Spike Gillespie
interviewed by Emma Taylor on August 22, 1996
"Let's say it like this for those intimidated by the concept of feminism -- I write about women's issues because I'm a woman who takes issue with everything."
Spike Gillespie is the self-titled "Madonna of the Infobahn." She talks here about writing as a single mother, why she can "shoot from the hip" on the Web, and women who are moving and shaking online.
Tripod: Are you a women's writer, or just a writer who is a woman?
Spike Gillespie: Well I am definitely NOT one of those people you'd catch saying, "I'm not a feminist, BUT...." I most certainly am a feminist. People get the wrong idea when they hear that word, though. So let's say it like this for those intimidated by the concept of feminism -- I write about women's issues because I'm a woman who takes issue with everything. I write from a woman's perspective -- how could I not? But my column subscribers are roughly 50-50, male/female. I like that. I like to write stuff that touches everyone because for women to advance, men have to play a part, just like they played a huge part in holding us back. (Oh, but don't forget, some of us let ourselves be held back. Knock it off...)
Tripod: I've heard you call yourself the Madonna of the Infobahn...
SG: Oh, that started back when my computer nerd friends (yes, they were all boys) kept telling me about this thing called the Internet. Back when I was afraid of computers. They'd seen my writing in "The Austin Chronicle" and told me I had a real place on the Net, that I could fill a then-gaping hole. Or, as one of them put it, that I could be "the Madonna of the Infobahn." Pity the term Infobahn is so passe now -- the title had a nice ring to it. But still, though I have mixed feelings about Madonna, I have to hand it to her-- she's an inspiration in how she has managed to hold the world's attention for so long. As I said, I am a major attention-monger.
Tripod: If you compare "girls' stuff" on the Web with the most popular women's print magazines, there is a huge difference in the approach the two take to their audience. Most of the popular women's sites on the Web are pretty chatty, kickbutt, and make no apologies for being girly. As opposed to the "get on a diet/get your man" attitude of women's print magazines. Do you agree? Why do you think this is?
SG: I do agree. And I'd like to point to Women's Wire as an example. It's a great, informative, intelligent site. YES, you'll find horoscopes there, too -- but I think that's fine. We're sort of socialized to read that stuff and it's fun and not as harmful as the "Get Anorexic So He'll Sleep With You..." articles in glossy mags. Still, as much as I love sweeping generalizations, I have to point out that some women's print magazines run okay articles. "Seventeen" let me do a piece on teen mothers -- it was a real honest piece. "Cosmo," of all places, let me do a piece on being a single mom. And "Elle" and "Mademoiselle" both let me -- in different topic articles (one on walking, the other on how I lost 50 pounds) -- talk about how much self-esteem you can gain if you EXERCISE. Of course, I talked about the physical benefits, and how nice it is to not be fat anymore (because that happens to be true in my case). But I requested that they keep in the mental benefits stuff and they honored that.
Back to electronic -- it's a great medium. It's very "shoot from the hip," at least for me. I can be more honest, say more. I'm not sure why, but maybe it's because demographic studies show that most folks online are financially doing pretty okay and also are well-educated. Those two don't guarantee anything, but they clearly lend themselves to more open-minded readers who aren't afraid of articles that aren't pumped through the anaesthetizing machine that too many print magazines use. Let me waffle one more second here -- I'm not saying print magazine readers are stupid (I love to read "People" now and then myself). But online is just a whole different animal than print.
Tripod: Are there women on the Web whom you admire for the impact they are making in this medium?
SG: I like Marissa Bowe, at Word. She's been online forever and she's really brilliant. And she's not afraid to want things-- success, money, power. She told me that in an interview once -- too many women are afraid to want. They think it's wrong. I also interviewed Dorothy Shamonsky, who at the time was working for MTV on an interactive TV prototype. She had a lot of cool, smart things to say. Of course, Esther Dyson is queen of the biz, for now. She is a real visionary, and I forgive her never replying to my request for an interview.
Other than that, I like "regular" women who put up Web sites for the hell of it. Who use the medium not necessarily for profit, but because they want to be heard. My friend, Evany Thomas, for example, runs her journals. They are hysterical. I love her site. And Webgrrls -- one well-known CyberDiva I know and respect told me Webgrrls are wimpy. But you know what? I've worked with them, I spoke to the Austin chapter, and nationally they've helped me get the word out on my column. It's a great organization. I tell all of my friends, especially those hunting for jobs, to tune into their local Webgrrls site and check out the opportunities. It's funny they meet in person, too, but that is really effective. The meeting I spoke at -- I made a number of new friends. Oh, which reminds me, Mellie Price (http://www.monsterbit.com) is this dynamite chick who does a music site (among other things) and she's really inspired me with her work. She's 26 and an entrepreneur, and she travels the country talking about her work on the Web.
