Wondering Why

Women like comics. Girls like comics. And science fiction. And fantasy. And action flicks. And dramas. And comedies. And sports. And Dungeons & Dragons. And WoW. And every other genre out there with the sole possible exception of whatever the hell genre Manswers qualifies as...

So why do we keep having to remind people that we're here? Why do we keep having to bring up, in front of guys who have been chatting with us about this show or book for years that why, yes, women are in the audience? Why do we keep having to point out from the front row that, wow, the content we squeed about last week is massively offensive towards women this week? Why do conventions still have trouble establishing and enforcing sexual harassment policies? Why do networks disregard us in the viewership numbers when we're half the audience? Why do we have to be the ones pointing out that, in fact, someone would catch a cold fighting crime on rooftops wearing that in the winter? Why do we have to argue again and again that skintight tops and fishnets and thongs and breasts that defy gravity and waists that defy the existence of internal organs might titillate the guys in the audience but continue to drive away potential new female readers every time they see a cover?...

Why is this still a problem? Why do companies still think that guys are the only ones interested in all the bright and shiny toys? Why do we have to stand up and shout "We are here! We are here! We are here!" like the Whos down in Whoville when we've clearly been here the whole time?