1 Topic by rhiannon (edited by rhiannon 2016-07-13 16:34:20)

Topic: Gender Divide in the Rhiannon Novels

Although I've had terrific reviews from both genders, I've noticed males seem to like Jeb & Rhia:  the Love Story, and females are more represented among reviewers in the New Fairy story.  I speculated to John Hamler that maybe men like the sexy ingenue and women like the kick-ass adventurer.  This is important because the love story was meant to be a romance, and how many men do you know who read romances?  (Or admit it, anyway.)  So what do you think?  Is the Love Story more appealing to men and the Adventure/Quest story more appealing to women, in contradiction of conventional wisdom about these things?  If so, what, if anything, should I do about that?  As usual, any and all feedback is welcome.

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Re: Gender Divide in the Rhiannon Novels

Nobody has commented?
I haven't reviewed these stories, and I've only looked at one of them, because I don't feel I relate to the stories.

And that, I think, is where your question leads.  What is it that allows a reader to connect with your protagonist and the protagonist's problems and story?

Second question: If what you write as a romance is 'relatable' to men, and what you write as an adventure/quest is 'relatable' to women, are these problems?  Or are they opportunities?

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Re: Gender Divide in the Rhiannon Novels

I would first ask if anyone reviewed both stories and if so then their response should provide an answer. If no one reviewed both stories, then that might provide an opportunity to request one of them to do so and relate their preference and reasons for such. All in all I would think it is merely a statistical quirk unless the pattern remains over many reviewers and with the order of presentation changed on occasion so that one is not picking the first one to review by the order it is presented (a possible gender bias maybe, who knows). Good luck. Take care. Vern

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Re: Gender Divide in the Rhiannon Novels

rhiannon wrote:

... males seem to like Jeb & Rhia:  the Love Story, and females are more represented among reviewers in the New Fairy story.....
men like the sexy ingenue and women like the kick-ass adventurer....  what, if anything, should I do about that?

I'd say tone it down.

Given such a powerful and distinct contrast I'm wondering if it would it be dangerous for a transgender person to read these stories? I mean, given the different reactions between genders, it would at the very least cause the transgender reader to be at odds with her/his self. I'm wondering if intense reading could lead to a seizure; nervous breakdown or even spontaneous combustion?

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Re: Gender Divide in the Rhiannon Novels

Dill Carver wrote:
rhiannon wrote:

... males seem to like Jeb & Rhia:  the Love Story, and females are more represented among reviewers in the New Fairy story.....
men like the sexy ingenue and women like the kick-ass adventurer....  what, if anything, should I do about that?

I'd say tone it down.

Given such a powerful and distinct contrast I'm wondering if it would it be dangerous for a transgender person to read these stories? I mean, given the different reactions between genders, it would at the very least cause the transgender reader to be at odds with her/his self. I'm wondering if intense reading could lead to a seizure; nervous breakdown or even spontaneous combustion?

LOL! I do love your take on this. The point is made a whole lot better than I did. Take care. Vern

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Re: Gender Divide in the Rhiannon Novels

Thanks, guys, for your comments.  njc, indeed, any pattern in any response is an opportunity.  And Dill, when these move to publications, I'll include a warning for transgendered people.  Worded right, it might make for a huge draw.  Vern, it occurred to me that it is a statistical quirk, but that became an opportunity for some feedback, even if quirky itself.  Hmmm, I'm wondering what it means that more men than women responded to this question.  lol

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Re: Gender Divide in the Rhiannon Novels

rhiannon wrote:

... Dill, when these move to publications, I'll include a warning for transgendered people.  Worded right, it might make for a huge draw.  .  lol

It's great that you consider the discerning transgendered reader. Will you be issuing your warning when you are 'Col. John Drake' or when you are 'rhiannon,' or will it come from both?

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Re: Gender Divide in the Rhiannon Novels

corra:  Appreciate your thoughts.  Conventions are tropes or memes that are heuristics only.  I don't put much stock in them.  Maybe if I find a muscular, handsome throbbing FBI agent, or a billionaire who will marry the detective that first suspects, then exonerates him from a murder charge, and she gets to stay a detective when she marries him, rather than become  his escort and factotum for his charities, I will change my mind.  You see the level I'm thinking of, not Herman Melville, or Jane Austin, but Lisa Jackson or Nora Roberts.  People do bug me to be deeper in my writing (both at home and here on the site), so maybe I should re-read my Melville.  lol  I was just curious as to whether this "trend" meant anything--as I can go in many directions in my writing:  romance, adventure, or mystery.  And yes, I know, I should do my thing.  These are all my things.

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