Author's gender: are you biased? - Page 3

no.guru · 05-12-2009, 10:21 AM

Admittedly, I responded only for what I think - I have no statistics on my reading habits, but no one can really contradict me. Except maybe the omniscient google.

Off-topic, but can I ask what's with all the sock puppets? Inside joke?

Moejoe · 05-12-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no.guru

Admittedly, I responded only for what I think - I have no statistics on my reading habits, but no one can really contradict me. Except maybe the omniscient google.

Off-topic, but can I ask what's with all the sock puppets? Inside joke?

It all began with this thread https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46514

ShortNCuddlyAm · 05-12-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no.guru

Admittedly, I responded only for what I think - I have no statistics on my reading habits, but no one can really contradict me. Except maybe the omniscient google.

Or Amazon, if you only shop there...

Quote:

Off-topic, but can I ask what's with all the sock puppets? Inside joke?

This post in this thread explains it best. It's basically a good-natured stunt to bewilder (in a good way) some-one (Pshrynk) who is currently on holiday.

columbus · 05-12-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant;

You missed an option.

"I don't care about the author's gender, and I've no idea what ratio my books have"
I suppose a relevant question would be - what's the ratio of male:female authors over all published books?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi;

I actually agree with pdurrant who said there should have been an option that said, "I don't care about the author's gender, and I've no idea what ratio my books have."

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma;

That would be my choice.......absolutely.

I am also with pdurrant (Daithi and desertgrandma) who said there should have been an option that said,
"I don't care about the author's gender, and I've no idea what ratio my books have."

I never consider the gender when choosing a book, If I enjoy their work I will read more, if not it will get thrown at the wall.

Before the 505 that was

Now I press delete & place author on do not read list. (must check to see what gender is most prominent on that).

no.guru · 05-12-2009, 10:58 AM

That's pretty funny.

Daithi · 05-12-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by columbus

I am also with pdurrant (Daithi and desertgrandma) who said there should have been an option that said,
"I don't care about the author's gender, and I've no idea what ratio my books have."

Well, by my count that puts our tally at 4.

tompe · 05-12-2009, 03:30 PM

For a while it seemed like all new good authors in science fiction were female. I also had the theory that if less female authors are published in a genre than the ones that are actually published are probably better than a random male author in the genre.

I intentionally seek out female authors and in crime there are more female than male authors among my favorite authors, such as Dorothy Sayers, Craig Rice, Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, Josephine Tey, Ruth Rendell, Laurie King and Carol O'Connell.

columbus · 05-12-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi;

Well, by my count that puts our tally at 4.

But still no option on the poll for us to vote for that

zelda_pinwheel · 05-12-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by columbus

But still no option on the poll for us to vote for that

okay, okay ! there you go. now vote !

Daithi · 05-12-2009, 04:31 PM

Oh, no! I already voted "I don't care about the author's gender, and I think it's not far from a 50/50 ratio" because that seemed like the closest fit.

Plus my sock-puppet avatar looks like a snake -- today is not a good day.

Idoine · 05-12-2009, 07:12 PM

I was late on this one, and it's great, because I could vote for the last one :
I don't care about the author's gender, and I've no idea what ratio my books have.

If I consider by genre :
- a majority of female romance authors (declared, as it seems some male ones write behind a female pseudonym

),
- a majority of male authors for Sci-Fi
- a majority of female authors for fantasy
- a 50/50 for thriller/crime

But this can change very rapidly, as when I discover an author that I really like, I have a tendency to buy all his/her writings while I am at it !

Sonist · 05-12-2009, 07:29 PM

I read only authors who use gender neutral, as well as culturally and ethnically neutral, names.

carld · 05-12-2009, 07:33 PM

I couldn't care less about the author's gender, but men seem to write more books that I'm interested in.

jinlo · 05-12-2009, 09:23 PM

In an effort to answer this poll, I attempted to discover the gender of a book.

When I opened the cover to take a look, it screamed, "Masher!"

I quickly closed the cover, placed it back on the shelf, and left the room. I do not believe I will be returning anytime soon.

zelda_pinwheel · 05-12-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

Oh, no! I already voted "I don't care about the author's gender, and I think it's not far from a 50/50 ratio" because that seemed like the closest fit.

no need to panic daithi, i've added your vote for the new option.

Quote:

Plus my sock-puppet avatar looks like a snake -- today is not a good day.

i think it's quite fetching, myself.

View Poll Results: What's your gender ratio/bias?
I don't care about the author's gender, but I read much more male authors	30	33.33%
I don't care about the author's gender, but I read much more female authors	6	6.67%
I don't care about the author's gender, and I think it's not far from a 50/50 ratio	17	18.89%
I prefer male authors	5	5.56%
I prefer female authors	4	4.44%
I prefer male authors, but read more female authors	0	0%
I prefer female authors, but read more male authors	0	0%
I try to read an equal number of books from both genders	1	1.11%
I don't care about the author's gender, and I've no idea what ratio my books have.	27	30.00%
Voters: 90. You may not vote on this poll

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05-12-2009, 10:21 AM	#31
no.guru Crazy like a Posts: 229 Karma: 2368978 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Sony PRS-350	Admittedly, I responded only for what I think - I have no statistics on my reading habits, but no one can really contradict me. Except maybe the omniscient google. Off-topic, but can I ask what's with all the sock puppets? Inside joke?

05-12-2009, 10:58 AM	#35
no.guru Crazy like a Posts: 229 Karma: 2368978 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Sony PRS-350	That's pretty funny.

05-12-2009, 03:30 PM	#37
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	For a while it seemed like all new good authors in science fiction were female. I also had the theory that if less female authors are published in a genre than the ones that are actually published are probably better than a random male author in the genre. I intentionally seek out female authors and in crime there are more female than male authors among my favorite authors, such as Dorothy Sayers, Craig Rice, Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, Josephine Tey, Ruth Rendell, Laurie King and Carol O'Connell.

05-12-2009, 04:31 PM	#40
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	Oh, no! I already voted "I don't care about the author's gender, and I think it's not far from a 50/50 ratio" because that seemed like the closest fit. Plus my sock-puppet avatar looks like a snake -- today is not a good day.

05-12-2009, 07:12 PM	#41
Idoine Which book will be next ? Posts: 661 Karma: 2172 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: France Device: Cybook Gen3 1.5, Sony PRS 600 RC, Samsung Omnia...	I was late on this one, and it's great, because I could vote for the last one : I don't care about the author's gender, and I've no idea what ratio my books have. If I consider by genre : - a majority of female romance authors (declared, as it seems some male ones write behind a female pseudonym ), - a majority of male authors for Sci-Fi - a majority of female authors for fantasy - a 50/50 for thriller/crime But this can change very rapidly, as when I discover an author that I really like, I have a tendency to buy all his/her writings while I am at it !

05-12-2009, 07:29 PM	#42
Sonist Apeist Posts: 2,126 Karma: 381090 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The sunny part of California Device: Generic virtual reality story-experiential device	I read only authors who use gender neutral, as well as culturally and ethnically neutral, names.

05-12-2009, 07:33 PM	#43
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I couldn't care less about the author's gender, but men seem to write more books that I'm interested in.

05-12-2009, 09:23 PM	#44
jinlo aka coco jinlo Posts: 415 Karma: 500002 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ-USA Device: Just purchased Sony 505, but alas, it is for the wife	In an effort to answer this poll, I attempted to discover the gender of a book. When I opened the cover to take a look, it screamed, "Masher!" I quickly closed the cover, placed it back on the shelf, and left the room. I do not believe I will be returning anytime soon.

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