tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795012833336216960.post509700293230290012..comments2023-10-22T03:05:39.492-07:00Comments on The Pains of an Overactive Mind: Personal preference isn't sexist Jessica Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15680894454167044249noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795012833336216960.post-50528055706659119922013-09-30T06:58:02.710-07:002013-09-30T06:58:02.710-07:00Yes, definitely! I love political satire, but how ...Yes, definitely! I love political satire, but how many satirists are women? And that's not our fault, you'd just have to be very dedicated to feminism to go out of your way to find women in certain genres, and then the extra effort you put in makes it feel patronising in countries where women have the same opportunities as men. <br /><br />It'd be interesting to look at J. K. Rowling's latest book on this topic, because she did write a crime novel and I wonder if she published it under a male name for this very reason. Jessica Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15680894454167044249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795012833336216960.post-55060538598381205662013-09-30T06:36:31.828-07:002013-09-30T06:36:31.828-07:00The first thing I thought of was actually along th...The first thing I thought of was actually along the lines of what Bella Marie said. Typically, if I see a book written by a woman, it's about a woman related topic. It's a love story. Or a drama without a lot of action. Or it's one of those young adult/teen books. Etc. I probably wouldn't read their book, not because they're a woman, but because that doesn't appeal to me. Most of my favorite authors, like you, are men, but that's because the stories they write are stories that appeal to me - either politically incorrect humor, or action, or dark fantasy, etc. I'd totally read that same kind of story if it was written by a woman. Unfortunately that's not usually the case. Both of us are members of a local writer's organization with hundreds of members, and the women in this group write romance novels, or YA/teeny bop things (Twilight), etc, and out of all of them I honestly can only think of one who writes dark, gritty fantasy (and I love her work).A Beer for the Showerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17029139745335325356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795012833336216960.post-34205473290334413082013-09-28T08:02:56.572-07:002013-09-28T08:02:56.572-07:00Oh, I totally agree with you. Unfortunately the ar...Oh, I totally agree with you. Unfortunately the article in question said that both women and men listed only male authors on their dating profiles. She then addressed people, rather than men in the rest of the article.<br /><br />I completely agree that some men might find it emasculating to read a female author, unfortunately that's just how things are. But the article didn't address this as a possible cause, and even if it is, it's still unfair to label that as 'sexist', it's more of an insecure behaviour towards 'feminine' activities, one that some men have been conditioned to believe growing up!<br /><br />Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment, definitely the longest one I've ever had on my blog! <br /><br />P.S. Now I want some Wotsits<br />Jessica Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15680894454167044249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795012833336216960.post-31386988363298835512013-09-28T07:20:16.656-07:002013-09-28T07:20:16.656-07:00I'm worried this comment isn't going to be...I'm worried this comment isn't going to be very coherent. Eh, we'll manage. <br /><br />I think sometimes the issue with the divide in male/female content, art, entertainment whathaveyou is that often, male-created things can be seen to be more generally appealing, whereas a lot of female created content is considered specifically for women.<br /> <br />If we take hobbies as an example, a girl getting involved with what would typically be considered male orientated activities: Video games, watching sports etc, is not a particularly big deal, in fact men often like a girl that takes interest in those sorts of things. It makes them more attractive and, as a result some girls will, either consciously or not, develop an interest in these things, even if it's not entirely genuine, to 'get in with the guys' a little bit. Not every woman of course, I myself have spent many a day in dirty pyjamas playing Fable III alone with a bowl of wotsits, not something that would make me attractive to anyone, but it does happen. <br /><br />Conversely a man taking an interest in stereotypically feminine past times such as watching romantic comedies, recreational shopping, makeup etc is not only often considered less appealing by women, but may have to face his entire identity being questioned by his male counterparts. He may be teased for not being 'manly' enough, even by women. Men are supposed to be dragged round bored while shopping, and be confused by makeup. <br /><br />I think what I'm trying to contribute with this ramble is that, yes, personal preferences are not sexist in the slightest. I love a lot of male authors and male orientated things, but I also enjoy a lot of girl orientated stuff too, the difference is I am free to choose what and how much I want of each, whereas men have less freedom in choosing. I actually don't like 'women's literature' particularly and would far sooner enjoy a good Terry Pratchett, Graham Greene or George R R Martin, but that's my preference and I'm free to decide that. Often a male, never gets to try and see if he likes Muriel Sparks or Evelyn Waugh or because they are perceived as being writers for women, however untrue that is or however good they are, and therefore his only experiences are of male orientated writers, causing this large gap between 'celebrated' male and female creators. <br /><br />It's not fair, both on female creators and male consumers, in fact it's pretty stupid but it could be one explanation to consider. <br /><br />Yeah I wish that was more articulate but hopefully I got the gist across. <br /><br />Bella . <a href="http://usagi-bun.blogspot.co.uk" rel="nofollow">BELLAETC</a><br />Bella-Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04462124733020927860noreply@blogger.com