History Main / MostWritersAreMale

Note that this is not in effect in traditionally "girly" genres such as the RomanceNovel, where male writers have been known to take female pen names. The effect here is to say, "you can have the romance and the silly, frivolous, emotional stuff, but the rest is for the boys." Likewise, this perception is very much inverted when one gets into {{fanfiction}} territory--see MostFanficWritersAreGirls.

Historically, many women writers have gone as far as to adopt a masculine PenName--a MoustacheDePlume--in the hope (or [[ExecutiveMeddling their publishers' insistence]]) that this will make them more marketable, especially in traditionally "male-oriented" genres--which unfortunately [[SelfFulfillingProphecy just feeds back into the cultural perception of this trope's universality]].

Note that this is not in effect in traditionally "girly" genres such as the RomanceNovel, where male writers have been known to take female pen names. The effect her is to say, "you can have the romance and the silly, frivolous, emotional stuff, but the rest is for the boys." Likewise, this perception is very much inverted when one gets into {{fanfiction}} territory--see MostFanficWritersAreGirls.

Naturally, this results in the male voice being more greatly represented in media than the female voice, and the audience respectively will be assumed primarily male. Main character ensembles will typically be composed of primarily males, with a TokenGirl thrown in for good measure. Due to people usually understanding their own sex better than the other, said girl tends to be based on relatively stereotypical notions. Thus, TheChick is a prevalent character type. Being unable to develop characters of a different sex as well as characters whose sex matches the writers', many times the female characters end up being either {{Flat Character}}s, [[HystericalWoman Hysterical Women]], DamselInDistress types, or {{Tomboy}}s. This also explains the presence of characterisation tropes such as LineageComesFromTheFather or NeverASelfMadeWoman.

A major effect of having male writers in greater proportion than female writers is that {{Fanservice}} tends to be skewed towards the male audience. The female character(s) are more likely to appear in {{Stripperiffic}} gear and have [[BuxomIsBetter large breasts]] (even when it sharply bends WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief) than the male characters are to receive a ShirtlessScene. Many times, the TokenGirl will be used primarily as an intentional MsFanservice, while MrFanservice tends to be less blatant. When a man [[ThePornomancer has the power to get some of the most beautiful women on the planet to pole dance]], he generally [[AllMenArePerverts tends to use it]].

Some women writers go so far as to adopt a masculine PenName-- a MoustacheDePlume-- in the belief (or [[ExecutiveMeddling their publishers' belief]]) that this will make them more marketable, especially in traditionally "male-oriented" genres. It's hard to say for sure whether that fact proves or disproves this trope; either way, there's probably an element of SelfFulfillingProphecy involved. (And on the other hand, to be fair, male writers have been known to take female pen names when writing for the [[GirlShowGhetto romance market]], for instance.)

Very much inverted when one gets into fanfictions - MostFanficWritersAreGirls. Thus the number of shipping stories regardless of the genre of the original material.

Naturally, this results in the male voice being more greatly represented in media than the female voice, and the audience respectively will be assumed primarily male. Main character ensembles will typically be composed of primarily males, with a TokenGirl thrown in for good measure. Due to people usually understanding their own sex better than the other, said girl tends to be based on relatively stereotypical notions. Thus, TheChick is a prevalent character type. Being unable to develop characters of a different sex as well as characters whose sex matches the writers', many times the female characters end up being either {{Flat Character}}s, DamselInDistress types, or {{Tomboy}}s. This also explains the presence of characterisation tropes such as LineageComesFromTheFather or NeverASelfMadeWoman.

->''“The hero’s journey is centuries of narrative precedent written by men to mythologize men. Its pattern is inciting incident, rising tension, explosive climax, and denouement. What does that remind you of?”''

