05-02-2013, 03:04 PM | #91 |
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While I think this kind of subconscious (I hope) sexism is declining, it's worth keeping in mind that it hasn't been that long since explicit sexism was condoned: when Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg graduated first in her class at Columbia, Felix Frankfurter turned her down for a job as a clerk, stating that he didn't want to hire her because she was a woman. It wasn't until the mid 60's that it was illegal to have a salary schedule for men and a (lower) salary schedule for women, and into the 70's courts were still overturning various state laws that permitted discrimination against women.
While that is mostly before my time, it's easy to see why female writers like Andre Norton (who wrote in the 60's) and others might feel safer with a male or neutral pseudonym. And of course who can forget the classic plot of "Remington Steele?" |
05-02-2013, 03:10 PM | #92 | |
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You have certainly found a new definition for the word fact. Care to share it with us and, oh, P.D. James and L.J. Sellers and J.D. Robb and A.K. Alexander and need I go on all seem to be women. Men and women both use initials. In my life, and I'm old, I've known a lot of men who went by their initials rather than a first name. I've known one woman who did that and she might be one of the many women who change their name as they get older. I've known Rain, Serenity, Feather, Athena Peanut, and a Mary Jane who became Maris. I also know a K.T. I've wondered if she used to be a Katy but haven't cared enough to ask. If the authors name uses just initials I generally assume it's a woman and I probably shouldn't. I should check. Last edited by patrickt; 05-02-2013 at 03:13 PM. |
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05-02-2013, 06:40 PM | #93 | |
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"...authors in my personal collection who use their initials are mostly men. In fact, the only female who uses her initials is J.K. Rowling." |
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05-02-2013, 08:25 PM | #94 |
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As Flubrius correctly noted, I was referring to my personal library in my post.
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05-02-2013, 08:50 PM | #95 |
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Just because of this thread, I checked a book I read recently by an author using initials (Before I Go to Sleep, by S. J. Watson). I assumed Watson is a woman, because the narrator is a woman, and I was quite startled to find out the author is actually a man.
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05-02-2013, 09:35 PM | #96 |
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05-02-2013, 09:37 PM | #97 |
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05-02-2013, 09:49 PM | #98 |
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05-02-2013, 09:52 PM | #99 |
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A while back I read a book where the author had a female name and the main character was female, but she didn't ring true to me; she thought and acted more like a man. Later I found out that the author was actually a man writing under a female pseudonym.
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05-02-2013, 09:55 PM | #100 |
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05-02-2013, 09:55 PM | #101 | |
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05-02-2013, 10:42 PM | #102 |
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I never really gave it much thought until reading this thread and the responses have been interesting. For myself, I could care less which gender, if they try to hide their gender by using initials, which is no different to me than using a pseudonym. Many authors do it. Dean Koontz even used Deanna Dwyer as a pseudonym to pay the bills.
If the plot interests me and the reviews are decent, I'll read it. Doesn't matter if male or female author, with or without initials, with or without a pseudonym. Once I like an author's book, I'm very likely to pick up and read more by the same author. Name or gender just doesn't matter in the choice for me at all. |
05-03-2013, 04:17 AM | #103 | |
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05-03-2013, 10:43 AM | #104 | |
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Thinking about it I suspect the difference is in the 'stars'. Males probably prefer male heroes and women authors probably write more about female 'heroes'. This, if true, would lead to a gender distinction in book buying but not based on the gender of the author. Also, before I get too hung up on the actual gender of the stars consider that it's the gender role (stereotype, probably) that's more important than the actual gender. I've read (and enjoyed) much military SF with female heroes-but the gender role (violence) is still a male stereotype. |
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05-03-2013, 06:42 PM | #105 |
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