Occupation Blogger Name Amanda Marcotte Citizenship American Role Blogger | Subject Feminism, politics Partner Marc Faletti | |
Books Get Opinionated: A Progressive's Guide to Finding Your Voice (and Taking a Little Action) Similar People Jessica Valenti, PZ Myers, Hugo Schwyzer, Cathy Young, Rebecca Watson Profiles | ||
How Trolls Took Over The Right. Amanda Marcotte Interview
Amanda Marcotte Skepticon 3
Amanda Marie Marcotte (born September 2, 1977) is an American blogger who writes on feminism and politics.
Contents
- How Trolls Took Over The Right Amanda Marcotte Interview
- Amanda Marcotte Skepticon 3
- Early life
- Writing and activism in 2007
- Activities since 2008
- References
Early life
Born in El Paso, Texas, Marcotte was raised in the small town of Alpine in the west of the state. She graduated summa cum laude from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas with a degree in English literature. Around 2004, she began writing for the liberal blog Pandagon.net, then later for Slate and The Guardian.
In 2004 she won a Koufax Award for her "Mouse Words" blog.
Writing and activism in 2007
Time magazine described her as "an outspoken voice of the left," and said "there is a welcome wonkishness to Marcotte, who, unlike some star bloggers, is not afraid to parse policy with her readers." Time also described Marcotte's blogging as "provocative and profanity-laced."
In January 2007, Marcotte made several controversial statements about the Duke lacrosse case including calling people who defended the accused "rape-loving scum" and writing on her blog "Can’t a few white boys sexually assault a black woman anymore without people getting all wound up about it? So unfair." The post, which Marcotte later deleted, attracted criticism, was mentioned in The New York Times. The Duke lacrosse players were eventually found to have been falsely accused, and their accuser, Crystal Mangum, was later convicted of an unrelated murder.
On January 30, 2007, the John Edwards 2008 presidential campaign hired Marcotte to act as the campaign's blogmaster despite the criticism, responding that while Edwards was "personally offended" by some of Marcotte's remarks, her job as their blogmaster was secure.
Further controversy resulted on February 12, 2007, when the Catholic League criticized Marcotte's review of the film Children of Men as "anti-Christian." Following the criticism Marcotte announced her resignation from the Edwards campaign. In an article for Salon a few days later, she said the reaction to her comments on the Duke lacrosse case was the first in a series of "shitstorms" that prompted her resignation.
Activities since 2008
As of 2013, Marcotte blogs at The Raw Story, contributes to Slate, The Guardian, Salon, and does a weekly podcast called RH Reality Cast.
Marcotte has given presentations at Skepticon, SXSW 2012, Women In Secularism 2, and SkepchickCON. She was formerly on the speakers bureau of the Secular Student Alliance.
Marcotte is the author of It's a Jungle Out There: The Feminist Survival Guide to Politically Inhospitable Environments (2008) and Get Opinionated (2010).