tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4396875931357506685.post4623039429056769838..comments2024-02-10T02:12:10.516-08:00Comments on CAROLINELEAVITTVILLE: Leah Stewart talks about literary sexismCarolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02724359857107668407noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4396875931357506685.post-53106072617534516492010-07-28T19:21:33.393-07:002010-07-28T19:21:33.393-07:00Outstanding post--all of it completely true. And n...Outstanding post--all of it completely true. And now I know why I was a tomboy as a kid. <br /><br />I also think it says something that you--a woman--are publishing this on a blog when this essay belongs in the New Yorker.Molly McCaffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11648444709418671828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4396875931357506685.post-8758103177652605372010-07-27T11:51:51.731-07:002010-07-27T11:51:51.731-07:00Yes!
I often think men's books are graded on ...Yes!<br /><br />I often think men's books are graded on an emotional curve: if they write emotionally, they are praised for their depth. Women write emotionally, and it's like: "So what?" Because that's what chicks do, right?<br /><br />That's really not fair to either gender, because the assumption is that men are at the core unable to write about feelings and relationships.<br /><br />Not that this is the fault of male authors. It's way more complicated than that. I love male authors who write about squishy emotions as much as I love the female authors who do.<br /><br />Kristina RiggleKristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03005060328496062807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4396875931357506685.post-24353348982850148722010-07-26T07:44:37.526-07:002010-07-26T07:44:37.526-07:00Great insight! Appreciate the post!!Great insight! Appreciate the post!!~Moi~https://www.blogger.com/profile/04283927058267066175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4396875931357506685.post-46762807283410354562010-07-25T21:41:18.621-07:002010-07-25T21:41:18.621-07:00Thank you for this excellent and important post. (...Thank you for this excellent and important post. (and great follow-up comments) I was inspired to write an extensive "amen" on my blog: http://phdincreativewriting.wordpress.com/<br /><br />~ kelcey parkerPhDinCreativeWritinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11447733245219834792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4396875931357506685.post-48352066855485419012010-07-25T13:18:35.743-07:002010-07-25T13:18:35.743-07:00Wow what a great essay. I've always said that ...Wow what a great essay. I've always said that if a man writes about a male-female relationship, it's called a love story. If a woman does, it's automatically "romance". Not that there's anything wrong with romance. And as a female writer of historical fiction, I notice the difference between assumptions about historical novels by men and women. With women, the assumption goes toward historical romance.<br /><br />Let's face it, not many novels work without some element of romance/love in them. It's a basic human emotion, a creator of tension, etc. <br /><br />And I've always said that Jane Austen writes chick lit. I love chick lit when it's good.Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11994224166378180353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4396875931357506685.post-58021597719045135742010-07-25T10:05:15.565-07:002010-07-25T10:05:15.565-07:00So perfectly put, Leah!
Often, when relationships...So perfectly put, Leah!<br /><br />Often, when relationships/emotions do come up in "serious" or "literary" (whatever those terms mean, or don't) fiction, it seems to me that they are approached with a degree of cynicism or detachment, as if a character having a full-on emotion--especially a good one, like love or joy--is unthinkable. (Rage of course--a very "male" outburst--seems to be acceptable.)<br /><br />Of course, there are exceptions to this--Jennifer Egan's work is smart and uber-literary and always moves me to tears.<br /><br />But for the most part, when I read about "love" and "happiness" in literary fiction, I'm reading about emotions that have been nuanced and cynicized (yeah, that's probably not a word) and subtle-ized (also, not a word) to the point where I don't recognize them. <br /><br />But hey, what do I know? I have girly emotions. :-)Tanya Egan Gibsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04913976593338225522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4396875931357506685.post-44860982809181054092010-07-25T09:48:37.771-07:002010-07-25T09:48:37.771-07:00All I can say is: Agree!
It also bothers me that ...All I can say is: Agree!<br /><br />It also bothers me that the culture perpetuates the stereotype of men being disconnected from their feelings, or worse: too stupid to know them, and therefore teaches men to believe that about themselves. I'm married to a man who's very in touch with his feelings, and raising a young son, and I take it personally every time a commercial or a movie insists on men being emotionally stunted...If there was less of that message, then perhaps books written by women about relationships would also be seen as "big" and "worthy."Jordan E. Rosenfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17498818836920116962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4396875931357506685.post-77440329815104691842010-07-25T08:56:41.609-07:002010-07-25T08:56:41.609-07:00Trenchant observations, Leah. And Caroline, as alw...Trenchant observations, Leah. And Caroline, as always, your insights ring true.Litsa Dremousis:https://www.blogger.com/profile/02805126173325772698noreply@blogger.com