Yesterday, Jim posted some genderswaps of classic SF works, which were massively and obviously sexist. Today, he gives us a couple of scenes from one of his own books, and from another current work – and they’re still noticeably sexist, though the intensity has been dialled down considerably.
Originally shared by Jim Hines
Follow-up to yesterday’s blog post. Now with two genderswapped scenes from my own work, and one from a current Hugo nominee.
Thanks for sharing these, Mike Reeves-McMillan What a fascinating thing to do to analyze your own writing and assumptions. Once I’ve survived my current draft, I’m going to try one of these experiments.
Thanks for sharing these, Mike Reeves-McMillan What a fascinating thing to do to analyze your own writing and assumptions. Once I’ve survived my current draft, I’m going to try one of these experiments.
These are interesting but, as far as my writing goes, misses by a mile.
I write almost exclusively female lead (and female supporting cast) but that’s not even the point. Ultimately, I just don’t write like that. Even in sex scenes I’d never have a line like “A damned sexy teddy bear”.
So I don’t think I’ll bother genderswapping my stuff 🙂
These are interesting but, as far as my writing goes, misses by a mile.
I write almost exclusively female lead (and female supporting cast) but that’s not even the point. Ultimately, I just don’t write like that. Even in sex scenes I’d never have a line like “A damned sexy teddy bear”.
So I don’t think I’ll bother genderswapping my stuff 🙂
LOL, just genderswapped one of the more intimate (non-sexual) moments between my male and female lead and the result was more sexist than the original some might say.
Ironically, the genderswapped version serves to highlight sexist against men, rather than women, in this particular scene.
LOL, just genderswapped one of the more intimate (non-sexual) moments between my male and female lead and the result was more sexist than the original some might say.
Ironically, the genderswapped version serves to highlight sexist against men, rather than women, in this particular scene.
I often, but not exclusively, write female leads, and will generally make a secondary character female unless there’s a specific reason to have a male one.
That said, I know that Hand of the Trickster would fail horribly if genderswapped, but that’s done consciously. It’s part of what makes the main character annoying.
I often, but not exclusively, write female leads, and will generally make a secondary character female unless there’s a specific reason to have a male one.
That said, I know that Hand of the Trickster would fail horribly if genderswapped, but that’s done consciously. It’s part of what makes the main character annoying.
But that’s character – that’s not narrative. Seems to me the main issues are with sexist narrative.
But that’s character – that’s not narrative. Seems to me the main issues are with sexist narrative.
I just genderswapped one of my (non-sexual) scenes from Tumbler. There’s definitely a bit of sexism there, but I think I did okay by comparison. 🙂
I just genderswapped one of my (non-sexual) scenes from Tumbler. There’s definitely a bit of sexism there, but I think I did okay by comparison. 🙂
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