-->-- '''Brit Marling''', “[[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/opinion/sunday/brit-marling-women-movies.html I Don’t Want to Be the Strong Female Lead]],” ''[[UsefulNotes/AmericanNewspapers New York Times]]''

->''"We chatted the night away about how great it is that female characters can be sexy '''and''' tough, sexy '''and''' smart, sexy '''and''' professional ... It was a great night for women and for the men who write for them."''
-->-- '''Tracy Gill''', [[https://entertainment.theonion.com/evangeline-lilly-wins-best-wet-t-shirt-fight-scene-at-s-1819594670 "Strong Women in Television Awards"]], ''[[Website/TheOnion Today NOW!, Onion News Network]]''

Naturally, as a consequence, the male voice is more greatly represented in media than the female voice, and the audience respectively will be assumed primarily male. Main character ensembles will typically be composed of primarily males, with a TokenGirl thrown in for good measure. Due to people usually understanding their own sex better than the other, said girl tends to be based on relatively stereotypical notions. Thus, TheChick is a prevalent character type. Being unable to develop characters of a different sex as well as characters whose sex matches the writers', many times the female characters end up being either {{Flat Character}}s, DamselInDistress types, or {{Tomboy}}s. This also explains the presence of characterisation tropes such as LineageComesFromTheFather or NeverASelfMadeWoman.

Of course, for skilled writers, their sex will not affect their ability to write a cast with well-developed female characters as well as male characters, or appeal to a female demographic. They will write their female characters as actual people rather than including them because they have to or to make an {{Anvilicious}} point, and while {{Fanservice}} may not necessarily be absent, it tends to be more realistic and appealing to both sexes.

Naturally, as a consequence, the male voice is more greatly represented in media than the female voice, and the audience respectively will be assumed primarily male. Main character ensembles will typically be composed of primarily males, with a TokenGirl thrown in for good measure. Due to people usually understanding their own sex better than the other, said girl tends to be based on relatively stereotypical notions. Thus, TheChick is a prevalent character type. Being unable to develop characters of a different sex as well as characters whose sex matches the writers', many times the female characters end up being either {{Flat|Character}} DamselInDistress types, or {{Tomboy}}s. This also explains the presence of characterisation tropes such as LineageComesFromTheFather or NeverASelfMadeWoman.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/30_rock_writers_room_2.jpg]]

Naturally, as a consequence, the male voice is more greatly represented in media than the female voice, and the audience respectively will be assumed primarily male. Main character ensembles will typically be composed of primarily males, with a TokenGirl thrown in for good measure. Due to people usually understanding their own sex better than the other, said girl tends to be based on relatively stereotypical notions. Thus, TheChick is a prevalent character type. Being unable to develop characters of a different sex as well as characters whose sex matches the writers', many times the female characters end up being either {{Flat|Character}} DamselInDistress types, or {{Tomboy}}. This also explains the presence of characterisation tropes such as LineageComesFromTheFather or NeverASelfMadeWoman.

Naturally, as a consequence, the male voice is more greatly represented in media than the female voice, and the audience respectively will be assumed primarily male. Main character ensembles will typically be composed of primarily males, with a TokenGirl thrown in for good measure. Due to people usually understanding their own sex better than the other, said girl tends to be based on relatively stereotypical notions. Thus, TheChick is a prevalent character type. Being unable to develop characters of a different sex as well as characters whose sex matches the writers', many times the female characters end up being FlatCharacter DamselInDistress types. This also explains the presence of characterisation tropes such as LineageComesFromTheFather or NeverASelfMadeWoman.

-->-- '''Tracy Gill''', [[http://www.theonion.com/video/evangeline-lilly-wins-best-wet-t-shirt-fight-scene-14193 "Strong Women in Television Awards"]], ''[[Website/TheOnion Today NOW!, Onion News Network]]''

A major effect of having male writers in greater proportion than female writers is that {{Fanservice}} tends to be skewed towards the male audience. The female character(s) are more likely to appear in {{Stripperiffic}} gear and have large breasts, (even when it sharply bends WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief) than the male characters are to receive a ShirtlessScene. Many times, the TokenGirl will be used primarily as an intentional MsFanservice, while MrFanservice tends to be less blatant. When a man has the power to get some of the most beautiful women on the planet to pole dance, he generally tends to use it.

Of course, for skilled writers, their sex will not affect their ability to write a cast with well-developed female characters as well as male characters, or appeal to a female demographic. They will write their female characters as actual people rather than including them because they have to or to make an {{Anvilicious}} point, and while {{Fanservice}} is not necessarily absent, it tends to be more realistic and appealing to both sexes.

