Why are most SF authors straight, white western men? Science fiction writers can't ignore the diversity that exists on planet Earth
Facing up to discrimination … Nathan Fillion (left) and Richard Brooks in the Fox TV show Firefly. Photograph: Snap Stills / Rex Features
Science fiction loves a good paradox. Here's one for you: how can a genre that dreams up alien cultures and mythic races in such minute detail seemingly ignore the ethnic, religious, gender and sexual diversity right here on the home planet, here in the real world?
In other words, for a school of writing that swims so deeply in the unconventional, why is science fiction and fantasy so darned conventional?
This summer, those conventions are finally being challenged. It started with a row over the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America's (SFWA) magazine, Bulletin, which featured a woman in a chainmail bikini on the cover. But it has come to a head over the past week, after the World Science Fiction Convention, or WorldCon, set people asking why the majority of writers are straight white males from the US and UK, and why they mainly write about straight white males?
The author Jim C Hines sparked a conversation on Twitter after posting a picture of the all-white past, present and future chairs of WorldCon and coining the hashtag #DiversityinSFF. As the South African books blogger Lauren Smith wrote, it's a problem often talked about in SFF circles. "These genres – or at least their English-language versions – lack diversity, with the major problem being that white male authors and straight, white, predominantly male characters are favoured," she said, adding that it's clear "who and what is underrepresented: anyone who is POC [person of colour], female, gay, transgendered; settings and cultures that aren't North American or European; non-western folklore and mythology".
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In other words, for a school of writing that swims so deeply in the unconventional, why is science fiction and fantasy so darned conventional?
This summer, those conventions are finally being challenged. It started with a row over the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America's (SFWA) magazine, Bulletin, which featured a woman in a chainmail bikini on the cover. But it has come to a head over the past week, after the World Science Fiction Convention, or WorldCon, set people asking why the majority of writers are straight white males from the US and UK, and why they mainly write about straight white males?
The author Jim C Hines sparked a conversation on Twitter after posting a picture of the all-white past, present and future chairs of WorldCon and coining the hashtag #DiversityinSFF. As the South African books blogger Lauren Smith wrote, it's a problem often talked about in SFF circles. "These genres – or at least their English-language versions – lack diversity, with the major problem being that white male authors and straight, white, predominantly male characters are favoured," she said, adding that it's clear "who and what is underrepresented: anyone who is POC [person of colour], female, gay, transgendered; settings and cultures that aren't North American or European; non-western folklore and mythology".
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2 comments:
What absolute bullshit: In fact i'd go so far as to say that this article from the guardian is a perfect example of science fiction, because its totally trying to posit an alternate universe where this scenario is reality.
Not only are there plenty of female science fiction authors, there are also plenty of female protagonists in science fiction.
Heck there is now an entire sub genre of science fiction that is almost entirely female based: Its called Urban Fantasy.
Stories about plucky female characters inevitably with magical vagina powers & some mysterious tall dark & evil sexy male character she will try to break into a compliant house poodle.
Enough with this nonsense, not all of us suffer from white liberal guilt. Some of us live in the real world.
Did you even read the article? It discusses, among other things, the prevalence of straight, white men. There are only two major SF/Fantasy authors of color: Samuel Delaney and Octavia Butler. And Delaney notwithstanding, I can't think of any LGBT writers either.
BTW, I've read plenty of urban fantasy and never found a single female character with these "magical vagina powers." In fact, one of the top urban fantasy series is The Dresden Files...whose protagonist is male.
Perhaps you should read these articles more closely so that you don't miss the point.
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