(no subject)

[rm]

Lots of morbidly fascinating info here:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977032650

Women, apparently have something to say! (sorry, I can't help but use the facetious exclamation point)

But don't, apparently, have the confidence to say it. Or, to add another hypothesis to the numbers, don't think anyone wants a woman to be saying it (or anything).

Scary scary.

Discuss.

Comments

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

This is precisely why I get so pissed off when people deny sexism still exists.

Institutional sexism may have been "outlawed," but the internalized kind? The kind that laws have nothing to do with?

Still here, dammit.

[drfardook.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'd have to say the info is pretty thin but what do you expect for a one page article.

From what I read, women buy more books, buy more non-fiction than fiction, are interested in writing, but most authors are male.

First thought, its hardly surprising that most published books are authored by men, can you tell me something new about male domination of cultural production? I don't know if this says that women don't trust what other women have to say or if the author suggests, women authors aren't trusted by publishers and don't get the necessary placement to pull in the sales figures.

We also know nothing about what they're specifically purchasing... is it cultural criticism? cooking? biographies? histories? self-help? financial advice? religious material? crafting? What are women interested in? How does this break down by race, religion, education, economic situation, marital status?

Again, what are women interested in writing about? Their family lives? Their cooking? Their religious life? Their careers? Academic subjects? What?

I just don't think it says much of anything beyond a few generalities which have a variety of interpretations we don't have enough numbers to comment on.

[delchi.livejournal.com]

Confidence or fortitude? Confidence to pick up something off the shelf to purchsase it. Fortitude to walk to the counter and pay for it ignoring the closer andmore examininging loolks from other as you pay for it. More to the pont , confidence to write it, fortitude to present it.

[sethg]

Further hypotheses:

(1) Writing a "serious" non-fiction book takes time (not only to do the actual writing, but also to do research), and men are more likely to have the free time.

(2) A lot of non-fiction books are by people trying to parlay their success in some other professional field into fame as authors (examples: executive autobiographies; the recent spate of "how all my co-workers fucked up the Iraq War" books), and men are more likely to have the previous professional experience to turn into something book-worthy.