[holman]

A "passion project", in my mind, is simply a project that you're excited about (notably one that is likely outside the bounds of your normal, day-to-day job). I distinguish them from "side projects", which tend to be something you're interested in, but not something you're necessarily defined by. That's the reason the program's called passion projects — hopefully we'll have a ton of talks on really interesting things that our speakers are really, well, passionate about.

I don't view "passion" as a word that is exclusive to women, in other words — we could just as easily pull in men for the same talk series.

[oliverhunt]

Most definitely. We share the same meaning of the concept of a passion project. I was probably just over thinking it, I am just suspicious of the way such highly emotive language has been used and it just happens to be for an interview series with women.

I'll admit I had not read the link before I posted that comment, but looking at it now I still believe that the language used is overly emotional and I think that it has been used just because this is a series on women.

A definition of the word passion involves, among other things "strong and barely controllable emotion" and I think this may be an obvious case where a gendered stereotype has been blatantly applied.

Some sentences taken from the link:

"celebrate the work of some of the most passionate women in our industry."

"share one of their nearest and dearest passion projects with our community."

"to hear about some positive experiences from other women in our industry doing what they love."

[holman]

> "celebrate the work of some of the most passionate women in our industry."

> "share one of their nearest and dearest passion projects with our community."

> "to hear about some positive experiences from other women in our industry doing what they love."

Yup, I'm pretty excited about all of these things. Don't know why this is a problem.

[oliverhunt]

There is obviously no problem with hearing about these things. I am focussing on the language used which could be seen to feminise the people taking part in the series when in fact we know nothing about them other than they are women and that they are in tech. I doubt you could find any other tech series which uses language as seen in the link.

Really, I am focussing on the mundane ways in which "women = feminine = emotional" has been portrayed in the few words that were written on the new series.

If you are interested in the way gender is reproduced in this way I recommend this reading http://www.mariabuszek.com/kcai/PoMoSeminar/Readings/BtlrPer...

It is a text by Judith Butler, probably one of the most influential living social theorists who writes on gender and focuses on 'the mundane', meaning language, acts etc

Anyway, I am excited to watch these. So, if you were involved - thanks.