The Leaky Pipeline

[ysabetwordsmith]

Here's a thoughtful analysis of how publishing underrepresents women, not just at one point, but throughout the process.   On the bright side, this means you can pick any of the leaky points to address, depending on where you have access.

Comments

[capri0mni]

Thanks for the link... In particular, this idea:

if writers can be discouraged, they should be because writing isn’t for them

makes me want to laugh/cry; it reminds me of the notion that daily spankings are good for children because it builds character...

Yes, perhaps, but what sort of character?

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

You could apply the same logic to any type of work. First, it establishes the premises that abuse is okay and only people who tolerate abuse should be allowed to work.

And then you wind up with some people who are too broken to work, because somebody made them that way; and nobody wants to take care of them. That's evil.

I feel that people should be encouraged to discover what they enjoy and do well. It's more satisfying and you get better output that way.

Re: Well...

[capri0mni]

I'd also argue that it "breaks" even the people who seem, on the surface, to survive, since it leads to the notion that abuse is not only "okay" but is the default state of human relationships. ...And when the profession in question is writing fiction (especially genre fiction like sci-fi and fantasy), this may lead to a preponderance of stories in the pipeline with a cynical and/or violent tone. Which I believe is another layer of evil, because these genres help us imagine the possible.

Re: Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I'd also argue that it "breaks" even the people who seem, on the surface, to survive, since it leads to the notion that abuse is not only "okay" but is the default state of human relationships. <<

I'd say "damages" rather than "breaks" for those who are still functional enough to support themselves.

>> ...And when the profession in question is writing fiction (especially genre fiction like sci-fi and fantasy), this may lead to a preponderance of stories in the pipeline with a cynical and/or violent tone. <<

Yes, that's a problem.

>> Which I believe is another layer of evil, because these genres help us imagine the possible. <<

I've noticed that the more divisive, insecure, and dysfunctional society gets ... the more I focus on better alternatives. I wind up fantasizing not just about stardrives and unicorns, but healthy families and communities where people actually take care of each other.

Re: Well...

[capri0mni]

"I wind up fantasizing not just about stardrives and unicorns, but healthy families and communities where people actually take care of each other."

*nod* Indeed. I like to think that dystopias are just as impossible as utopias.

Re: Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Sadly there are far more examples -- historic and current -- of really horrible societies than really great ones.

Re: True...

[capri0mni]

But even within the really horrible societies, there are people who are trying to change things for the better -- either on the big scale of the world at large, or on the small scale of creating a kind, soft, place within their personal circle (family or chosen friends).

And it's those stories I prefer to read/watch/write.

Re: True...

[ysabetwordsmith]

True.