam]],<ref name="Klug 2022">{{cite book |last1=Klug |first1=Petra |title=Anti-Atheist Nation: Religion and Secularism in the United States |date=2022 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |at=Endnote 47 |isbn=978-1-000-80442-3 |chapter=America Versus the Atheist}}</ref> Dawkins used the occasion to satirize the supposed indifference of Western feminists to the plight of oppressed Muslim women.{{r|Scheidt 2021|pp=91–92}}<ref name="Hussein 2019">{{cite book |last=Hussein |first=Shakira |title=From Victims to Suspects: Muslim Women Since 9/11 |date=2019 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-23042-0 |page=127}}</ref><!--Hussein (2019) erroneously records Watson's name as "Watkins"; seems like a trivial error that doesn't affect reliability in context.--> In the comments section of Myers's blog, he wrote:
+The controversy attracted mainstream media attention when biologist [[Richard Dawkins]] joined the debate.{{r|LeDrew p198}} Although Watson had not compared the incident to sexism within [[Islam]],<ref name="Klug 2022">{{cite book |last1=Klug |first1=Petra |title=Anti-Atheist Nation: Religion and Secularism in the United States |date=2022 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |at=Endnote 47 |isbn=978-1-000-80442-3 |chapter=America Versus the Atheist}}</ref> Dawkins used the occasion to satirize the supposed indifference of Western feminists to the plight of oppressed Muslim women.{{sfnp|Scheidt|2021|pp=91–92}}<ref name="Hussein 2019">{{cite book |last=Hussein |first=Shakira |title=From Victims to Suspects: Muslim Women Since 9/11 |date=2019 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-23042-0 |page=127}}</ref><!--Hussein (2019) erroneously records Watson's name as "Watkins"; seems like a trivial error that doesn't affect reliability in context.--> In the comments section of Myers's blog, he wrote:
-{{quote |Dear Muslima{{pb}}Stop whining, will you. Yes, yes, I know you had your genitals mutilated with a razor blade, and&nbsp;... yawn&nbsp;... .don't tell me yet again, I know you aren't allowed to drive a car, and you can't leave the house without a male relative, and your husband is allowed to beat you, and you'll be stoned to death if you commit adultery. But stop whining, will you. Think of the suffering your poor American sisters have to put up with.{{pb}}Only this week I heard of one, she calls herself Skep 'chick', and do you know what happened to her? A man in a hotel elevator invited her back to his room for coffee. I am not exaggerating. He really did. He invited her back to his room for coffee. Of course she said no, and of course he didn't lay a finger on her, but even so...{{pb}}And you, Muslima, think you have misogyny to complain about! For goodness sake grow up, or at least grow a thicker skin.{{pb}}Richard{{r|LeDrew 2016}} }}
+{{quote |Dear Muslima{{pb}}Stop whining, will you. Yes, yes, I know you had your genitals mutilated with a razor blade, and&nbsp;... yawn&nbsp;... .don't tell me yet again, I know you aren't allowed to drive a car, and you can't leave the house without a male relative, and your husband is allowed to beat you, and you'll be stoned to death if you commit adultery. But stop whining, will you. Think of the suffering your poor American sisters have to put up with.{{pb}}Only this week I heard of one, she calls herself Skep 'chick', and do you know what happened to her? A man in a hotel elevator invited her back to his room for coffee. I am not exaggerating. He really did. He invited her back to his room for coffee. Of course she said no, and of course he didn't lay a finger on her, but even so...{{pb}}And you, Muslima, think you have misogyny to complain about! For goodness sake grow up, or at least grow a thicker skin.{{pb}}Richard{{r|LeDrew p198}} }}
-Dawkins' comments led to accusations of [[misogyny]] and [[Islamophobia]].{{r|Huff p66}} He explained that, in his view, Watson had not suffered any injury, comparing Watson's experience with the annoyance one might feel while riding an elevator with someone chewing gum.{{r|LeDrew 2016|pp=199–200}}
+Dawkins' comments led to accusations of [[misogyny]] and [[Islamophobia]].{{r|Huff p66}} He explained that, in his view, Watson had not suffered any injury, comparing Watson's experience with the annoyance one might feel while riding an elevator with someone chewing gum.{{sfnp|LeDrew|2016|pp=199–200}}
