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# Forbes' ordeal : A quick recap for busy professionals.
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/18743/
- Published: 2006-08-30T11:08:45.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:35:10.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**By Jessica Reed**

For those of you media-gossip-loving 'career-girls' (or 'career-boys') who have been too busy juggling with work, hobbies and family-time but still want to keep track of the recent Forbes ordeal, here is a quick recap:

\- Forbes magazine publishes a piece titled 'Don't marry career women' (gasp).

\- The blogosphere, [shocked](http://www.christine.net/2006/08/forbes%5Fsays%5Fdon.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) that such an article would be published in a magazine enjoying a very respectable reputation, [reacts](http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/54209?ref=opendemocracy.net) quite [fiercely](http://feministing.com/archives/005586.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) (and [brilliantly](http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2006/08/23/why-you-should-marry-a-doormat/?ref=opendemocracy.net#more-3637)).  

\- Forbes realises its mistake and [takes the article down](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eat-the-press/2006/08/23/update-disgusting-misogy%5Fe%5F27874.html?ref=opendemocracy.net), probably thinking nobody will notice (double gasp).

 \- Anger, shock and awe ensue. Salon writer Rebecca Traister answers with '[Unhappily ever after](http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/08/24/career%5Fwomen/index.html?ref=opendemocracy.net)'.

\- Forbes republishes the piece, along with an equally clever counterpoint oh-so audaciously titled '[Don't marry a lazy man](http://www.forbes.com/home/2006/08/23/Marriage-Careers-Divorce%5Fcx%5Fmn%5Fland.html?ref=opendemocracy.net)'.

\- At this point the blogosphere is [overwhelmed](http://www.boingboing.net/2006/08/23/forbes%5Fkills%5Fsexista.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) by [rebuttals](http://www.pobronson.com/blog/2006/08/response-to-forbes-dont-marry-career.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) and sarcastic comments mocking the magazine's choices.  

\- Forbes' editor -in-chief Steven Forbes [issues an apology:](http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2357818&ref=opendemocracy.net)

*"The piece was intended to be part academic and part humorous, instead, it profoundly offended hardworking career women everywhere. We deeply regret having done so."*

... It seems the blogosphere not only did not share Forbes editors' questionnable sense of humour, but had a direct impact on important editorial choices.

That, and I suspect many 'career girls' are cancelling their Forbes subscription as I write this.