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Rebecca Watson

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Rebecca Watson
Born (1980-10-18) October 18, 1980 (age 44)
United States
Other namesThe Skepchick
Years active2005–present
Known forSkeptical Rogue to Steven Novella on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, science communication, atheism
Websiteskepchick.org

Rebecca Watson (born October 18, 1980) is an American blogger and podcast host. She is the founder of the Skepchick blog and also co-hosts The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast. She also previously co-hosted the Little Atoms podcast.[1][2]

Career

Skepchick

Watson founded Skepchick in 2005, describing it as "an organization dedicated to promoting skepticism and critical thinking among women around the world."[3] Originally the site consisted of a forum and a monthly online magazine, Skepchick Magazine, which was launched January 15, 2006.[4]

In 2006, Watson released The Skepchick Calendar, a pin-up calendar featuring pictures of skeptical women for every month. Proceeds provided the attendance fee for several female applicants to attend the James Randi Educational Foundation's The Amaz!ng Meeting.[5] New calendars have been made in subsequent years, including Skepdude Calendars since 2007.[6]

On February 12, 2006, Watson created a blog titled Memoirs of a Skepchick, as an addition to the magazine.[7] Eventually the blog, now simply titled Skepchick, became the main site, as Skepchick Magazine was discontinued in July 2006. Fourteen other bloggers beside Watson now contribute regularly, including one man.[8]

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Main article: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Watson's first appearance on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast 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.[9]

The Public Radio Talent Quest

In May 2007, Watson entered The Public Radio Talent Quest, a contest aimed to find new public radio hosts.[10] The contest claims to have received more than 1,400 entries.[11] Watson's entries won the popular vote in every round,[12] and she was declared one of three winners who each would receive $10,000 to produce a public radio pilot.[13]

Watson's pilot, Curiosity, Aroused,[14] was an hour-long program focused on science and skepticism.[13] It featured interviews with Richard Saunders of Australian Skeptics and Mystery Investigators, and Richard Wiseman, author of 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.

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.[15][16]

Personal life

On July 11, 2009, she and Sid Rodrigues were married in a surprise ceremony during The Amaz!ng Meeting 7.[17] On April 8, 2011, she announced that she and Rodrigues were separated and seeking a divorce.[18]

Elevator incident

At the June 2011 "World Atheist Convention", on a panel which also included Richard Dawkins, Watson spoke about her experiences with sexism within the atheist movement. Among other things, she described how after the talk and extended discussion with a group of attendees, a man from the group followed her into an elevator and asked her back to his hotel room. She cited various contextual reasons why this felt inappropriate, and advised, "...guys, don't do that."[19][20] The ensuing discussion across a variety of websites including reddit and the Pharyngula blog became extremely heated, attracting highly polarized and sometimes extreme commentary.[21][22] Dawkins joined the discussion, describing her response as an overreaction, stating that she had not been harmed.[23][24][25] Watson stated that, as a result of Dawkins' comments, she would no longer buy or endorse his books and lectures.[26] The result of this exchange led to an internet flame war. In the wake of this and other examples where female atheists reported being met with sexual hostility, atheist and skeptical organizers, including the Richard Dawkins Foundation, have re-evaluated their policies regarding sexual harassement and non-discrimination.[21]

Honors

An outer main-belt asteroid discovered on March 22, 2001 by David H. Healy was named 153289 Rebeccawatson in her honor.[27]

References

  1. ^ Simpson, Neal (2007). "Blogger looks to take her war on pseudoscience to the airwaves". Brookline TAB. Retrieved 2008-10-30. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Mouallem, Omar (2008). "Making a Living of Bullshit Detecting". Vue Weekly (671). Retrieved 2008-10-30. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Skepchick.org November 24, 2005 at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Skepchick.org December 23, 2005 at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Skepchicks". Bad Astronomy. Retrieved 2010-01-22. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  6. ^ 2007 Skepchick & Skepdude Calendars The Skeptic Magazine blog's announcement [dead link‍]
  7. ^ It’s snowing, so I started a blog. first skepchick blog post
  8. ^ Who's who on Skepchick
  9. ^ The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe episode archive
  10. ^ A very special audio blog posting. Vote for me! - blog post announcing her first entry in the PRTQ
  11. ^ Public Radio Talent Quest
  12. ^ Watson, Rebecca (2007-10-27). "PRX Announces Winners of Public Radio Talent Quest". PRX. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  13. ^ a b Simon, Clea (2008). "Showing a talent for radio". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-10-30. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Watson, Rebecca (2007-12-16). "Curiosity, Aroused: The Pilot". WordPress. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  15. ^ "Big News from PRX and CPB" (Press release). 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  16. ^ Simon, Clea (2008). "At WCRB, it's a grand old tradition". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-10-30. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  17. ^ Skepchick Congrats Becca and Sid
  18. ^ Skepchick A Note About My Personal Life
  19. ^ Rebecca Watson (2011-06-20). About Mythbusters, Robot Eyes, Feminism, and Jokes (YouTube). Event occurs at 5:06.
  20. ^ Watson, Rebecca (24 October 2012). "It Stands to Reason, Skeptics Can Be Sexist Too". Slate. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  21. ^ a b Miller, Ashley F. (2013), "The non-religious patriarchy: why losing religion HAS NOT meant losing white male dominance", CrossCurrents, vol. 63, no. 2, doi:10.1111/cros.12025 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  22. ^ Winston, Kimberly (September 15, 2011), "Atheists address sexism issues", USA Today, Religion News Service., retrieved August 6, 2013
  23. ^ Taranto, James (July 7, 2011). "Commander in Tweet". The Wall Street Journal.
  24. ^ Mandy De Waal. "Dawkins, Watson and the elevator ride". Mail & Guardian, 9/2/2011.
  25. ^ Cailtin Dickson (6 jul, 2011). "Richard Dawkins Gets into a Comments War with Feminists". The Atlantic Wire. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Rebecca Watson (July 5, 2011). "The Privilege Delusion". Skepchick.
  27. ^ 153289 Rebeccawatson at the JPL Small-Body Database Browser
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