4 ms·

Firstly, why does every story need to include a mix of genders speaking? If I wrote a story about a night out with my mates, would you complain that only men we

Firstly, why does every story need to include a mix of genders speaking? If I wrote a story about a night out with my mates, would you complain that only men were talking? Secondly, > And it is a sci fi story that ends in a Bible scene! Did you miss the entire premise of the story?

valeness 4y ago
> If I wrote a story about a night out with my mates, would you complain that only men were talking? I don't think OP is complaining, just remarking on how it's a signal of the time. You can write a story about your mates all day long, nobody cares, don't draw this false equivalence; however, when all of society is just writing books about "their mates" and somehow women aren't present in any of these stories in any significant capacity, then I think I'd raise an eyebrow: no?
todorus 4y ago
> Firstly, why does every story need to include a mix of genders speaking? Did every Saturday morning cartoon have to end with explaining the moral of the story, and followed by a joke with the whole cast laughing? They didn't, but they sure used to. Did the old knightly tales always have to show christian values and knightly valour, through a whole lot of christian symbolism? They didn't, but they sure used to. Likewise I've started to read all the classic sci fi, and it is very noticeable, that women just want to have sex with the main character for no real reason. Because ya know, it would be nice to admit that women have sexual desires as well, and that it's especially convenient if that would mean them pleasing the protagonist that just shows up. Read one, and you don't have to complain about it, read several and you start to see it pervasive and an outlook of the times. So I look forward to the hundredth story about going out with your mates, so I can call it out in the same manner
- Gordonjcp 4y ago
  > Likewise I've started to read all the classic sci fi, and it is very noticeable, that women just want to have sex with the main character for no real reason. Averted in spades by E. E. "Doc" Smith, whose work seems a bit "clunky" by modern standards but was writing really heavy-duty sci-fi ten to twenty years ahead of its time.
snowwrestler 4y ago
I didn’t say that every story needs to include a mix of genders speaking. This story does have a mix, though. And it’s interesting that the characters conform to U.S. 1950s gender roles despite the plot covering enormous distances and spans of future time. This is simply because it was written by someone in the 1950s for readers in the 1950s. Likewise, in the U.S. in the 1950s it was broadly assumed that everyone was familiar with the language of the Christian Bible, especially King James. Whereas today’s society is less religious overall and more overtly diverse. An editor considering this story today would have to think about how many people would simply miss the reference of the last line.

valeness 4y ago

> If I wrote a story about a night out with my mates, would you complain that only men were talking? I don't think OP is complaining, just remarking on how it's a signal of the time. You can write a story about your mates all day long, nobody cares, don't draw this false equivalence; however, when all of society is just writing books about "their mates" and somehow women aren't present in any of these stories in any significant capacity, then I think I'd raise an eyebrow: no?

todorus 4y ago

> Firstly, why does every story need to include a mix of genders speaking? Did every Saturday morning cartoon have to end with explaining the moral of the story, and followed by a joke with the whole cast laughing? They didn't, but they sure used to. Did the old knightly tales always have to show christian values and knightly valour, through a whole lot of christian symbolism? They didn't, but they sure used to. Likewise I've started to read all the classic sci fi, and it is very noticeable, that women just want to have sex with the main character for no real reason. Because ya know, it would be nice to admit that women have sexual desires as well, and that it's especially convenient if that would mean them pleasing the protagonist that just shows up. Read one, and you don't have to complain about it, read several and you start to see it pervasive and an outlook of the times. So I look forward to the hundredth story about going out with your mates, so I can call it out in the same manner

Gordonjcp 4y ago
> Likewise I've started to read all the classic sci fi, and it is very noticeable, that women just want to have sex with the main character for no real reason. Averted in spades by E. E. "Doc" Smith, whose work seems a bit "clunky" by modern standards but was writing really heavy-duty sci-fi ten to twenty years ahead of its time.

snowwrestler 4y ago

I didn’t say that every story needs to include a mix of genders speaking. This story does have a mix, though. And it’s interesting that the characters conform to U.S. 1950s gender roles despite the plot covering enormous distances and spans of future time. This is simply because it was written by someone in the 1950s for readers in the 1950s. Likewise, in the U.S. in the 1950s it was broadly assumed that everyone was familiar with the language of the Christian Bible, especially King James. Whereas today’s society is less religious overall and more overtly diverse. An editor considering this story today would have to think about how many people would simply miss the reference of the last line.