Facebook has had problems regarding its sexist treatment of women for some time.  There have been dozens of scandals regarding users who are banned for posting pictures of themselves breastfeeding their babies, while nearly naked and overtly sexual images are allowed.  But it seems that Facebook’s ideas about how women should be viewed go a little deeper than that.

Most users are familiar with the silly language options on Facebook.  It is possible to change your settings to “Pirate,” and spend a few days laughing at scallywags on your news feed.  However, Facebook also has a “Leet Speak” setting.  And in this setting, there is no setting for “female.”  Either you are male, or you are, “54ndw1ch m4k3r”  For those of you unfamiliar with leet speak (or l33t sp3@k), that’s “sandwich maker.”

This is closer to Facebook’s allowance of rape joke groups than it is to their perceived loathing of nursing mothers.  Women apparently have a place in Facebook.  They are sex objects, with breasts that are intended only for the pleasure of men, and their place is to be hilariously raped or in the kitchen, making a sandwich.

Well done, Facebook.  I think it’s time all us female users headed over to Google+.

[note from editor:  Facebook has recently changed this setting.  But it is still offensive that it was even allowed.  You can find more discussions about it here: 

"Sandwich makers" now described as "female" under Facebook's "Leet Speak" option:
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Thanks for posting about this Lea!]