If you can’t beat em, join em?

Recently, a number of women on twitter have joked about changing their online identity to that of a man. Men’s comments are more likely to be taken seriously, and are far less likely to be trolled with hate comments and threats of violence for their opinions.

In the literary industry, men are paid more, and receive more coverage, awards, and overall respect, as this week’s new VIDA count attests.

 

This morning, I saw one black woman on twitter’s hilarious remake of herself as a man.

ok, twitter, I've been inspired by various WoC's dude twitter makeovers, but today's mustache from @tehawesomersace has tipped the balance

— A y a d e L e o n (@AyadeLeon) April 9, 2015

I decided to play with what that might look like for me. A little while back, I took a few selfies wearing a fake mustache my daughter had. Here are some of my faves:

1/3)Not sure I'm ready to change profile pic, but I'm def ready for more respect+better pay. Shd I be angryblackdude? pic.twitter.com/0Nv2R9FFZP

— A y a d e L e o n (@AyadeLeon) April 9, 2015

2/3) or if my whole goal is to get taken seriously by the literary industry, maybe I should be deepwriterdudeofcolor? pic.twitter.com/aFZEeENlVj

— A y a d e L e o n (@AyadeLeon) April 9, 2015

3/3)then again, given fears of black men, how about harmlessfunblackguy? Can't spend better pay if yr killed by cops* pic.twitter.com/QLCdC57YU0

— A y a d e L e o n (@AyadeLeon) April 9, 2015

*just to clarify, numerous black women have also been killed by police…

— A y a d e L e o n (@AyadeLeon) April 9, 2015