Summary

The Twitter thread "Describe Yourself Like a Male Author Would" challenges the authenticity of male authors' portrayals of female characters and highlights the need for diverse voices in literature.

Abstract

The article discusses the viral Twitter thread initiated by Gwen C. Katz, which critiques the tendency of some male authors to write female characters in a way that lacks depth and respect. The thread began in response to a male author's claim of writing women characters convincingly, which he believed negated the necessity of the #OwnVoices movement. The challenge, started by Whit Reynolds, invited people to describe themselves in the style of a male author, leading to a flood of responses that satirized the often superficial and sexualized descriptions women face in literature. The thread revealed a broader issue in the literary world: the invisibility of women, especially those who are older, plus-sized, or of color, in male-authored narratives. The article concludes by encouraging male writers to listen and strive for more authentic and respectful representations of women in their work.

Opinions

Gwen C. Katz's initial response to the male author's claim suggests that his examples, such as describing a woman with "naughty thoughts" or "pale skin, red lips," are clichéd and objectifying.
Whit Reynolds' Twitter game sparked a conversation about the lack of genuine representation of women and people of color in literature, with many participants expressing that they feel unseen or misrepresented by male authors.
The article in Electric Literature views the responses to the challenge as a critique of the state of writing about women, indicating that there is a significant need for improvement in character portrayals by male authors.
Some responses to the Twitter challenge humorously highlighted the absurdity of male authors' descriptions of women, often focusing on physical appearance and ignoring other attributes.
The overall sentiment is that male authors should engage more deeply with the perspectives of women and people of color to create characters that are well-rounded and respectful, rather than relying on stereotypes or sexualized descriptions.

‘Describe Yourself Like a Male Author Would’ Is the Most Savage Twitter Thread in Ages

The challenge is a fierce indictment of what happens when you try to write a character you don’t respect or understand

O n an unnamed part of the internet, young adult author Gwen C. Katz found a delightfully deluded male author claiming that his facility with writing natural women characters constituted an unassailable rebuke to the idea that we need diverse authors to write diverse viewpoints. If a male author can write a woman this convincing, surely there’s no need for the #OwnVoices movement!

Some of his other perfect descriptions—which, remember, he himself was claiming were evidence of his skill—included “I could only imagine the thoughts that were running through his head. Naughty thoughts,” and “I could imagine what he saw in me. Pale skin, red lips like I had just devoured a cherry popsicle covered in gloss, two violet eyes like Elizabeth Taylor’s.” A cherry popsicle covered in gloss, y’all. Why would you even eat that? And TWO eyes, just to be clear.

The whole thread is worth a read, but it got even better once writer/podcaster/cat tweeter Whit Reynolds proposed a Twitter game: Describe yourself the way a male author would.

“I never expected it to blow up, it was a joke made to a friend while I was ripped on Franzia. But it clearly resonated!” Reynolds told Electric Literature. “The thing that stuck out to me most is how many women responded with something along the lines of, I’m old or fat or a woman of color, so I wouldn’t be described by a male author at all. I might as well be invisible.” Those responses, taken together with the women who waxed rhapsodic over their booby boob-shaped boobs, constitute a pretty damning indictment of the state of writing about women and people of color.

If you’re a male writer, this is actually good news! It means you have a chance to listen really carefully and do a lot better in creating your women characters. Consider, for instance, writing one who’s cutting as hell and 100% has your number.

Below are some of our favorite responses to Reynolds’ challenge—but it’s not too late to pour yourself some Franzia and jump in.