News Women mock bad male writers

[Carol Rose]

Thoughtful and intelligent analysis of the underlying issues, @Amber.

 

[ChrisLewando]

@ChrisLewando I've no idea where this idea that women can't read maps has come from but I find it really annoying. If you've never used a map and compass before or navigational chart then yes, of course it's confusing, but in my experience people pick it up quite quickly, both male and female.

Sat nav though is the best invention ever!!!

But, Katie-Ellen, that title is supposed to be funny... that's the whole point. I gave the book to my daughter, who read it and got something out of it. I gave it to my son who said, why do i need to read that crap? Well, that says it all, really. The gender difference was flying.

 

[Amber]

But, Katie-Ellen, that title is supposed to be funny... that's the whole point. I gave the book to my daughter, who read it and got something out of it. I gave it to my son who said, why do i need to read that crap? Well, that says it all, really. The gender difference was flying.

So... yeah. I spent time figuring out who you were talking to and what you meant to say. Which means I now understand where Kitty's comment about maps came from. Her comment caused me to scratch my head yesterday. I had to wonder if there was really a benefit to becoming annoyed each time something stupid and sexist but sometimes true is said. Does a baby unicorn really die every time we laugh at a sexist joke?

This week I drove by my own street. I totally did that. Maybe I can read a map. I figure I can do anything if I have to. But I wouldn't be my first choice to lead the way out of a paper bag. My guess is my cell phone is working in this scenario. Salvation!

The title is funny. I imagine the book is full of statistics and research. I'm sure it's better done than the survey monkey findings on another thread. I also imagine it has information on how men and women process information differently. My wild haired guess is that that book describes how men and women, through no fault of their own, are indeed different. Both genders bring valuable assets to the table. The ending message would be that we could get along better if we understood these differences and used the information given within the book to make better decisions about when to compromise and when not to stand our ground.

Or maybe not.

I only have one thing to say which doesn't entail looking into my crystal ball. It doesn't matter if women can't read maps or if men don't ask for directions. There might be a higher percentage of women who can't read maps than men. What significance and value should we give that information? It's anecdotal trivia and quite possibly blog fodder because what someone would have to do in order to prove the cause, the origin of the phenomena, in a scientifically sound way has not yet been developed. The type of analysis and in-depth research needed certainly isn't accessible to me or anyone walking around in daylight. The strongest word most social scientists can use when describing their research is 'likely', often followed by 'possibly' and 'sometimes' or any other combination of qualifiers. If they're lucky maybe they can reach for an 'often'. For me this also applies to those in the physical sciences who extend the implications of their research to describe human behavior.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

But, Katie-Ellen, that title is supposed to be funny... that's the whole point. I gave the book to my daughter, who read it and got something out of it. I gave it to my son who said, why do i need to read that crap? Well, that says it all, really. The gender difference was flying.

Eh?? Me? What did I say? I never said a word about maps or titles but funnily enough....was just now having this conversation with my ma. I can read a map, used to go hill-walking for one thing, but I tend to find places by following the sun or my nose. Il Matrimonio is better than reading maps than me. Sample of 1 here, but a) it makes me feel sick reading in the car while it's moving and b) he spent 2 years flying helicopters, navigating while trying not to hit pylons, which he said sharpened his abilities no end.

 

[Carol Rose]

I can read a map much better than my husband can. In fact, he nicknamed me "Scout" a LONG time ago because I'm the navigator, not him. With or without a map or a GPS device. LOL! Stereotype debunked.

 

[Kitty]

@Katie-Ellen I think @Chris was referring to me.

I wasn’t actually talking about the title but rather the assumptions people make about you based solely on your gender. Assuming I can’t read a map is one example. Others are assuming I don’t want a ticket for the football match or assuming I’d rather go to see a rom com instead of Star Wars, all of which I’ve experienced.

It is these assumption that annoy me, especially if they are being made by someone who actually knows me! Of course it works both ways.

 

[Paul Whybrow]

It would be interesting to do blind readings of extracts from books that refer to the characteristics of the sexes, without knowing the gender or identity of the writer, just to see how good their treatment of the opposite sex was. Blind tastings and testing of other consumer products, such as wine, food and cosmetics often produce startling results, with lower-priced, own-brand goods beating expensive (over-priced) designer labels.

People's perceptions of whether something is good are prejudiced by the advertising they're bombarded with: if something costs three times more than a no-name basic brand, then it has mystique and is thought to be of higher quality. It could be that a male author who is known for their sexist views, actually writes female characters very well and in an even-handed way. The reverse might be true, as well.

It's vital to take into account who is making the comments about the opposite gender...by that, I mean, is it the omniscient narrator or one of his characters. I'm in the process of creating an absolutely horrendous male chauvinist hog, whose opinions of women are diametrically opposed to my own. He's more repellent than some of the murderers I've written about, and that he's also killed at least two people is starting to look inconsequential compared to his rabid frothing at the mouth about how useless women are. But, it's him, not me!

 

[Katie-Ellen]

I'm in the process of creating an absolutely horrendous male chauvinist hog, whose opinions of women are diametrically opposed to my own. He's more repellent than some of the murderers I've written about, and that he's also killed at least two people is starting to look inconsequential compared to his rabid frothing at the mouth about how useless women are. But, it's him, not me!

Heh heh. Well, have fun with him. Let's hope he gets his comeuppance.....for everything.