Them’s Fightin’ Words

[Kristin Lawrence]

One of my favorite authors – she writes mysteries with a touch of romance – will have a new release in one of her highly popular series out this August. I hurried over to an online bookstore today to read up on the release and amuse myself by reading reviews from her last release. All five stars, except two. They didn’t get the romance part of the mystery, which I’m okay with – different strokes, after all. What I’m not okay with is the two-star rating which justified the flaws the male reviewer saw in the book by saying, “I guess these books are targeted towards female audience.”

I know what Yosemite Sam would say about that, were he blessed with two X chromosomes.

His dissing a book I love was bad enough, but I’ll allow for that. He probably enjoyed all the American Pie movies, which I could live without. I’ll even forgive the bad grammar. But to say the book’s apparent flaws were more understandable because they were intended for women is unpardonable.

I’m tired of a woman’s world being perceived as “other.” Teaching and secretarial work were respected, well-paid professions until women began to dominate them. But if a woman can do the job… You can fill in the blank yourself.

In the publishing world, if it’s fiction that women would likely appreciate, it’s “women’s fiction.” I’ve never heard “men’s fiction” bandied about in the same way. So novels that men might enjoy are simply part of the standard of fiction, but novels women might enjoy are different. Lesser and low quality. Trash.

There’s lots of variety in books out there. Slasher novels, spy tales, mysteries, romances, and more – there’s good and bad in every genre. But to denigrate a novel because it’s geared toward over fifty percent of the population – the part that doesn’t count, apparently – is to perpetuate the idea that women – our tastes, our likes, our skills – are of lesser value. If we like it, it can’t possibly be good. We don’t know what quality is.

I know it’s a frustrating effort to fight this stereotype. Women have always been “other” in this society. But I’m going to rant about it anyway. Some words can’t be allowed to stand unchallenged.

[Sandy]

Hear! Hear! Kristin, you are telling it the way it is, but until women stop believing the stereotype thing , we'll remain the other. Have you read my blog entry yet? Well, what I wrote about is part of the reason we're the other as well.

Sandy

[Jim]

I agree that the reviewer did not choose his words wisely by basing his negative review on a gender-specific stereotype. A good story stands or falls on its own merit. The gender, sex, religion or number of passengers alone will not keep a plane in the air. That duty falls to the pilot whomever he or she may be.

[Chiron O'Keefe]

Write ON, Kristen...

It's sad but true. "Men's Fiction." What a concept. As Jim said, a good story stands or falls on its own merit. Or it should.

Great post. It needed to be said!

Smiles,
Chiron

[Zaynah - Aasiyah Qamar/Nolwynn Ardennes]

Applause all round for Kristin!

True enough that stories with strong heroines are pushed across as stories women will read. How come? Men cannot handle a strong woman?

I've had personal experience with this issue. A reporter, who also works as the reviewer in a tabloid here, reviewed my book. His opinion was generally okay (no distortion of the plot or anything like another male reporter had done), but he summed it up in these words : All in all, beautiful heroines and hunky men abound in the story, very reminiscent of the gushy telenovelas the womenfolk of the country are so avid of.

Now, I personally consider it an honour if my story can drive the same fan base as the telenovelas can ( put in context - telenovelas are those South American soap operas that run around 1,000 episodes. Broadcasted at 6.30 pm here in Mauritius, they are known as the 'burnt dinner' programmes, coz all women watch it and relegate dinner and the men to the sidelines).

But please, why the need to bring it down, as in, stuff that'll only interest women?

They don't have any term for men's stuff, do they? If we follow their logic, are sports channels brainiac visionings? Why aren't men's stuff reduced to "skimpily clad women and guys running on testosterone and adrenalin'? Bet they'd be peeved if this was said, right?

Double standards. Nothing worse than them!

Off my soap box.

Z(Aasiyah/Nolwynn)

[P J Lawton]

Well, it's pretty obvious that this guy never read an Joanna Brady novels by J. A. Jance. A good story is a good story and Jance proves that every day.

[Linda LaRoque]

Great post, Kristin. Seems to be a hot issue these days. In the books that could be called "Men's Fiction" the hero isn't a whimpy dude or ugly and all the women are hot, hot, hot! So, what's the difference?
Linda

[Kristin Lawrence]

It seems my post struck a chord with lots of people. Thank you all for responding.

Sandy - yes, part of the stigma of modern romance novels is that they're geared to a female audience.

Jim - Absolutely. Books should rise and fall on their own merit. To label something as bad solely because of the category it falls in is just wrong.

Chiron - I needed to say it. This is something that aggravates me every time I read or hear it.

Z - I've always wondered why "women's fiction" is looked down on, when what might be labeled "men's fiction" is full of dead bodies, torture, gruesome acts, and sex without emotional attachment. Why is women's fiction worse than that?

PJ - I've never read JA Jance. Must go look up Jance's books. Thanks!

Linda - The difference is the emotion. Women always muck up life with those irritating little things called feelings. Ugh. ;=)

[Kristin Lawrence]

This whole debate reminds me of a quote I read once (wish I could remember who said it). I paraphrase:

People complain that women take things personally. Frankly, I can't see any other honest way of taking them.

[LuAnn Morgan]

I know several men who read only westerns and take the stories literally. They seem to forget that little notation on the spine that says "fiction!" Maybe westerns should be classified as men's fiction?

[LuAnn Morgan]

Like any other genre, there are good romance books and poorly written ones. Even the best authors will sometimes come out with a book that just doesn't match up to others he or she has written. That doesn't mean you can judge all the books on that one.