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/* Dan Barker Google Trends data contrasted with Annie Laurie Gaylor Google Trends data */
I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued.<ref>Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014). [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ "When will this situation improve?"]. Freethoughtblogs.com/Pharyngula.</ref>}}
[[File:Richard Carrier.jpg|thumbnail|165px|left|[[Richard Carrier]] ]]
In 2018, Kimberly Winston wrote in ''The Washington Post'':
{{Cquote|[[Atheist movement|Organized secularism]] has been struggling with charges of misogyny, sexism and sexual harassment for almost a decade. The problem went public in 2011 when... [an] atheist blogger, [[Rebecca Watson]], described unwanted sexual advances from a man at an atheist conference who followed her into an elevator and to her hotel room.
[[File:Atheist Dan Barker.jpg|thumbnail|left|175px|[[Dan Barker]] ]]
Writing on the [[sexism]] within the atheist community, [[atheism|atheist]] Victoria Bekiempis wrote in a ''Guardian'' article entitled ''Why the [[New Atheism]] is a boys' club'':
{{cquote|[[Annie Laurie Gaylor]], who founded the [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]] with her mother, Anne Nicol Gaylor, in 1978, sums it up succinctly: “One word — sexism.” Gaylor’s husband, [[Dan Barker]], who helms the organization along with her, is usually the one invited to speaking engagements, despite her longer tenure as the organization’s leader and her numerous books on atheism.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/sep/26/new-atheism-boys-club Why the [[New Atheism]] is a boys' club]</ref>}}
Katie Engelhart in her July 21, 2013 ''Salon'' article ''Atheism Has a Women Problem'' wrote:
== Center for Inquiry and accusations of sexism ==
''See also:'' [[Center for Inquiry]]
[[File:Rebecca watson portrait 2011.jpg|thumbnail|right|225px|A 2011 portrait of [[Rebecca Watson]] ]]
In ''[[The Nation]]'', Katha Pollitt wrote in ther article ''Atheists Show Their Sexist Side'':
{{Cquote|At the 2013 Women in Secularism conference, Ron Lindsay, CEO of the [[Center for Inquiry]], gave what was widely regarded as a condescending lecture to the women in attendance, accusing them of feminist bullying. (After a huge outcry, he apologized. That was good.)<ref>[https://www.thenation.com/article/atheists-show-their-sexist-side/ ''Atheists Show Their Sexist Side''] by Katha Pollitt, ''The Nation''</ref>}}
== Rebecca Watson and harassment from atheist men post Elevatorgate ==
''See also:'' [[Elevatorgate]][[File:Rebecca -watson portrait 2011.jpg|thumbnail|right150px|225px|A 2011 portrait of [[Rebecca Watson]] ]]
Post [[Elevatorgate]] controversy, at an atheist convention, [[Rebecca Watson]] claimed: "Hundreds of atheists have informed me that either they wanted to rape me, someone should rape me so that I will loosen up or that no one would ever rape me because I am so ugly".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1mLHdTsmPc PZ Myers and the Art of Shameless Dishonesty]</ref>
== David Silverman, former president of American Atheists, fired after sexual assault allegations ==
''See also:'' [[Firing of David Silverman from the American Atheists organization]] and [[Atheist organizations and scandals]] and [[Atheist feminism]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]][[File:David Silverman Reason Rally.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|David Silverman took feminist [[Rebecca Watson]] off the speakers list for the [[Reason Rally]] after [[Richard Dawkins]] objected to her speaking at the event.<ref>[http://skepchick.org/2013/09/my-time-with-richard-dawkins-or-why-you-should-never-meet-your-idols/ My Time With Richard Dawkins (Or, Why You Should Never Meet Your Idols)] by Sarah at [[Skepchick]], September 5, 2013</ref> See: [[Elevatorgate]] ]]