-->-- '''Tracy Gill''', [[http://www.theonion.com/video/evangeline-lilly-wins-best-wet-t-shirt-fight-scene-14193 "Strong Women in Television Awards"]], ''[[Website/TheOnion Today Now, Onion News Network]]''

->''"I think the problem with ComicBook/WonderWoman is that she's popular, but not really among the mainstream comics audience, for whom an unwavering symbol of female dominance is perhaps somewhat anxiety-inducing."''
-->-- '''[[http://mindlessones.com/2013/12/21/i-should-hope-my-writing-appalls-and-horrifies-you-the-phil-sandifer-interview/#more-29803 Phil Sandifer]]''' on ''A Golden Thread''

Naturally, as a consequence, the male voice is greater represented in media than the female voice, and the audience respectively will be assumed primarily male. Main character ensembles will typically be composed of primarily males, with a TokenGirl thrown in for good measure. Due to people usually understanding their own sex better than the other, said girl tends to be based on relatively stereotypical notions. Thus, TheChick is a prevalent character type. Being unable to develop characters of a different sex as well as characters whose sex matches the writers', many times the female characters end up being FlatCharacter DamselInDistress types. This also explains the presence of characterisation tropes such as LineageComesFromTheFather or NeverASelfMadeWoman.

->''"I think the problem with {{Wonder Woman}} is that she's popular, but not really among the mainstream comics audience, for whom an unwavering symbol of female dominance is perhaps somewhat anxiety-inducing."''

->''"I think the problem with {{Wonder Woman}} is that [[PeripheryDemographic she’s popular, but not really among the mainstream comics audience]], for whom an unwavering symbol of female dominance is perhaps somewhat anxiety-inducing."''

Naturally, as a consequence, the male voice is greater represented in media than the female voice, and the audience respectively will be assumed primarily male. Main character ensembles will typically be composed of primarily males, with a TokenGirl thrown in for good measure. Due to people usually understanding their own gender better than the other, said girl tends to be based on relatively stereotypical notions. Thus, TheChick is a prevalent character type. Being unable to develop characters of a different gender as well as characters whose gender matches the writers', many times the female characters end up being FlatCharacter DamselInDistress types. This also explains the presence of characterisation tropes such as LineageComesFromTheFather or NeverASelfMadeWoman.

Of course, for skilled writers, their gender will not affect their ability to write a cast with well-developed female characters as well as male characters, or appeal to a female demographic. They will write their female characters as actual people rather than including them because they have to or to make an {{Anvilicious}} point, and while {{Fanservice}} is not necessarily absent, it tends to be more realistic and appealing to both genders.

Some women writers go so far as to adopt a masculine PenName-- a MoustacheDePlume-- in the belief (or [[ExecutiveMeddling their publishers' belief]]) that this will make them more marketable, especially in traditionally "male-oriented" genres. It's hard to say for sure whether that fact proves or disproves this trope; either way, there's probably an element of SelfFulfillingProphecy involved. (And on the other hand, to be fair, male writers have been known to take female pen names when writing for the romance market, for instance.)

One of the major causes of MenAreGenericWomenAreSpecial. Caused by WriteWhatYouKnow. See also MostGamersAreMale and GirlShowGhetto. For another type of disproportionate representation in media, see YouHaveToHaveJews.

->''"I think the problem with {{Wonder Woman}} is that she’s popular, but [[MisaimedFandom not really among the mainstream comics audience]], for whom an unwavering symbol of female dominance is perhaps somewhat anxiety-inducing."''

One of the major causes of MenAreGenericWomenAreSpecial. Caused by WriteWhatYouKnow. See also MostGamersAreMale and GirlShowGhetto. For another type of disproportionate representation in media, see YouHaveToHaveJews.

->''"Your {{Wonder Woman}} book is, I think, the first major book about the character to have been written. Why do you think that such a popular character has been more or less ignored by writers?"''\\\
''"Because, as some comics writer or another suggested, the superhero comics audience is primarily made up of emotionally subnormal middle-aged men."''

One of the major causes of MenAreGenericWomenAreSpecial. Caused by WriteWhatYouKnow. See also MostGamersAreMale and GirlShowGhetto. For another type of disproportionate representation in media, see YouHaveToHaveJews.

-->-- '''[[http://mindlessones.com/2013/12/21/i-should-hope-my-writing-appalls-and-horrifies-you-the-phil-sandifer-interview/#more-29803 Phil Sandifer]] on ''A Golden Thread''

->''"If my writers knew how to appeal to girls, they wouldn't be writers."''
-->--'''Krusty the Clown''', ''TheSimpsons'', "Once Upon a Time in Springfield"