Calling NY fan writers and artists -- Women are in fandom? Really?

[rthstewart]

I've been gnashing my fandom fen teeth lately because the excellent discussion in the Star Wars EU fandom about the poor development of compelling female characters then led to the deeply discouraging but usual, "what's it to you since Star Wars is all for guys, right?"  Credit to people like duncatra webmistress at Club Jade for mustering a better

Comments

[jedishampoo]

WTH? I thought fanfic and fanart was about 80% women -- way more than even equal. And somehow they found the few guys doing it to feature? Heh, glad to hear they plan to edit this ...

[rthstewart]

I've been feeling ticked off about so many things for so long, I just feel like we're in the middle of this big, ridiculous regression. Why are we still having these conversations? And... Happy Birthday!!!!

[anonymous]

This is just...but I won't. I'll second that, after my five-ish years of involvement in fic, almost everyone is female. I'm glad that PBS is fixing their large and glaring error, but the fact that it was made in the first place speaks volumes. And now I'll stop so that this does not devolve into the "ranty rant" you had to restrain yourself from.
greaves

[rthstewart]

Yeah, it's hard to not keep going with the rant, rant, rantity rant. I don't want to assume it's all related except it is, in a way -- let's see how we can continue to marginalize, ignore, and sexualize women!!! When our elected officials do it so routinely, why wouldn't others follow? They all just reinforce themselves.

Also, you know, a new chapter would be great. Are you going to get on LJ?

[min023]

*Le sigh* Since sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, I will refrain from stating the bleeding obvious (which were at least my first four thoughts), and simply say 'go, ladies of NY'. Bah, humbug

[rthstewart]

I'm looking forward to seeing the revised piece. Bah indeed.

[tenut]

But...but..but fanfiction is written mostly by WOMEN!!! I've seen estimates (including some from academics) ranging from 75% of active writing fandom to 95%, but it's always been a very very VERY female-dominated arena!!!

WTF indeed...

[tenut]

...and just to add, I've been lurking (I'm not a writer -just a voracious reader with an academic background in literature) in fandom circles since 1998 (!!!!) and at first it was almost impossible to find a single dude.

[rthstewart]

Another academic! (I'm not, but lots of them come and play over here!) And even if the women weren't creating most of the content (and they are) the women are the ones who build and maintain the communities where these interactions occur. It's so stupid. Alyssa Roman and Think Progress just posted an entry on fan fiction (it's all the stuff related to 50 Shades of Gray) and one of her commentators made the point about how fanfiction is a community activity. And that in turn necessarily relates to how women use the Internet (generally) in ways that are different from how men use the Internet (generally).