[[David Silverman]] served as the President of the [[American Atheists]] organization. <ref>http://www.atheists.org/about/Board_of_Directors</ref> Silverman was fired after allegations of financial conflicts and sexual assault.<ref>[https://www.buzzfeed.com/peteraldhous/david-silverman-atheist-fired-sexual-misconduct?utm_term=.yt64RqDPA#.ordaNrO4R This Firebrand Atheist Was Just Fired After Allegations Of Financial Conflicts And Sexual Assault]</ref> Nick Fish, the new president of American Atheists, indicated that Silverman's termination was not over sexual allegations, but as a result of a "loss of confidence" stemming from violations of internal policies on staff management, conflicts of interest, and their general code of conduct.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/09/06/americas-leading-atheist-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-speaks-out/ Leading atheist, accused of sexual misconduct, speaks out], ''Washington Post'' (republished article from ''[[Religion News Service]]'') by Kimberly Winston, September 6, 2018</ref> Silverman, through his lawyer, denies any wrong doing and indicates he has never had a non-consensual sexual encounter.<ref>[https://www.christianpost.com/news/american-atheists-president-david-silverman-fired-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations-223034/ American Atheists President David Silverman Fired After Sexual Misconduct Allegations], Christian Post, 2018</ref> See: [[Firing of David Silverman from the American Atheists organization]]
In an article entitled ''Hiring of Accused Atheist Leader Is Reminder That #MeToo Is Still Needed in Organized Atheism'', the atheist [[Sikivu Hutchinson]] wrote about the hiring of David Silverman by the organization [[Atheist Alliance International]]:
{{Cquote|The recent decision by Atheist Alliance International (AAI) to hire the former leader of American Atheists, David Silverman, to its executive director position is yet another indication that this business-as-usual rehab strategy also applies to movement atheism, which can be just as corrupt, cronyistic, and swaggeringly hostile to women as corporate America.<ref>[https://rewire.news/religion-dispatches/2019/10/14/hiring-of-accused-atheist-leader-is-reminder-that-metoo-is-still-needed-in-organized-atheism/ Hiring of Accused Atheist Leader Is Reminder That #MeToo Is Still Needed in Organized Atheism] by Sikivu Hutchinson, Rewire News</ref>}}
David Silverman resigned his position as Executive Director of Atheist Alliance International in December of 2019.<ref>[https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2019/12/20/david-silverman-is-out-again/ David Silverman is out, again] by PZ Myers</ref>
== Sam Harris and charges of misogny ==
[[File:Sam Harris 01.jpg|thumbnail|150px|rightleft|[[Sam Harris]] ]]
Like his fellow new atheist Richard Dawkins, [[Sam Harris]] has raised the ire of [[feminism|feminists]].<ref>[https://www.salon.com/2014/10/03/new_atheisms_troubling_misogyny_the_pompous_sexism_of_richard_dawkins_and_sam_harris_partner/ Atheism’s shocking woman problem: What’s behind the misogyny of Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris?] by Amanda Marcotte, ''Salon'' magazine, October 3, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/lovejoyfeminism/2014/09/is-sam-harris-sexist.html Is Sam Harris Sexist?] by Libby Anne at the blog ''Love, Joy, Feminism'', September 20, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.christiantoday.com/article/atheist.writer.sam.harris.faces.backlash.over.estrogen.vibe.comments/40735.htm Atheist writer Sam Harris faces backlash over 'estrogen vibe' comments] by Heather Tomlinson, ''Christianity Today'', September 17, 2014</ref>
In his defense, Harris published an article on his website titled, ''“I’m Not the Sexist Pig You’re Looking For”''<ref>[http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/im-not-the-sexist-pig-youre-looking-for “I’m Not the Sexist Pig You’re Looking For”] by Sam Harris, September 15, 2014</ref>
== Atheism, sexism and social Darwinism ==
[[File:Herbert Spencer.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Herbert Spencer]] was a proponent of [[Social Darwinism]]. ]]
Marcie Bianco wrote in her ''Quartz'' article ''Brazen sexism is pushing women out of America’s atheism movement'':
{{Cquote|There are two predominant reasons that can explain why sexism exists in the atheism movement. The first reason is the influence of [[social Darwinism]]. Philip Kitcher, professor of philosophy at Columbia University, wrote in ''The [[New York Times]]'' in 2012 that the first tenet of social Darwinism is the belief that “people have intrinsic abilities and talents (and, correspondingly, intrinsic weaknesses), which will be expressed in their actions and achievements, independently of the social, economic and cultural environments in which they develop.” A concept such as “men are from mars, women are from Venus” is one version of such gender-essentialist, social Darwinist ideas.
