I just found out today about a raging debate going on over the fine old question of whether a man can be a feminist. Trish Wilson tipped me off to it here. I then went and read the post that sparked the problem: this piece by a Matt Stoller. Amanda at Mousewords then weighed in with her customary fire and zing. (Oh, I could spend a whole post deconstructing my own use of the phrase “weighed in” when talking about gender and the body, but I’ll skip it. For now).
Given that I am teaching two sections of women’s history at PCC again this fall, I think I need to pull a post together on male feminism and “pro-feminism”. Not today, however, as I am due to go run in 96 degree heat by the Rose Bowl soon. Still, Amanda at Mousewords issued an interesting challenge that put me to work at once and I thought I would post on it quickly. She wrote in the post linked above:
Men who blog and want to be feminist have one major obligation–read female bloggers and link to them. My blogroll is 50% female, so why can’t they do that?
I count 54 blogs currently on my blogroll. (I haven’t added any today since reading Amanda’s challenge; I will be adding more soon). Three are “group blogs” (like Cliopatria) that have contributors of both sexes; the other fifty-one are either individual blogs or blogs where all regular contributors are of the same sex. And the count is:
Male blogs: 24 (and that’s counting both of Rudy Carrasco’s blogs)
Female blogs: 27
How’s that for balance! I also read through many of my old posts, and note that I mention female bloggers more often than I do men… So, fellow bloggers, break down your linkage and report!
Whoo hoo!
Hey, if you wanted to link to yet another woman’s blog, feel free to link to mine. I’m a fellow youth minister, Episcopalian, liberal, academic, and even a former All Saints Pas parishioner. Glad to run across you in cyberspace. :)
Blessings,
Dylan
Congrats! This conversation, while largely irritating, always brings a few new, exciting voices into the mix. I’m waiting to hear what you have to say.
Sarah and Lauren, you are both now blog-rolled as well. Thanks.
Sarah — I’ve heard your name around the blogosphere, and somehow never went to your place… all that has changed now…
Great post, Hugo. At least this time around the “woman blogger” debate wasn’t nearly as heated as it was the last time around. Lauren and I were practically roasted on a spit. But we prevailed.
This topic comes up every three months, I swear. Mark your calendar. Next incarnation - December, just in time for Christmas. Maybe we’ll be singing “Bloggers roasting on an open fire…”
Hmmm, I have some catching up to do. Only 23% of my blogroll is female, not counting mixed-gender group blogs. Of course, that’s also counting all five of Joel’s blogs separately, but still.
On another interesting note, I realized that 11% of the blogroll is gay or bisexual, which, pace Dr. Kinsey, is I think rather larger than the population as a whole.
Oooh, that’s another good way to divide the blogroll. I’ll hop to it!
Interesting posts, Hugo. And I’ll second what Lauren said. I’ve discovered a few more blogs to add to my rolls.
It was pointed out by Antigone? Ophelia Payne? on XXBlog that these debates are, ironically, good for our traffic, at least temporarily.
I often look for new additions to my blogroll (via the Globe of Blogs, Underbloggers, and other blogrolls). I’ll probably poach from yours–feel free to poach from mine.
As the debate wasn’t as cantankerous as it has been in the past, I’m hoping we see some more constructive discussion around it.
I have never (consciously) lot about breaking down my blogroll. Counting only the non-group blogs (of which there are 2, both of which I’d say are guy-heavy) my blogroll is 47% male, 53% female. It’s also only 9% gay, which would seem “about right” except for the fact that _I’m_ gay, and you’d think I’d do better than that. :)
Obviously, I don’t think much about grammar either. That first sentence should have said “…thought a lot about…” Oy. Long day.
Hi Hugo, nice to actually be able to put a blog to the name I see commenting on Mouse Words. :) I hate the blogger commenting system. So many people post great things on Amanda’s blog, and it’s very hard to find their blogs from it. :)
A great thank-you for the link, and I hope to be visiting your site more often. I’m adding it to my feeds list. As Lauren and Trish already pointed out, this has been a great exercise in getting to know new blogs. I think I’ve added about ten.
However, umm… my blogroll is heavily tilted towards the female side, but I have an excuse. I just got back into the world of blogs, and am rebuilding my link list. Since I’ve been talking mostly feminist things lately, I’ve been linking mostly feminist women.
Oh dear, if I have to count…
25 Girls
7 Guys
6 Group
Wow, the group blogs almost outweigh the guys. That’s scary. I swear, it’ll even out as soon as I find some more guys I like to read! :)
I’m sad to admit my numbers:
9 groups (mostly male)
11 male
8 female
ah well.
At the top of my webpage, where I have the weblogs I read on a regular basis, I count links to 16 female bloggers and links to 7 male bloggers.
Guess what I’ve discovered?? Many bloggers are untrustworthy; male or female. It is just too easy to make up stuff when you can hide behind the anonymity of the blogosphere.__Honestly, I can’t stand it!
I’ve had some time to think about my last post, and I think that apologies are in order.__I apologize to any of your readers in the blogosphere that I may have insulted.__ I must confess, losing a close friend’s trust would be devastating and demoralizing…..So, why would I say this about people on the blogosphere?? Because I never get a chance to talk to them. What ever happened to talking one on one with a person? Don’t people look at each other and talk face to face anymore? Don’t tell me, that it is inappropriate, talking?