IT Girls Calendar Creates Storm Down Under
July 13, 2006 (6 Responses)
A CALENDAR showing semi-nude female IT developers seems to have upset a few people down in Oz. The IT Screen Goddesses calendar was created by IT expert Sonja Bernhardt in an attempt to convince people that women in the computer industry aren’t all nerds. The calendar depicts some classic scenes from the movie world and seems to have been done in reasonably good taste – it’s not exactly porn – however not everyone agrees.The calendar features 20 women from the IT industry posing as movie sirens, including the bikini-clad Ursula Andress in the James Bond movie Dr No, the rose petal scene from American Beauty, Basic Instinct, Pulp Fiction and Return of the Jedi. One of the calendar’s sponsors – the Australian Computer Society – withdrew over concerns about the American Beauty cover shot featuring Brisbane IT manager Sonja Breeze.
If you are interested (who am I kidding, of course you are interested!!) swing on by the IT Screen Goddess website and check out the preview of the calendar shots. I actually think they are fine – but I suppose you can’t please everyone. Soft porn? Nah – just clever usage of established iconic imagery. I understand the argument that the calendar just objectifies women, but really… it’s 2006 and no one is forcing them to do this. Hell it’s not even that risky, it’s just clever.
Oh well – the moral police will be beating down my door any moment I suppose 
Hey cool thanks for the support. There are plenty of detractors but I am LOVING the raging world wide debates while people sort out the issues.
here’s a quick comment about the calendar and objectifying from Dale Spender (internationally known feminist)
“Objectifying is something done to you
Taking charge is manipulating that image and subverting it
That’s what they are doing”
don’t forget to order your copy:-)
regards
Sonja
My thoughts on Objectivtity By an IT Goddess Calendar Girl
Sharon – I suspect you were trying to leave a link in that previous comment.. wanna try again?
Damned late nights..& dyslexic fingers..Here are my thoughts
Quick note: screen goddess IT calendar announced geek tech competitions – where placed and hidden technology are in each calendar image. more info on: http://itgoddess.info/competitions.htm
also goddess screen saver version now available….https://www.itgoddess.info/orders/
move beyond the flash “american beauty” cover and get into “Inspect for Gadgets” or “LaMarr Code” competitions.
I actually think they are fine – but I suppose you can’t please everyone. Soft porn? Nah – just clever usage of established iconic imagery. I understand the argument that the calendar just objectifies women.