February 10th, 2009
by
Yonmei
My only statement on the gender appropriation imbroglio
There has been a major Internet kerfuffle going on in the last couple of weeks over the question of gender and sexism in SF and Fantasy. Many friends of mine on both sides of the debate (and, yes, there are clearly two sides to this debate, despite the complexity of the underlying topic) have been badly hurt. I have been sitting on my hands because it appears that there is no way to enter the slapfight without getting slapped, but I am tired unto death of the ongoing vitriol and character assassination, so I am going to make one statement.
This statement is addressed to those on the “anti-sexist” side of the debate who have vehemently accused certain male writers and editors of sexism or insensitivity.
I have sometimes included female characters in my writing. I’ve been trying to do it more. I recognize that doing so is fraught with peril and I have done my best, through critique and research and asking questions, to get it right. I also recognize that sometimes I will get it wrong, and if I do so in a published work I will take my lumps and try to do better in the future.
However. Your reactions to the written works and Internet posts of my friends who are also trying to do the same have made me question even the attempt. The height and breadth of the heap of spleen that I have seen dumped upon my friends is more than just “lumps” — it’s something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. This slapfight, dogpile, shitstorm, whatever you want to call it, has been so severe that I am wondering if I should even try. I’ve seen those who try, in all good faith, have their heads torn off and thrown back at them, and when they react to this abuse as any normal person would, they are accused of being whiny and oversensitive.
I am working on a story right now where one of the two protagonists is female (the other is an alien). Her femaleness is an important part of her character and helps to determine why she does what she does within the story. But lately I’ve been so worried about getting it wrong, and being vilified in public for it, that I’m considering abandoning the story. What if it gets published and then I see it torn apart in a panel at Wiscon? Will I get a little twinge of concern and angst every time I see one of my non-male writing friends at a convention, wondering whether she’s angry at me because of that story? (Or this post?)
I may or may not continue work on this story. Haven’t decided yet. Maybe I’ll write something safer, something where all the characters are male, or aliens or cartoon characters or disembodied spirits, and I don’t have to deal with issues of gender and sexism. I’ll spend my writing time and energy on other issues instead.
Is this what you wanted?
–
Other reactions to the infamous “If You Aren’t Going To Be Nice To Me, I’m Going To Quit Writing About You” post: Dear Pained White Author, Big boy pants…get you some…, Oh David Levine No, Lots of white male authors are huge wankers, Talking About (And To) David Levine, This person? Just dropped the baby, and How Not to Engage in Discussions of Cultural Appropriation.
—Update—
David D. Levine has since posted an update (a day after I posted this) in which he apologizes for the offense given by the way he “originally worded” it, but asserts that what he was trying to do was criticize the “tone” of the people of color and allies who were criticizing white writers: his post was apparently intended to be a sharp criticism of us for engaging in ad hom attacks. I appreciate that he understands – after only 15 days! – that he did give offense, and is apologizing for giving offense: not so much his implicit assertion that the only people who needed to be criticised for making ad hom attacks were the people of color and allies, not the white writers/editors/their defenders. Double standard, much?
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Yonmei at
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Filed under female characters, feminist whimsy, people of colour | Comments (20)
It’s so true! As the great Freud said, “WHAT DOES A WOMAN WANT.” We can never, ever, possibly know. Their twisty little minds are inaccessible to the reason and logic of normal people.
I’m not sexist, though. Some of my best friends are non-male. And great-grandmother was a woman, which makes me one-eighth female!
And great-grandmother was a woman, which makes me one-eighth female!
I laughed so loud I startled the cats.
And great-grandmother was a woman, which makes me one-eighth female!
I really, really love this, on so many levels ….
Thank you for doing this, for several different reasons.
This is literally the first comment I have made in writing on the affair.
[ "I have sometimes included female characters in my writing. I’ve been trying to do it more." ]
The moment I read those sentences in the inspiration for this entry there was no hope for light bulbs over there.
Love, C.
P.S. I also have a great grandmother who was female, that makes me more female than ever now!
laura q: “And great-grandmother was a woman, which makes me one-eighth female!”
I really, really love this, on so many levels ….
It totally wins the Internets. I want it on a t-shirt now.
jae: Thank you for doing this, for several different reasons.
Oh. I went back and re-read it, thinking, I will have cooled down, it won’t seem so outrageous. And… *flaps hands madly* it was *splutters a bit*: you know, the one thing I cannot bear is a writer who whines about readers criticising what they wrote! I mean, sexism, racism, being a jerk, these are all awful things, but on top of it all, he’s a whiny writer. Ugh.
Constance: The moment I read those sentences in the inspiration for this entry there was no hope for light bulbs over there.
I know. Argh.
Brilliant!
P.S. Some of my best friends are female.
People teased me in high school, so I understand the oppression you go through as a woman.
I was wondering where and how I missed the gender and sexism kerfuffle!
Then I caught on.
Very good. :)
Add me to the chorus of people who adore this post beyond description.
My highest praise: it reminds me of that great Joanna Russ piece (I think it’s a fragment of The Female Man) that begins “Your doctor is a woman. Your dentist is a woman.”
Morgan: Some of my best friends are female.
I’d like to have more non-male friends, but it’s so difficult socialising with them. One’s always afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Julie: I was wondering where and how I missed the gender and sexism kerfuffle!
Hee!
Debbie: Add me to the chorus of people who adore this post beyond description.
Thank you.
This cracked me up so hard!
We should actually have a SF/F Bechdel Award!
We should actually have a SF/F Bechdel Award!
That would be great. :-D For SF/F TV, film, stories, and novels: an award for the best TV programme, film, story, or novel, in which two women talk to each other about something other than a man.
Then we start fundraising. We’ll have plenty of time.
am i missing something here? yonmei, you appear to be quoting someone, but didn’t attribute this post. what’s going on?
Click on the links at the foot of the post, Claire.
sorry, still not getting it. i realize this relates to racefail 09, but are you quoting someone or parodying someone?
sorry, still not getting it.
Sorry: still suggest you click on the links at bottom of post.
are you quoting someone or parodying someone?
Yes.
but to have a sf bechdel, there would have to be more than one show in a year that met the basic criteria.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was, Maevele? Maybe if we had some massive prestigious award, there would be…
*dreams*
This is eerily apt. Congratulations. I was growing angry until the fourth paragraph. O’ skilled master of mockery, do for us another wanker!