Why Coding "Big Boobs" is no Joke

These days it seems like everyone is trying encourage women to participate more in STEM. Well, apparently not everyone...

For an example, let's take a look at some articles that have been blowing up the intertubes today:

• Microsoft code contains the phrase 'big boobs' ... Yes, really
• Microsoft Removes Embarrassing 'Big Boobs' String From Linux Code
• Microsoft 'Big Boobs' gaffe points to wider industry problems for women in tech

For anyone who thinks that this is "just a joke," let's try a little thought experiment. Imagine that instead of in code, "Big Boobies" was written on the whiteboard in your office. Imagine "Big Boobies" on stickers all over your desk. Imagine it written on your ID badge. Imagine it written all over your car. Imagine it all over your house. Imagine that when people looked at you, they only saw a set of boobs, and ignored your worth as a person. Do you know how exponentially more stressful a job interview is when you not only have to defend your work, but also your very being?

This is not a joke; this is the very definition of what a hostile environment is. Only for women, it's not limited to one company or even one industry. It's in movies. It's on TV. It's in magazines. It's all over the Internet. It is everywhere we go. This is not a "gaffe"; this is not a "mistake." This is an insult to half of the world's population. So, no, I won''t be "getting over" crap like this; I will be calling it out whenever I see it, and I hope that others continue to do the same as well.

Note: This item is an expanded version of a comment posted elsewhere.
Note2: Please forgive any typographical or grammatical errors. My brain still hasn't recovered from finishing my Masters in computer science earlier this year...