"Let's hear it for the brave women who attended and anyone over 40." This took me by surprise. But I certainly appreciated the sentiment. I didn’t expect just showing up to FarCon to spark this discussion.
I guess I don't think of needing courage to attend a conference. But if I zoom out, yes, maybe so. Or maybe I've just gotten used to being one of the few -- sometimes only -- women on a stage or in a meeting. Or if there's one or two more, it's a big deal. I was truly happy there was even one other woman speaking at FarCon. (hi Adrienne! lol)
One of the surprising questions I was asked a few times last weekend was about how I felt being a woman in crypto. And why I thought there weren’t many others. I didn’t expect it to be such a topic of discussion. But there are some very thoughtful, self-aware, genuinely concerned men on Farcaster. The crypto bro toxic vibe that flies around the bird app and so many discords is minimal on the purple app. And in the other communities I choose to be a part of as well.
But I was still surprised that just showing up with lady parts would be applauded. Sometimes just showing up is hard though. Especially when it’s out of your comfort zone. So it got me thinking – what is it about this “brave” woman over 40 that keeps her coming back?
I wasn’t a very athletic kid (except swimming) but even so I wanted to play baseball. There was no softball for girls at that time so I joined Little League and played with the boys, the only girl on the team, and only 1 other in the league. It’s also when I learned that I have virtually no hand/eye coordination so I became “Queen of the Walks” as my Dad used to call me. I wouldn’t even try to hit but luckily the pitchers always sucked so I’d at least get on base. I only played one season.
Fast forward to law school—I was interested in sports and entertainment law and was thinking about becoming an agent. I had won my schools negotiation competition and loved contracts as well as IP. During an event, a couple panelists told me flat out that women can’t be agents—no one will hire them, even the women athletes. One panelist worked for the top sports agency in Boston; the other was the VP of a pro team you all know (and probably hate). I took the note and focused on IP.
And there’s more examples like this when I look back. So why did I stay this time? It hasn’t always been easy. But something has kept me here.
Because this time is too important. There’s too much on the line for us to leave out half the population. Because women want access to capital that we’ve been lacking for so long. And if I leave, that’s one less woman to say gm when the next woman finds her way here.
I feel dumb saying this but this is where I feel I can actually change the world and have an impact. In this nascent space. So why would I leave? And where would I go? All my frens are here now. So I guess you’re stuck with me now.
But I don’t have the answers as to how we get more women on Farcaster or in this space in general. Creating a open environment that feels comfortable and inviting is a good first start. As we build more utility, community, and cool stuff, more will find their way here.
For now, I’m staying. And I do love me some provenance. I now get to say I was one of the first women to present at FarCon. So that's something.
Do you think it takes bravery to be a woman in web3? Why do you think there aren’t more woman on Farcaster?
(As I write this I’m vibing to “Settling” by The Park. I recommend you do the same.)
Previous posts:
The smartness of being the dumbest person in the room
The Nounish Professor
fixed it (see next reply for more context and a smol researched rant)
So it’s been said that it’s all women at the top of the rewards leaderboard who post nothing but pictures of cats, dogs, food and selfies with no real content, making it seem as if they are just being rewarded for ai slop they didn’t actually create. Well, this is Farcaster not Twitter so facts actually matter. I looked at each of the FCers in the top 10 last week -- let’s dive in… 1. @bertwurst.eth FID 864405, 3.6 k followers – a dog (just suspend the disbelief and go with it – it’s more fun that way) that has not only brought extra cuteness to the timeline but has championed crowdfunding good causes and promoting apps he enjoys. 2. @m00npapi.eth FID 9933, 9 k followers – a dude who can kill Cher in karaoke 🎤 what is there not to like 3. @ted FID 239, 254k followers – yes our first big account in the top 10 (which actually makes it harder to get up here) providing daily interesting content – photo, video and written – that people actively engage with (and not a thirst trap in sight) 4. @patriciaxlee.eth FID 719715, 2.8k followers and newer in terms of consistently posting content including her travels, adding interesting questions/content that lead to engaging discussions – oh and she out there spending some of her rewards gifting it Humankind candles to others and supporting FC builders 5. @igoryuzo.eth FID 17714, 2.5k followers – low FID but just recently more engaged due to building /griv which many people are starting to use regularly hence the bump – oh and a dude in case you didn’t notice in his casts – a dude who ran a half marathon last week cuz people kept liking his cast and he said he’d run a minute for each like so maybe y’all complaining better start working harder? Go run a half marathon and then you can whine more. 6. @accidentalboymom FID 1075593, 847 followers – let me repeat that last part: 847 followers!!!!! But small accounts can’t get on the leaderboard? Hmmmm OK there’s a lot of cats and food in this one but I’m not mad at it 7. @july FID 1287, 122k followers – ok, I get it with this one – low FID, big following and HE is just thirst trap, after thirst trap and AI slop. I really wish every once in a while he’d get a bit more intellectual or like build something (and in case you missed it, that was sarcasm – go look at his acct) 8. @priyanka FID 6373, 14k followers – an incredible photographer and artist bringing amazing art to the timeline. If you got a problem with this one, it’s a you problem. 9. @coconutrinds FID 1105154, 1.7k followers – don’t know this newer account very well – but I do see them gifting fc pro to someone from their rewards winnings so how cool is that? 10. @keccers.eth FID 4407, 116k followers – and she casts some of the most interesting content on Farcaster and has been doing so since 2022! Every. Single. Day. (or seems like it -- have you ever missed a day?) Oh she also builds in public and shares that. Thanks @bradq for always taking the time to write up the rewards this week with a great summary and shoutouts. Crypto is an industry that is about 70% male and the toxicity is palpable in some parts of it. If you spent any time in a discord back in 2021, you know. I've been the only woman in the room many, many, many times. At the first FarCon, I was one of 4 women in the room. (see my reflection of this linked below) Luckily, the founders of this platform and the early users made a place that felt safe so a lot of us stuck around. And that made it safe for other women to join and start casting. It hasn't been perfect. No where is. But yes, this is a place where the misogyny isn't allowed to drown out sanity. Here’s the thing about Farcaster – you can choose your own adventure. If you do not like seeing certain content on your timeline, utilize the tools to create the timeline you want to see – block, mute are there for a reason. But if you’re whining about not getting rewarded and the only content you’re sharing is quote casts and ai created casts and nothing original or interesting, why not take some notes from those who are creating REAL content and do better. If it’s really a goal for you to hit that top 10, try harder and stop whining. Stop it! (s/o @rachelw) In the words of @adrienne – mama’s had enough. https://farcaster.xyz/bradq/0x752f3833 https://paragraph.com/@nounishprof/genxx
taggin my 11th, 12th and 13th tags above since you got dropped: @bradq @rachelw @adrienne
My fave part is that @m00npapi.eth and @july are girlies
and @igoryuzo.eth lol
😆 😆 😆 😆 25 $hunt
Skill diff Actively saying this from the boonies in rank 500 lol
Watch more copycats pop up https://farcaster.xyz/tylerperrystein/0x42b46e4e
BRAVO! Great cast, NP!
