Poll: Do you like the term "Webmistress"?
Thursday January 31, 2008
I am not a Web"mistress" and I never will be. But I am happy to be called a Webmaster. You can also call me "Web Guru" or "Web Know-it-all" :-)
Jennifer's Web Design / HTML Blog
By Jennifer Kyrnin, About.com Guide to Web Design / HTML since 1997
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Comments
Did you make this one up Jennifer?
I’ve never heard it used, but I imagine a lot adults sites use the term.
You’re right though (if it’s used) I’m from the UK and it means the same thing here, not a particularly nice title to have.
Sounds like someone one who sleeps with her servers.
(I just had to say it!)
Mistress, in common usage, has such an overwhelming negative connotation I don’t like the term webmistress. If one dislikes the male connotation of master push toward gender neutrality.
I’m from Germany and I actually came across that title once or twice. I don’t like it either
But some of my friends like to call themselves webmistresses. I guess because they do not think about the negative connotation or because they are so geeky they really almost sleep with their pcs *lol*
It’s the word “mistress” that gives the bad connotation. And, in this day and age, since the word “master” indicates a male gender, perhaps we should be trying to invent a new term for webmaster which does not differentiate gender. I hurt my brain trying to come up with a suitable term.
Webmistress is just ridiculous… I wouldn’t call myself a webmaster either. It’s outdated, coming from a time where most people knew very little about the workings of the web (early-mid 90s?).
Now days, anyone can take a course online and become a ‘webmaster’ of any CMS solution imo. =]
Tim: nearly every time I promote my question asking “what is your job title” someone responds that they call themselves a “webmistress”. I am not joking!
Maura: I’m not sure that “master” must indicate male. After all, I can state that I’m a “master of my fate” or a “master musician” and no one would assume that I’m male simply because of those terms. Or does it have to do with the field you’re a master in? Is a master carpenter automatically male? I would argue no, but I suppose some would argue yes…
How about Webperson?
Well, I’ve been doing web work for quite awhile, when it seemed as if everyone assumed you were a man, and with a name like Robin… well, you can figure that one out. So I actually adopted it a long time ago. I suppose I don’t use it often anymore, but it doesn’t bother me. I like your idea of know-it-all. Considering I’m in a female-centric profession (web work aside), you’d be surprised all the female oriented words “we” come up with to avoid the male names. We “woman” booths. Oh well I won’t go on.
Robin: good point. It’s interesting, because I also like to change genders on terms like you mentioned. But for some reason webmistress just rubs me the wrong way.
You see, the odd thing is, I’m usually annoyed at changing the genders on things like mailperson, womaning a booth etc. I find it annoying. There has actually been a lot written about the gender-neutral use of language in so many fields from birth to computers, religion to the workforce… It’s very interesting.
How about WebMstress! LOL
I’m a child of the 60’s and 70’s, and am so glad that the unisex revolution has died down.
Today, it’s so much more okay to be female. I studied and worked in a male-dominated field, and found I had to “look” the part.
Having said that, I still don’t like WebMistress, as Mistress has taken on too much unsavory meaning. But, I do feel like I am a mistress (err, slave) to my PC! But that attachment is purely by choice (I think).
And that’s, Ms. Ladybug, WebMstress (hmmm… that doesn’t seem too bad).
Ellen aka Ladybug
When this question popped up, I just had to add my 2 cents. I have never liked the words changed gender specific formats. Chairwoman and worst, chairperson. Lately it has been shortend to Chair. Firefighter is OK. The subject of mistress has been well covered. Don’t like it! I have no problem with webmaster (if I were one)
Honestly, I didn’t even think of it until you mentioned it. If someone is an expert of their field and is capable of teaching me something I don’t know, I don’t care if you want to call yourself “you majesty”. I think the connotation of the word might have to do with your state of mind rather than the intent of distinguishing between a man or woman.
I’m absolutely in favor of gender-neutral terminology whenever possible, and goodness knows “webmistress” is pretty awful. That said, I have a friend who seems to have characterized the relationship more accurately: he calls himself a “web slave.”
Personally, I prefer the term “webweaver.”
But I hate “webmistress” far more than I dislike “webmaster.”
Besides, who can really say they’ve mastered the whole web? Just when you think you’ve come close, it pulls some new surprise …
Robin sez >>We “woman” booths.
How about webwright? It is neutral for all who are paranoid about gender and it indicates a person of (oh no) journeyman capability.
I prefer Web Manager - although that can cause problems in a large organiation where the title Manager implies certain staffing responsibilities.
But when freelancing - yes.
This is way too funny!
With so much negativity about infidelity among marriages, Web mistress sounds like an easy pickup in a chat room or something like cyber trash.
I don’t believe the term Webmaster was ever intended to differentiate men from women as much as a title for someone who can make web sites. It probably came from some guys in a back room designing sites and one said; “Dude! You are the Master!” Not to be confused with Dungeon Masters they added “Web” to it.
ROFL
This sounds like a good one for Saturday Night Live…
Can you imagine… You’re in an elevator with a bunch of people and someone asks you what you do and you answer “web mistress” (now Poehler) - what a crack up!!
I call myself a web admin, because I think the term webmaster is a bit pretentious, but I do know some women who use the term “webster”, which is apparently the female form of the word “weaver”. Or maybe they’re just putting me on.