In the atheism movement, social Darwinism has played out as the justifiable assault of women by (naturally) aggressive men. [[Buzzfeed]]’s Mark Oppenheimer detailed many accounts of alleged sexism, sexual assault and coercion in his excellent exposé on the atheism movement. “Some women say they are now harassed or mocked at conventions, and the online attacks—which include Jew-baiting, threats of anal rape, and other pleasantries—are so vicious that two activists I spoke with have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder,” he writes.
Oppenheimer also writes that James Randi, chair of annual atheist gathering The Amaz!ng Meeting (TAM), used biological essentialism to rationalize alleged sex crimes and sexual harassment. Randi’s comments were in response to accusations made by multiple women against Michael Shermer, founder of Skeptic magazine. “[Shermer] had a bit too much to drink and he doesn’t remember. I don’t know,” Randi muses. “I’ve just heard that he misbehaved himself with the women, which I guess is what men do when they are drunk.”<ref>[https://qz.com/613270/brazen-sexism-is-pushing-women-out-of-americas-atheism-movement/ ''Brazen sexism is pushing women out of America’s atheism movement'']</ref>}}
== Wendy Marsman leaves atheist movement due to sexual harassment within the movement and her fellow atheists being silent about it ==
''See also:'' [[Atheistic China and sexism]] and [[Atheism and Asian males]] and [[Atheistic China and gender based workplace discrimination]]
Most atheists are likely [[ChinaEast Asia]] has the world's largest [[atheism|atheist]] population.<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics n (Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref> See alsosee: [[Asian atheism]])
[[China]] has the world's largest [[atheism|atheist]] population.<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref> See also: [[China and atheism]] The current [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in East Asia (particularly [[China]]) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Global atheism]] and [[Western atheism and race]]
The ''New York Times'' reported:
See: [[Atheism and the Me Too Movement]]
== Journal article on New Atheism and sexism ==
[[New Atheism]] was form of [[militant atheism]] in terms of its [[rhetoric]]al style.
Below is a journal article on New Atheism and sexism.
*[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277539518303443 Secular sexism: The persistence of gender inequality in the US New Atheist Movement], ''Women's Studies International Forum'', Volume 72, January–February 2019, Pages 47-55
== Dan Barker Google Trends data contrasted with Annie Laurie Gaylor's data ==
As noted above, writing on the [[sexism]] within the atheist community, [[atheism|atheist]] Victoria Bekiempis wrote in a ''Guardian'' article entitled ''Why the [[New Atheism]] is a boys' club'':
{{cquote|[[Annie Laurie Gaylor]], who founded the [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]] with her mother, Anne Nicol Gaylor, in 1978, sums it up succinctly: “One word — sexism.” Gaylor’s husband, [[Dan Barker]], who helms the organization along with her, is usually the one invited to speaking engagements, despite her longer tenure as the organization’s leader and her numerous books on atheism.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/sep/26/new-atheism-boys-club Why the [[New Atheism]] is a boys' club]</ref>}}
Below is Google Trends data of Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor.
[[File:Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor Google trends jan 2019.png|800px|thumbnail|center|According to Google Trends, there are considerably more Google searches for Dan Barker than Annie Laurie Gaylor. In addition, according to Google Trends from January 2004 to January 2020, there was a considerable decline of search volume for Dan Barker than Annie Laurie Gaylor.]]
== See also ==
