Female Supremacy Articles - Page 11

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One case in point is the Queen of Beer homebrew competition, held 16 April l994 in Placerville, California. Although the event was like any other national homebrew competition, it had one unusual entry criterion - it was for women only. Organizers Beth Sangeri, president of HAZE homebrew club, and Donna Bettencourt, president of Gold County Brewers Association of Sacramento, intended to encourage women to brew independently and to become more active participants in the brewing community. The event not only succeeded in that goal but also in bringing to the fore some sensitive issues associated with women in the brewing community.

With 55 participants, Sangeri thought the first-time event had a "strong and promising turnout." In fact, she is currently planning next year's competition and hopes to make it an annual event.

The Queen of Beer competition is interesting not only because it is a women-only event but because of people's reactions to it. An announcement of the event on the Home Brew Digest, an online mailing list for brewers, sparked spirited discussion. Some viewed the competition as "sexist," "self-defeating," and "patronizing." Some complained that men and women must compete on the same level if "they are to gain the respect and equality they desire and deserve." Others viewed the event as an act of exclusivity.