How about “Web Wrangler,” “Web Handler,” or “Web Gaffer”? BTW, I looked to the theater/film industry for inspiration on this. They have a couple of positions with the gender situation: best boy and property master. But other positions have neutral naming: key grip, for example, and various operators, designers, directors, producers. I guess it really depends on what you feel the Webmaster job entails. “Web Director” might just be the ticket. I also like “Web slave,” since it’s often descriptive of the situation.
I’m totally with you here, Jennifer. Good argument!
The few women I know who do prefer the term are all outspoken feminists, BTW.
how about
KNOWER OF ALL
DIVISION OF INFINATE KNOWLEDGE
people should lighten up
HAVE MORE FUN
POKE POMPASSITY
Someone is going to get a spanking! You’ve been a ‘bad’ wesite….
If Hillary Rodham Clinton wins and becomes President and is willing to use Presidentrix (or equal)then I guess it would be ok for Webmistresses.
Hal
An old term used for a member of a guild who passed all the tests of mastery of his craft was “Meister” This would eliminate the association of masculinity our language has with master, and add that bit of historical reference to the craft.
Hm. I don’t care one way or the other, but, then, I’m odd anyway. In one of my groups, WebMinister is a common usage; it sort of ties in with “web administration”.
I’ve signed some of my web-related emails as “web-messer” because sometimes one little change can just…
It’s similar to receiveing a Master’s degree. You don’t say you’re getting a “Mistress’s” degree. I think the term is used to show the level of knowledge. I think WebMistress is silly and I obviously wouldn’t use it, but I can see not using WebMaster by people due to the gender connotation, and opting for another term instead.
To me, “webmistress” sounds like a fantasy character. I thought of “the Widow of the Web” in “Krull” who lives in the center of a giant spiderweb and dresses all in black …
“Webmaster” on the other hand is the best thing I can come up with for the person who creates and maintains individual websites - yet I confess that when I sign an email regarding one of my sites as “Webmaster,” I always do think it sounds masculine.
Then again, if I used some special coined phrase, people would think I was being pretentious.
I was just wondering how would “webmistress” translate in italian, where the “ess” ending derives from italian/latin “essa”. We use the english word webmaster and to italian/latin thinking “webmistress” would mean “the webmaster’s wife”. Another example, we say “professore” (for “professor”) and “professoressa” for a female professor, but philologically “professoressa” means “the professor’s wife” …. so, as no one nowadays objects at being called professoressa, yet I do, since I am not married to any professore, yet I teach, as well as work as a … webmaster? Too much discrimination in most western languages, but can we try to change things without falling into ridicolus excesses?
Regards
Rita
Personally, I use the term “webservant” as my goal is to serve my clients. I want to communicate that I’m there to help them be more effective at whatever they do. Ah the joys of language - and semantics.
Some alternatives…webmeister, webbernaut, webwizard. If you don’t want to raise expectations too high, netnoodler, pixilpusher, webmodeler. Politically incorrect: webwitch.
I actually use the title webmistress but I didn’t realize how many people disliked it. To me it seemed rather humorous, gets a chuckle from the clients. I see no harm in using it….. but then I have the word temptress in my screen name. ; )
Laura: Well, there’s certainly no harm in using the term if it works for you. Especially if you and everyone you work with finds it simply humorous.
I think when it bugs me is when complete strangers address me as “Jennifer Kyrnin, Webmistress” - I mean, I don’t call myself that (of course, I don’t title myself “Jennifer Kyrnin, Webmaster” either…). My favorite appellation that a client gave me was “Web Goddess” but I think she was using that to flatter me into doing last minute jobs for her…
Quite frankly~I don’t care it they call me webmistress or webmaster. In my circle it is a term used with respect.
I am willing to consider whatever anyone wants to present to me, however; in the end the final decision is mine- and mine alone.
Too funny.. Someone else who gets this hung up on [rhetoric]..
)
I use “webmistress” for fun.. I like it, but then I’m one of “those” who *do* see “webmaster” as being male oriented.. Stemming from what once at least had the appearance of being a male dominated field, as a matter of fact..
Quite an odd coincidence to see this today.. With all the linked data chatter going on, just this AM was thinking that I’m going to have to probably be changing out all my “webmistress” entries to “webmaster” soon.. That or.. Hm..
Wandering off now to venture the Net once again while contemplating the following definition just found re “mistress” (and I quoteth from Dictionary.com): “a woman who has authority, control, or power, esp. the female head of a household, institution, or other establishment”……..
Yup, “webmistress” *still* works for these fingertips..
Firstly, the web weaver/web manager phrases appeal because they are accurate yet vague, and gender-free. (By the way, my organisation neither “mans” nor “womans” booths or sales counters - we staff them.)
Secondly, being elderly, stout, grey-haired and ridiculously respectable in appearance, I enjoy the whiff of naughtiness when I call myself “webmistress”. (Just because I keep my memories to myself doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten earlier wilder times.)
Thirdly, I belong to a group of middle-aged embroiderers. Traditional embroidery. Crewel. The group is called “The Crewellas”. What does this mean I wonder?
Finally, when I saw the associated advertisements called up by this thread (e.g. How to train a slave/Meet local submissive gay men)I wondered if my gentle enjoyment of the webmaster/webmistress terminology wasn’t a bit naive for these times.
I call myself the webmistress in my blog to avoid confusion. People normally assume that the one who made the website is a man.
Just want to make it clear that I am a woman.
I like the controversy generated by the term webmistress as it evokes images of the mistress, illicit yet powerful.