Given the repost of the other article on White men in literature and the fact that r/neoliberal sometimes likes to debate on topics of men’s problems (sometimes to their detriment), I thought I might post a counterview to this. I generally agree with the last paragraph in the article that White Male writers are not only not disappearing, but other writers are in fact, facing far graver threats to their livelihood given the Trump administration’s hostility towards anything “DEI”.
[deleted] on
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theorizable on
This is also a good read, but it’s in response to the older article. The newer article talks more about workplace displacement.
I also agree with this this article though, it seemed like Savage was using cherry-picked examples. I was thinking while reading his article, “why is he dropping the gender ratio at specific news orgs.”
That said, Skopic seems incredibly dismissive.
> Black writers in the early 20th century were treated abominably by the literary establishment, dealt with segregation and government repression on a day-to-day basis, and certainly weren’t winning the big mainstream awards; it didn’t stop them from doing the Harlem Renaissance.
^ he seems dismissive of plights, like the resolution of imbalances are something that just happen over time and there’s not really a point in bringing awareness to them.
> Trends: The percentage of male authors has decreased from 49.52% in 2012 to around 45.61% in 2019.
> Bestsellers: While the New York Times fiction bestseller list was roughly 50% men in 2004, by late 2024 it had shifted to less than 25% men.
^ he should contend with actual statistics and the falling rate of men in literature.
Personal opinion: I think the actual issue is the writing style, not the sex/gender of the author. This is especially true of mainstream studios that try to make content for the broadest audience.
turb0_encapsulator on
There’s a reason that white male writers aren’t getting published as much. Go take a look at who buys books and reads them. Publishers actually want to make money, so they publish authors who they think will sell to people who actually buy books.
Perhaps Jacob Savage should advocate for DEI for white male writers. Maybe if they could just get their foot in the door, more young men would read rather than play video games or watch sports.
Jimmy_McNulty2025 on
I mean, it says something that male authors are taking on female pen names to sell more books.
The most likely answer is that women read more books and women prefer to read other women.
MarderFucher on
im just gonna drop to say the original article was one of the whiniest thing ive read in a while and i kept hitting my head people around the point where he insists on sticking to shitty gig jobs (in ’10s economy no less) waiting for their big chance instead of building an alternative path, even just as a backup, but maybe thats my eastern euro jaded realism speaking.
6 Comments
Given the repost of the other article on White men in literature and the fact that r/neoliberal sometimes likes to debate on topics of men’s problems (sometimes to their detriment), I thought I might post a counterview to this. I generally agree with the last paragraph in the article that White Male writers are not only not disappearing, but other writers are in fact, facing far graver threats to their livelihood given the Trump administration’s hostility towards anything “DEI”.
[removed]
This is also a good read, but it’s in response to the older article. The newer article talks more about workplace displacement.
I also agree with this this article though, it seemed like Savage was using cherry-picked examples. I was thinking while reading his article, “why is he dropping the gender ratio at specific news orgs.”
That said, Skopic seems incredibly dismissive.
> Black writers in the early 20th century were treated abominably by the literary establishment, dealt with segregation and government repression on a day-to-day basis, and certainly weren’t winning the big mainstream awards; it didn’t stop them from doing the Harlem Renaissance.
^ he seems dismissive of plights, like the resolution of imbalances are something that just happen over time and there’s not really a point in bringing awareness to them.
> Trends: The percentage of male authors has decreased from 49.52% in 2012 to around 45.61% in 2019.
> Bestsellers: While the New York Times fiction bestseller list was roughly 50% men in 2004, by late 2024 it had shifted to less than 25% men.
^ he should contend with actual statistics and the falling rate of men in literature.
Personal opinion: I think the actual issue is the writing style, not the sex/gender of the author. This is especially true of mainstream studios that try to make content for the broadest audience.
There’s a reason that white male writers aren’t getting published as much. Go take a look at who buys books and reads them. Publishers actually want to make money, so they publish authors who they think will sell to people who actually buy books.
Perhaps Jacob Savage should advocate for DEI for white male writers. Maybe if they could just get their foot in the door, more young men would read rather than play video games or watch sports.
I mean, it says something that male authors are taking on female pen names to sell more books.
The most likely answer is that women read more books and women prefer to read other women.
im just gonna drop to say the original article was one of the whiniest thing ive read in a while and i kept hitting my head people around the point where he insists on sticking to shitty gig jobs (in ’10s economy no less) waiting for their big chance instead of building an alternative path, even just as a backup, but maybe thats my eastern euro jaded realism speaking.