-Several commentators argued that the incident showed Dawkins' insensitivity to gender-related issues such as sexual violence.{{r|LeDrew 2016|p=200}}<ref name="McAnulla 2018">{{cite book |last1=McAnulla |first1=Stuart |last2=Kettell |first2=Steven |last3=Schulzke |first3=Marcus |title=The Politics of New Atheism |publisher=Routledge |date=2018 |isbn=978-1-317-19833-8 |pages=}}{{page needed|date=March 2023}}</ref> Religious scholar [[Stephen LeDrew (academic)|Stephen LeDrew]] writes that "For the first time since the New Atheism had risen to prominence, [Dawkins] found himself under attack by many of those who had viewed him as a respected leader".{{r|LeDrew 2016|p=200}} [[David Allen Green]] criticized Dawkins for dismissing lesser wrongs because bigger wrongs exist.<ref name="Green 2011">{{cite web |author=Green, David Allen |title=Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2011/07/richard-dawkins-chewing-gum |date=6 July 2011 |work=New Statesman |access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> Steven Tomlins and [[Lori G. Beaman]] argue that the incident highlights a schism within atheism over the role of feminism, some saying it should take a prominent place in the movement and others calling it divisive.<ref name="Beaman 2015">{{cite book |editor1-last=Beaman |editor1-first=Lori G. |editor2-last=Tomlins |editor2-first=Steven |title=Atheist Identities – Spaces and Social Contexts |date=2015 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-09602-5 |page=6}}</ref>
+Several commentators argued that the incident showed Dawkins' insensitivity to gender-related issues such as sexual violence.{{sfnp|LeDrew|2016|p=200}}<ref name="McAnulla 2018">{{cite book |last1=McAnulla |first1=Stuart |last2=Kettell |first2=Steven |last3=Schulzke |first3=Marcus |title=The Politics of New Atheism |publisher=Routledge |date=2018 |isbn=978-1-317-19833-8 |pages=}}{{page needed|date=March 2023}}</ref> Religious scholar [[Stephen LeDrew (academic)|Stephen LeDrew]] writes that "For the first time since the New Atheism had risen to prominence, [Dawkins] found himself under attack by many of those who had viewed him as a respected leader".{{sfnp|LeDrew|2016|p=200}} [[David Allen Green]] criticized Dawkins for dismissing lesser wrongs because bigger wrongs exist.<ref name="Green 2011">{{cite web |author=Green, David Allen |title=Sharing a lift with Richard Dawkins |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2011/07/richard-dawkins-chewing-gum |date=6 July 2011 |work=New Statesman |access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> Steven Tomlins and [[Lori G. Beaman]] argue that the incident highlights a schism within atheism over the role of feminism, some saying it should take a prominent place in the movement and others calling it divisive.<ref name="Beaman 2015">{{cite book |editor1-last=Beaman |editor1-first=Lori G. |editor2-last=Tomlins |editor2-first=Steven |title=Atheist Identities – Spaces and Social Contexts |date=2015 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-09602-5 |page=6}}</ref>
-Watson said of Dawkins, "to have my concerns{{mdash}}and more so the concerns of other women who have survived rape and sexual assault{{mdash}}dismissed thanks to a rich white man comparing them to the plight of women who have been mutilated, is insulting to all of us".{{r|LeDrew 2016|p=200}} She stated that she would no longer buy or endorse his books and lectures,<ref name="Watson Jul 2011">{{Cite web |url=http://skepchick.org/2011/07/the-privilege-delusion |title=The Privilege Delusion |author=Watson, Rebecca |date=July 5, 2011 |website=Skepchick}}</ref> writing:
+Watson said of Dawkins, "to have my concerns{{mdash}}and more so the concerns of other women who have survived rape and sexual assault{{mdash}}dismissed thanks to a rich white man comparing them to the plight of women who have been mutilated, is insulting to all of us".{{sfnp|LeDrew|2016|p=200}} She stated that she would no longer buy or endorse his books and lectures.<ref name="Watson 2011c">{{Cite web |url=http://skepchick.org/2011/07/the-privilege-delusion |title=The Privilege Delusion |author=Watson, Rebecca |date=July 5, 2011 |website=Skepchick}}</ref>
+The result of this exchange led to an extended [[Flaming (Internet)|internet flame war]]{{sfnp|Meagher|2018|p=101}} that several reports dubbed "Elevatorgate"<ref name="Rousseau 2011">{{cite web |url=https://synapses.co.za/elevatorgate-power-words/ |title=Elevatorgate and the power of words |first=Jacques |last=Rousseau |website=Synapses |date=July 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Band 2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jul/24/richard-dawkins-women-chilly-climate |title=Richard Dawkins, check the evidence on the 'chilly climate' for women |first=Emily |last=Band |work=The Guardian |date=July 24, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref> and which has been the subject of [[Internet meme]]s.