The battle against sexist sci-fi and fantasy book covers

[serendipity_15]

Science fiction and fantasy novels routinely portray scantily clad woman on their covers - a device that draws the heterosexual male eye but may turn away women readers. Lynsea Garrison finds one fantasy author aiming to zap gender stereotypes.

Jim Hines straddles the remnants of a defeated alien species (a table), and clasps a pistol (a toy gun)

Comments

[serendipity_15]

Wow, that was a super fast approval! You are awesome! <3

MOD NOTE

[lickety_split]

Um this post demands pictures.

[umi_mikazuki]

[effervescent]

I think the second is one of my favourites, because it really just makes it clear that you never see men in poses like this.

[alryssa]

DYING AT SCALZI HERE TBH

I love that these pics also emulate the title fonts.

[squeeful]

I give you...The Hawkeye Initiative. Aka: replace "strong female character" poses with Clint Barton. The earlier ones are best but still, :-D

[beoweasel]

There's another tumblr that I've seen, which is the opposite of the Hawkeye Initiative, where it takes female characters and puts them in the poses of male heroes.

It's really bad-ass.

[sakuraberries]

omg. What is that Tumblr's name? Because it sounds amazing and I would love to see it.

[alryssa]

Link me? This seems highly relevant to my interests. The Hawkeye Initiative has been amazing.

[effervescent]

:D This whole thing has been awesome, I think it's actually achieved getting people to realise how ridiculous the poses are and how only women are put in them.The pictures are hilarious and Jim Hines is great in general, imo.

[cyranothe2nd]

Damn, I'd get a cramp in my calf if I tried to arch my foot like the woman on the bookcover in the OP!

[romp]

they do but they're willing to suffer for beauty...or so I hear