Does the leaderboard show what’s important to the people that use the app or the people that run the app? Genuine question, because i don’t know.
those that use the app — yes the team determines the algorithm but the users determine who gets their attention.
https://media.tenor.com/AC5ZB5M8EtEAAAAC/hallelujah-hallelujer
Great callout @nounishprof !!
ty!! 🫶 it's been a minute since something got my irish up around here
Great write up, plenty of information for the whiners out there!!🤠🙌 5442 $betr
Nailed it 🤌
come on nobody is giving me enough hate and credit for that cast blowing up and being a controversy
I literally didn't see anything from you about it lol but congrats I guess?
ah so honored to be in this list tbh! and for introducing myself, i’m a med student, passionate about literature and i tend to document my real life experiences with some humor that i think resonates with people. nice to meet you and hope to have more interactions on the tl🥰❤️
nice to meet you!
ty for this 🙏🏼❤️
I love how you took your time to explain this 🥹 They’re all amazing people and I love to see how they’re always winning because they all worked for it and we all love their contents. That’s how it should be.
Rxactly. If you don’t like what’s on your feed, curate better instead of crying about it. All this hate feels so unnecessary tbh, would anyone even complain if it were all men on the leaderboard? Everyone on that top ten worked hard to get there!
no one would even notice if it was all guys on the leaderboard -- and if it was and they were crushing it with great content, all the more power to them!
Nice one, I enjoyed reading everyone's intro
This is awesome, I wish I could find it, but it’s fascinating the takes and studies around how people just fundamentally are really bad at data. And they can have insane takeaways even in the spite of clearly laid out data. So cheers for putting forth the data!!
Thank you prof
I’m quote casting this in the hopes my own trolls see it and maybe have some epiphany. I can dream right? Also this is some great analysis.
perfect cast, no notes ❤️🔥
looks like school is in session 5555 $betr
no notes, prof.
woof 1111 $degen
I like this version better
Fair point tbh, sometimes the fun stuff carries more value than people think
🚶♀️🚶♀️👀👀🚶♀️👀👀👀👀👀
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From 4 of us last year, to leading the way this year in 11 months time. Not bad. With women on almost every panel, hacking, investing and leading. AND not one “women in web3” panel in sight! btw the environment & culture here on FC makes this much easier & inviting. So thanks everyone for that! 💜💕💕
btw this is what I wrote after last year’s FarCon — it didn’t occur to me that “courage” was needed to be in that room. I just wanted to be there. 💜 https://paragraph.xyz/@nounishprof/genxx
And this part is a thank you to the men of Farcaster.
👏👏👏 well done!
Thanks Seneca! And it was truly a pleasure to finally get to chat in person! ⌐◨-◨
I also like to avoid the "women in Web3" panel and actually try to have more women on the panel!! Great stuff!!!
on behalf of the boys, i would like to recognize that /farcon was almost entirely organized and led by women here on Farcaster. thank you. it was a huge success because of y’all and the families. it is no small feat to lead so publicly in a space that has historically excluded female leaders and representation.
Not even being there, I could tell how beautiful and intentional it all was. Thank you for sharing this, it’s incredible to see women get their recognition!
1000 $DEGEN
Amazing what has happened in just 11 months. This is what I wrote after FarCon last year. https://paragraph.xyz/@nounishprof/genxx
well said 200 $degen
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
GM.Why are we here? “Because this time is too important. There’s too much on the line for us to leave out half the population. Because women want access to capital that we’ve been lacking for so long. And if I leave, that’s one less woman to say gm when the next woman finds her way here.” — @nounishprof
Source https://paragraph.xyz/@nounishprof/genxx
"The crypto bro toxic vibe that flies around the bird app and so many discords is minimal on the purple app." Yes. That's one reason I love FC! Always glad to see this thoughtful piece making the rounds. Deserves a re-read. I've been planning to collect it, but first I need to decide which quotes I want to highlight!
Totally agree! It’s just as good, if not better, upon a re-read!
this is so good to read 👏