{{r|Huff p66}} In the wake of this and an incident at a [[Center for Inquiry]]-sponsored event, where female atheists reported gender bias and inappropriate behavior, organizations including the [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science|Richard Dawkins Foundation]] have reviewed their policies regarding sexual harassment and non-discrimination.<ref name="Miller 2013" /> Dawkins later apologized,{{r|Huff p66|McAnulla 2018}} stating, "There should be no rivalry in victimhood, and I'm sorry I once said something similar to American women complaining of harassment, inviting them to contemplate the suffering of Muslim women by comparison".<ref name="Dawkins 2014">{{cite web |last=Dawkins |first=Richard |title=Who is 'belittling' what? |url=https://richarddawkins.net/2014/08/who-is-belittling-what/ |publisher=Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science; Center for Inquiry |access-date= January 19, 2015 |date= August 6, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140810115233/https://richarddawkins.net/2014/08/who-is-belittling-what/ |archive-date= August 10, 2014 |url-status= live}}</ref> Watson tweeted in response, "Richard Dawkins just did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling 'sorry' to me. Eh, I'll take it."<ref name="Watson 2014b">{{cite tweet |first=Rebecca |last=Watson |title=Richard Dawkins just did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling 'sorry' to me. Eh I'll take it. http://ow.ly/A2aVW |user=rebeccawatson |date=August 6, 2014 |number=497087309805027328}}</ref>
-{{quote |[Dawkins] therefore will no longer be rewarded with my money, my praise, or my attention. I will no longer recommend his books to others, buy them as presents, or buy them for my own library. I will not attend his lectures or recommend that others do the same.&nbsp;... But those of us who are humanists and feminists will find new, better voices to promote and inspire, and Dawkins will be left alone to fight the terrible injustice of standing in elevators with gum-chewers.<ref name="Watson Jul 2011"/>}}
+== Personal life ==
-The result of this exchange led to an extended [[Flaming (Internet)|internet flame war]]{{r|Meagher 2018|p=101}} that several reports dubbed "Elevatorgate"<ref name="Rousseau 2011">{{cite web |url=https://synapses.co.za/elevatorgate-power-words/ |title=Elevatorgate and the power of words |first=Jacques |last=Rousseau |website=Synapses |date=July 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Band 2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jul/24/richard-dawkins-women-chilly-climate |title=Richard Dawkins, check the evidence on the 'chilly climate' for women |first=Emily |last=Band |work=The Guardian |date=July 24, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref> and which has been the subject of [[Internet meme]]s.{{r|Huff p66}} In the wake of this and an incident at a [[Center for Inquiry]]-sponsored event, where female atheists reported gender bias and inappropriate behavior, organizations including the [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science|Richard Dawkins Foundation]] have reviewed their policies regarding sexual harassment and non-discrimination.<ref name="Miller 2013" /> Dawkins later apologized,{{r|Huff p66|McAnulla 2018}} stating, "There should be no rivalry in victimhood, and I'm sorry I once said something similar to American women complaining of harassment, inviting them to contemplate the suffering of Muslim women by comparison".<ref name="Dawkins 2014">{{cite web |last=Dawkins |first=Richard |title=Who is 'belittling' what? |url=https://richarddawkins.net/2014/08/who-is-belittling-what/ |publisher=Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science; Center for Inquiry |access-date= January 19, 2015 |date= August 6, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140810115233/https://richarddawkins.net/2014/08/who-is-belittling-what/ |archive-date= August 10, 2014 |url-status= live}}</ref> Watson tweeted in response, "Richard Dawkins just did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling 'sorry' to me. Eh, I'll take it."<ref name="Watson Aug 2014">{{cite tweet |first=Rebecca |last=Watson |title=Richard Dawkins just did the blog-equivalent of coughing into his hand while mumbling 'sorry' to me. Eh I'll take it. http://ow.ly/A2aVW |user=rebeccawatson |date=August 6, 2014 |number=497087309805027328}}</ref>  Nevertheless, she continues to cite the Muslima comment, as in 2024, with claims that Dawkins has no issue with her being sexually assaulted <ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Dawkins: "Cultural Christian" or Supremacist Bigot? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PWRZPi67Mc&t=445s |website=YouTube |access-date=12 Apr 2024}}</ref>.
