By Julie Roads of Writing Roads: Marketing writer, blogger, ghostwriter, consultant and GEEK GIRL! (See you at Geek Girl Camp 2010!)

Really? America’s ‘Tweethearts’ have to be half-naked?

Today was kind of a big day for girls that get their geek on. Vanity Fair ran a feature on a powerful group of women that have made a name for themselves on Twitter.

Or was it?

The articles was titled, ‘America’s Tweethearts’. That’s cute, adorable, a fun play on words. But the word ’sweetheart’ – that’s what the principal calls the girl who wants to be on the wrestling team when he tells her that she just can’t play with the big boys. It’s condescending. And it’s a classic way to categorize women in a way that steals their power. Would you call the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or the top litigator in the country a ’sweetheart’? No, you wouldn’t – male or female.

So why here?

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but it gets worse. Here’s the picture they ran at the top of the story:

Yes, by golly, they are half-naked, legs bared, in high-heels and standing suggestively. And please, find the man that thinks they’re actually wearing something under the trench coats.

The article itself is fairly fluffy – the quotes make the women seem a bit flaky, and it definitely pokes fun at Twitter and all that it’s become. Which, mind you, is a little justified (we all know that is has massive value and that there are some flaws in the system as well). But why take it out on these women?

When I mentioned the picture (on Twitter) and how gross I thought it was, a man replied: “Well, there IS a reason why they’re so popular. Guys fantasize about being able to talk to hot girls on equal footing.” Ladies, I almost threw up my lunch. So. These women have succeeded in getting attention and the ear of thousands (30K+) because they’re hot? Not because they’re smart or techy or geeky or good at what they do or fine, funny people?

And, I couldn’t help but wonder if the women knew ahead of time. I can imagine finding out that I was going to be featured on Vanity Fair. I’d be a wee bit excited – I wouldn’t ask about the picture, and I’d be giddy at the photo shoot. It’s a hard thing to stand against when you’re being handed such a glorious opportunity.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that strong, successful women can’t be sexy. No way! I would never say that and I don’t believe it. But, this is all about presentation. It’s sending a message – and it’s stealing the thunder of the other message. You know, the one that highlights the accomplishments of women in tech.

So, what can we do?

This is one of those times, Geek Girls. Yes, I’m talking to you and you and even you. If we want to be taken seriously in the world of all things geek and tech, we have to educate ourselves. We have to have the tools and the smarts in our pockets and at the ready. This is the time to show that we have a right to be part of this world, we’re succeeding in this world…and we (most of us, anyway) have all of our clothes ON.