Are men just better writers?

Summary

The article discusses the gender disparity among top writers on Medium, where 85% are men, questioning whether this reflects writing ability or systemic biases.

Abstract

The article on Medium highlights a significant gender imbalance among top writers, with men constituting 85% of this group. The author reflects on the societal messages given to girls about their capabilities and achievements, citing examples of influential female inventors and scientists to counteract the narrative of male dominance in intellectual contributions. Despite the progress in awareness, the author confronts the reality of gender disparity in various fields, including writing, business, politics, and technology. The piece delves into the author's personal struggle with these statistics, contemplating whether using a male pseudonym might lead to greater success and less struggle in the writing industry. However, the author chooses to maintain authenticity, recognizing the personal cost of compromising one's identity for potential professional gain.

Opinions

The author believes that writing talent is not gender-specific, challenging the notion that men are inherently better writers.
There is a concern that the lack of female representation among top writers could perpetuate the belief that women are less capable, impacting young girls' aspirations.
The author points out that historical contributions by women in science and technology are often overlooked, emphasizing the need for recognition and awareness.
The article suggests that systemic biases contribute to the gender gap in various sectors, including the writing industry on platforms like Medium.
The author admits to feeling disheartened by the pervasive gender disparity but chooses to persist in writing under their own name, valuing personal integrity over potential benefits of using a male pseudonym.

85% of the top writers on Medium are men.

85% of the top writers on Medium are men. Why is that? Are men just better writers?

I was a fierce mama bear, raising my girl. Better isn’t a gender, I’d say. Was I wrong?

Did you know a woman discovered DNA? Or that a woman invented the computer, I’d say.

I wanted her to know the things I didn’t know growing up. That women are not less than.

Did you know central heat, solar heat, kevlar and the refrigerator came from lady minds?

How are girls supposed to shoot for the stars if they think they are somehow, made lesser?

But some days, I feel like I lied. Painted her a rosy picture that reality would never match.

6% of CEOS are women. 23% of congress are women. 20% of tech jobs are held by women.

Nothing escapes it. It’s here, too. Do you know what 85% looks like? A veritable sea of blue.

It’s not Medium’s fault. It’s just. Us. We can’t change preferences we don’t even see, right?

Most days, I don’t think about it. I can’t. It wears me down. Tires me out. I just write.

Other days, I wonder if I’d struggle less, earn more, if I used a male pseudonym. Probably.

But I just can’t do it. It would eat my soul and spit out my spirit. I can’t cave. So I just write.