Comments on: This Blog Was Written By a Woman?! http://anallusivefigure.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/this-blog-was-written-by-a-woman/ A Raid On The Inarticulate Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:02:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: anallusivefigure http://anallusivefigure.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/this-blog-was-written-by-a-woman/#comment-160 anallusivefigure Thu, 14 May 2009 19:28:29 +0000 http://anallusivefigure.wordpress.com/?p=81#comment-160 Hi Tara! I didn't know you read my blog. It's pretty funny that they think you're a man and they think I'm a woman. I wonder if there is a link between masculinity/femininity and writing style. I'm certainly not the most manly man out there and you're not the most girly woman so if there is a correlation between gender expression and writing style I'd be willing to bet my writing style is more feminine than yours :P I actually have the flu so I've been in bed all week only venturing out on trips to the kitchen, the bathroom, and the computer. I'm feeling a little more peppy today, though. How are you? Hi Tara! I didn’t know you read my blog. It’s pretty funny that they think you’re a man and they think I’m a woman. I wonder if there is a link between masculinity/femininity and writing style. I’m certainly not the most manly man out there and you’re not the most girly woman so if there is a correlation between gender expression and writing style I’d be willing to bet my writing style is more feminine than yours :P

I actually have the flu so I’ve been in bed all week only venturing out on trips to the kitchen, the bathroom, and the computer. I’m feeling a little more peppy today, though. How are you?

]]> By: anallusivefigure http://anallusivefigure.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/this-blog-was-written-by-a-woman/#comment-159 anallusivefigure Thu, 14 May 2009 19:24:33 +0000 http://anallusivefigure.wordpress.com/?p=81#comment-159 I'm pretty sure you're right that blog content plays a part in their analysis. As far as how womanly my blogs are - the cooking blog was 98% and this one was only 66%. My writing style is pretty much the same in both so it must be a content difference. I think writing is considered a "womanly" pursuit - which is stupid since for a long time men were the only ones who were allowed to write! I think that gender assumptions definitely condition brain development. There have been lots of studies done that prove that people react differently to an infant they perceive as male than to an infant they perceive as female (in most of these studies it's the same infant being dressed differently and getting completely different reactions depending on their gendered presentation). I think there are lots of gendered assumptions that go along with language - that's why there are ideas about how men speak vs. how women speak. I'm sure those differences are a function of socialization. Like I said, I'm willing to believe those things translate into written language as well (maybe that's why lots of people think romantic era writers are "girly"?) but I think a good writer can convey whatever gender speaker they want. I’m pretty sure you’re right that blog content plays a part in their analysis. As far as how womanly my blogs are – the cooking blog was 98% and this one was only 66%. My writing style is pretty much the same in both so it must be a content difference.

I think writing is considered a “womanly” pursuit – which is stupid since for a long time men were the only ones who were allowed to write!

I think that gender assumptions definitely condition brain development. There have been lots of studies done that prove that people react differently to an infant they perceive as male than to an infant they perceive as female (in most of these studies it’s the same infant being dressed differently and getting completely different reactions depending on their gendered presentation). I think there are lots of gendered assumptions that go along with language – that’s why there are ideas about how men speak vs. how women speak. I’m sure those differences are a function of socialization. Like I said, I’m willing to believe those things translate into written language as well (maybe that’s why lots of people think romantic era writers are “girly”?) but I think a good writer can convey whatever gender speaker they want.

]]> By: tb http://anallusivefigure.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/this-blog-was-written-by-a-woman/#comment-158 tb Wed, 13 May 2009 22:38:18 +0000 http://anallusivefigure.wordpress.com/?p=81#comment-158 Hey A/E, It's Tara from NYC. I just tried this analyzer on the blog I write for my Finnegans Wake reading group, and apparently I'm a man (67%). Oh well. Also, I've considered this question (whether a recognizably male or female style of writing exists) before, because I've been accused of (or rather, described as) writing too masculine-y. And I don't know how to feel about that. But, all your thoughts and questions are good ones and w/r/t this particular site—which claims its motive is "fun and curiosity"—I don't think we'll be getting any answers soon. Hope you're well ... :) Hey A/E,

It’s Tara from NYC. I just tried this analyzer on the blog I write for my Finnegans Wake reading group, and apparently I’m a man (67%). Oh well. Also, I’ve considered this question (whether a recognizably male or female style of writing exists) before, because I’ve been accused of (or rather, described as) writing too masculine-y. And I don’t know how to feel about that. But, all your thoughts and questions are good ones and w/r/t this particular site—which claims its motive is “fun and curiosity”—I don’t think we’ll be getting any answers soon.

Hope you’re well … :)

]]> By: Hopie http://anallusivefigure.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/this-blog-was-written-by-a-woman/#comment-157 Hopie Fri, 08 May 2009 14:34:33 +0000 http://anallusivefigure.wordpress.com/?p=81#comment-157 Do you think they're actually analyzing types of speech or blog content? Because apparently (I read about this recently), there are "boy blogs" and "girl blogs" based on content. And, OF COURSE, cooking falls into "girly content" -- though I know plenty male food bloggers. I wonder if writing is considered "womanly" or "manly". Maybe if you know how to write, you're a girl! Everyone know boys only know how to drive trucks, right? I saw a play (or "theatrical conference") recently that was about gender roles, and one of the questions they asked was do gender assumptions condition brain development? For example do boys play ball because they're "better at spatial relations" or are they better at spatial relations because when their brains are developing, their parents are always sending them out to play ball. And idem for girls and "community-based" communication. Is that because they're often offered cooperating games? I could believe that language may develop also based on gender assumptions, but I totally agree with you -- a good author is universal. Do you think they’re actually analyzing types of speech or blog content? Because apparently (I read about this recently), there are “boy blogs” and “girl blogs” based on content. And, OF COURSE, cooking falls into “girly content” — though I know plenty male food bloggers. I wonder if writing is considered “womanly” or “manly”. Maybe if you know how to write, you’re a girl! Everyone know boys only know how to drive trucks, right?

I saw a play (or “theatrical conference”) recently that was about gender roles, and one of the questions they asked was do gender assumptions condition brain development? For example do boys play ball because they’re “better at spatial relations” or are they better at spatial relations because when their brains are developing, their parents are always sending them out to play ball. And idem for girls and “community-based” communication. Is that because they’re often offered cooperating games? I could believe that language may develop also based on gender assumptions, but I totally agree with you — a good author is universal.

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