+Watson married Sid Rodrigues in a surprise ceremony during The Amaz!ng Meeting in July 2009.<ref name="Bug_girl 2009">{{cite web |url=http://skepchick.org/2009/07/congrats-becca-and-sid/ |title=Congrats Becca and Sid |date=July 11, 2009 |website=Skepchick |author=Bug_girl}}</ref> In April 2011, she announced that she and Rodrigues were separated and seeking a divorce.<ref name="Watson 2011d">{{cite web |url=http://skepchick.org/2011/04/a-note-about-my-personal-life/ |work=Skepchick |title=A Note About My Personal Life |date=April 8, 2011 |first=Rebecca |last=Watson}}</ref> She later remarried.<ref name="Watson 2023b">{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Rebecca |title=Why Losers Like Steven Crowder Hate No-Fault Divorce |url=https://skepchick.org/2023/05/why-losers-like-steven-crowder-hate-no-fault-divorce/ |website=Skepchick |access-date=28 May 2023 |date=26 May 2023}}</ref>
-==Personal life==
+== Honors ==
+An [[Asteroid group#The asteroid belt|outer main-belt]] [[asteroid]] discovered by [[David H. Healy]] on March 22, 2001 was named [[153289 Rebeccawatson]] in her honor.<ref name="Schmadel 2012">{{cite book |last1=Schmadel |first1=Lutz D. |title=Dictionary of Minor Planet Names |date=2012 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-3-642-29718-2 |page=1271}}</ref><ref name="Skeptical Inquirer 2008">{{cite magazine |author1=<!--anonymous author, no byline--> |title=News and Comment {{!}} Asteroids Named for Skeptics, Authors, Science Educators |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2008/11/p05.pdf |magazine=Skeptical Inquirer |volume=32 |issue=6 |date=November 2008 |page=9 |issn=0194-6730}}</ref>
-Watson married Sid Rodrigues in a surprise ceremony during The Amaz!ng Meeting in July 2009.<ref name="Bug_girl 2009">{{cite web |url=http://skepchick.org/2009/07/congrats-becca-and-sid/ |title=Congrats Becca and Sid |date=July 11, 2009 |website=Skepchick |author=Bug_girl}}</ref> In April 2011, she announced that she and Rodrigues were separated and seeking a divorce.<ref name="Watson Apr 2011">{{cite web |url=http://skepchick.org/2011/04/a-note-about-my-personal-life/ |work=Skepchick |title=A Note About My Personal Life |date=April 8, 2011 |first=Rebecca |last=Watson}}</ref> She later remarried.<ref name="Watson May 2023">{{cite web |last1=Watson |first1=Rebecca |title=Why Losers Like Steven Crowder Hate No-Fault Divorce |url=https://skepchick.org/2023/05/why-losers-like-steven-crowder-hate-no-fault-divorce/ |website=Skepchick |access-date=28 May 2023 |date=26 May 2023}}</ref>
-==Honors==
+== See also ==
-An [[Asteroid group#The asteroid belt|outer main-belt]] [[asteroid]] discovered by [[David H. Healy]] on March 22, 2001 was named [[153289 Rebeccawatson]] in her honor.<ref name="Schmadel 2012">{{cite book |last1=Schmadel |first1=Lutz D. |title=Dictionary of Minor Planet Names |date=2012 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-3-642-29718-2 |page=1271}}</ref><ref name="Asteroids Named for Skeptics">{{cite magazine |author1=<!--anonymous author, no byline--> |title=News and Comment {{!}} Asteroids Named for Skeptics, Authors, Science Educators |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2008/11/p05.pdf |magazine=Skeptical Inquirer |volume=32 |issue=6 |date=November 2008 |page=9 |issn=0194-6730}}</ref>
-==See also==
 * [[Greta Christina]], atheist blogger
+* [[Gamergate (harassment campaign)|Gamergate]]
-==References==
+== References ==
 {{reflist|2}}
+== Further reading ==
-==External links==
+* {{cite news |last=Mouallem |first=Omar |author-link=Omar Mouallem |date=August 2008 |title=Making a Living of Bullshit Detecting |work=[[Vue Weekly]] |publication-place=Edmonton, Alberta |issue=671 |url=http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=9429 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912125609/http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=9429 |archive-date=September 12, 2008}}
+== External links ==
 {{commons category}}
-* [http://skepchick.org/ Skepchick]
+* [http://skepchick.org/ ''Skepchick.org'']
+* [https://beta.prx.org/accounts/44855 Rebecca Watson] on Public Radio Exchange (includes pilot episode "Curiosity Aroused")
-* [http://teenskepchick.org/ Teen Skepchick] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717181622/http://teenskepchick.org/ |date=July 17, 2011 }}
-* [https://exchange.prx.org/users/44855-skepchick Rebecca Watson's PRTQ page] with streaming of all her entries and ''Curiosity, Aroused'' pilot
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Rebecca}}
+[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
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+[[Category:American women podcasters]]
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+[[Category:Critics of New Atheism]]
+[[Category:Feminist bloggers]]
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-[[Category:1980 births]]
+[[Category:American women founders]]
-[[Category:21st-century American women]]
+[[Category:Writers from New Jersey]]
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