tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897782183409478733.post4069590636433066239..comments2023-09-27T09:15:12.373+01:00Comments on Laura Reading Books: Monday Musings: Do fantasy novels need more female characters?Laura Tisdallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428346515788046138noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897782183409478733.post-91086072697582614292015-01-22T12:26:07.083+00:002015-01-22T12:26:07.083+00:00Thanks for this. I'm a little annoyed with thi...Thanks for this. I'm a little annoyed with this post now as I keep on thinking of other things I should have said in it - but I think that's the nature of posts about feminism!<br /><br />I agree that it's not possible to avoid bias altogether, and the key thing is working to be more self-aware rather than beating yourself up for not being perfect. Your library leaflet is a good example, I'm sure we have all done similar things, perhaps without realising it. (I keep on reading very little fiction by male writers every year, without consciously avoiding them...) This is why I admired Scott Lynch's approach so much - rather than entrenching himself on one 'side' of the debate, he was brave enough to rethink.Laura Tisdallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15428346515788046138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897782183409478733.post-73731284005529683992015-01-21T16:52:27.799+00:002015-01-21T16:52:27.799+00:00Thanks for writing such an interesting balanced po...Thanks for writing such an interesting balanced post about this Laura. So much gender bias in fiction emanates from those unconscious assumptions that, when pointed out, put people on the defensive. I hope that when fantasy authors like Mark Lawrence and Patrick Rothfuss stand up for their lack of individualised, multi-faceted female characters with lame excuses that they're actually feeling rather sheepish inside. To some extent I can excuse the first offence, if it's corrected thereafter. The problem really begins for me when writers become entrenched over the issue and begin to intentionally perpetuate it. <br /><br />I've recently been slapped around the face with my own gender bias and feel heartily ashamed about it. I oversaw the writing and design of a new 8 page leaflet for the library and archives I work for, and was really pleased with the result. Until I got an email from a customer pointing out that there wasn't a single adult male featured in any of the 10 photos included. I was absolutely appalled at myself! I just hadn't noticed the absence amongst all those female faces. Victoria (Eve's Alexandria)http://evesalexandria.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.com