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| I don't know if there's ever been a time in history in which gender roles were so fluid as they are now. Some of the questions posed in regards to these roles are edging their way into writing. Gender and writing are two things that, when combined, can get messy. In a craft where drawing a clear line seems to be the key to success, taking such a stance when it comes to gender is controversial no matter what you have to say about it. This newsletter will offer some tips on how to wrangle with this issue and some of the pitfalls associated with blending gender and writing. |
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A few weeks ago, I received a review for a short story with a female protagonist. The reviewer said he/she couldn't deduce if the protagonist was male or female, saying that while the name Layla appeared in the story, the character's actions were rather masculine. I ruminated on this a bit, albeit the first several meditations on the subject left me bristling at the reviewer's comments. I'm not going to lie. We moderators do emotionally react to reviews that ruffle our feathers. Aside from the fact that the reviewer didn't specify any places where this masculine behavior was prominent, I was taken aback by the notion of modern readers having rigid standards for how men and women act. It surprised me because I've met my share of fashion-focused men and women who don't shy away from lifting large window air conditioning units. I also bristled because I'm a small woman who has worked with heavy machinery in order to do my job well. I've come to realize, though, that my experiences with increasingly blurred gender lines is not the norm. While I've met many people with similar outlooks, it's become quite clear to me that gender perception has not really changed much even over the past few decades.
You're probably wondering what this has to do with writing. The answer to that question is plenty. For writers, there will be two main areas where gender roles and perceptions should be considered: character development and audience reception. The former is something a writer can more easily control, but the latter should not be ignored. While a writer cannot change a reader's perception of a given gender and its characteristics, a writer can find a way to make these readers set aside their perceptions, if only for a little while. Being able to gauge sexism in a given audience is not a simple task. However, doing so can help gear your character development so your audience can more easily identify with the movers and shakers in your story.
The first area of focus I'll take on is character development. This is an area where I was hoping the reviewer would point out specific examples to me so I could develop her a little more. Even if your reviewers don't specify places where a character seems more masculine/feminine, there are some guidelines to help you determine your character's gender. The first thing you should do is make sure not to confuse gender with biological sex and/or sexual orientation. They really are three different concepts. Your characters could be a given biological sex, have a particular sexual orientation and yet exhibit characteristics that blur gender lines (not to mention commonly held expectations of biology and sexual preference). A biologically male character can engage in stereotypical guy activities (being a football fanatic, refusing to ask for directions when lost) and still be gay. I've seen it happen, and I think such a character would make the story more accessible to readers. On a related note, the second thing you should do is learn what the stereotypes are for gender, sex and sexual orientation...so you know what to avoid. They will vary among cultures, so determine your character's cultural background as early as you can. The same goes for the setting, as that will catalyze a good deal of the action throughout the story. Once you have at least a basic idea of the cultures, do your research. As I have said time and again, research is your friend. I say it because a lack of research spoils a lot of otherwise entertaining stories. Trite, stereotypical characters are especially prone to tarnishing stories. Ask anyone who regularly watches movies (and TV shows) coming out of Hollywood these days. They're getting pretty tired of many delicate damsels featured in these works and simultaneously complain about how militant stronger female characters are portrayed. The strength spectrum is wide for males and females, so use it! Avoiding sterotypes will help you explore the lesser known nook and cranies of the sex and gender triumvirate. Finally, once you determine the basic sex and gender aspects of your character, do some writing! Try writing a scene that is often used to depict a common gender trait or even stereotype (such as asking for directions). Put your character in that and see what he or she does. Once you write the scene, set it aside for a bit. Use the time in between to observe people (through people watching or even conversation) and see how they behave in terms of gender definitions. I don't recommend skipping this step because it will help you in two ways: helping you learn more about gender and giving you a refreshed approach when you return to the character sketch. When you decide to go back to the character sketch, have another person look at it as well. As you and your cohort read it, look for anything that seems stereotypical or just doesn't sound right. Does your character fit a mold, or does (s)he blur gender lines? Either way, be sure the character isn't too over-the-top or acting a particular way to try and make a point. The gender of a character has to fit as naturally as possible. Otherwise, your readers won't buy the act.
Speaking of readers, they do have an impact on gender in writing. It's a larger scope, and it's not always something a writer can control. There are a couple things the writer can do, though. The first is to gauge the audience. When I say gauge the audience, I'm again encouraging research, although it's really much more relaxed. If you're writing in a particular genre (e.g. action/adventure), it's as easy as lurking in a forum dedicated to that genre or a particular story within it. I have encountered my share of asinine internet discussions, but when it comes to this triumvirate, I've seen some really solid discussions. If you're up to it, you can jump in and participate. In general, though, lurking gives you enough of an idea of how gender is portrayed and how the audience perceives it. This can be a little tougher to do with mainstream drama, and I would recommend testing the waters of political forums that tackle gender. For mainstream writing, you may find gauging general social reactions to be more useful. Lurking will also help you determine the intensity of reader reaction if you decide to stray from the norm. While a phenomenal writer will get a set-in-their-ways audience to believe almost anything, introducing a character that defies typical character expectations is one of the hardest things for a writer to do. Why? Well, the audience will say they want a certain type of female character then will shoot down most characters writers create in an attempt to break from the norm. Humans have a paradoxical perception of change; they seek it yet are scared of it simultaneously. If you decide that your story will not work without a character that is beyond what the audience normally encounters, you need to realize that you will not overcome that paradox on the first try. For that matter, you might die before having any success in toppling it. This is a case of needing to be aware of it so you can deal with the reactions later.
Another thing that a writer can control to some degree is the diction of the piece. You're probably wondering this has to do with gender. Well, it's funny that you ask, because this is a fairly new area of gender and writing to be explored. One such foray is the infamous Gender Genie.
http://bookblog.net/gender/genie.php
The validity of this test is debateable. On the other hand, it does provide amusement (as it keeps saying I am male whenever I paste excerpts from my journal in it). Either way, it does illustrate a more general point. Diction can sway readers into thinking a character is either male or female. You could describe how a character looks or enjoys till the cows come home. However, the words you choose will ultimately develop the voice in a reader's head that pops up whenever there's dialogue. By the way, if you're a reader who doesn't hear a distinct voice while reading dialogue, I'm almost inclined to say you're doing it wrong. Anyway, one aspect of gender is how much a person talks. Many studies over the past decade show a correlation between biological sex and the amount of talking done. I'm not so sure that the correlation is quite correct. I do think that gender and talking have a much stronger relationship, as talking is a more rational process (rather than instinctive). The amount of talking and the types of words used both play heavily into gearing your readers in a particular direction. Do keep in mind that if your character blurs gender lines, it will be harder to depict this through diction. You will have to go nose to the grindstone in revision here. This is because readers of all stripes have very little incentive to set aside any perceptions they have about how and how much women or men talk. Even the most accepting of people will make remarks such as, "He talks a lot for being a guy." I have not encountered any speculation as to why this type of perception is not easily relinquished. My guess is that in the grand scheme of things it's quite low on the priority list.
No matter how you tackle gender in a story, be sure to give it some time. Gender is not an issue you can skim over, as it impacts writing in myriad ways. Don't be afraid of venturing from commonly held perceptions of gender held by your audience. After all, effective writing challenges readers to examine their own beliefs. Just be prepared for less than glowing reactions at first, because many people are not yet ready to admit that gender is fluid. This may changfe in time. For you pioneering writers, I'm hoping this article gives you an idea what to expect for when you decide to challenge these perceptions. For the readers, I hope I've shown you that gender fluidity is not meant to detract from a character. If anything, it should enhance the character, giving him or her more depth.
Until next time,
(sig by me) |
Wondering about the changes in gender roles over the years? Want to see how gender affects writing? Looking to understand how gender perception can cause trouble for readers and writers alike? Here are some good places to start.
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As with the poetry newsletter I guest edited a couple months ago, I had to go digging for feedback from the last time I penned an issue for this particular category. Amazingly, I found some. Hooray!
From AL  : This was a really interesting newsletter.
I'm not a good writer, and I don't know how to write any particular form of anything, but this screenplay thing somehow triggered something in me that made me feel like it might just be right up my alley.
I actually felt like finding out how to do it, and learning about a particular form of writing.
Thank you!
You're welcome! I know you haven't been up for writing much lately. When you're ready to return to it, I hope you give screenwriting a shot.  It's definitely something that requires a lot of time, but devoting any amount of time to learning the craft might jog your interest in returning to a form of writing yu've done before.
From weeowl flying free! : This comes at an interesting time as I just got hired to write a movie script! :D Thanks for the info! Weeowl
I enjoy providing information. That's what I love about helming these newsletters. Knowing that this comment is over two years old, I do hope that this project worked out for you. If it turned out well, perhaps you could share your experiences with us so we can see what it's like to write screenplays for a living.
From Lorien : The 'reel deal' pun was intended, but how about 'piece of mind'?  Great newsletter -- I've never thought about scriptwriting before, but if I ever want to do so this gave great tips and information. Thanks!
No, 'piece of mind' was not intended. This is why i don't recommend spellcheckers!  On the other hand, a piece of your mind (the script) does have federal protection, so it kind of works on some level. Anyway, in spite of my horrific puns, I'm glad you found my screenplay primer to be useful. |
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For Authors: June 03, 2009 Issue [#3089]
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